Poem: “The Land of Fable” by Victor Hugo

Download PDF

French Literature – French Poetry – Victor Hugo – Poems by Victor Hugo
< < < Prelude to “The Songs of Twilight”
The Three Glorious Days > > >

The Land of Fable

(“L’Orient! qu’y voyez-vous, poëtes?”)

{PRELUDE, b.}
Now, vot’ries of the Muses, turn your eyes,
Unto the East, and say what there appears!
“Alas!” the voice of Poesy replies,
“Mystic’s that light between the hemispheres!”

“Yes, dread’s the mystic light in yonder heaven—
Dull is the gleam behind the distant hill;
Like feeble flashes in the welkin driven,
When the far thunder seems as it were still!

“But who can tell if that uncertain glare
Be Phoebus’ self, adorned with glowing vest;
Or, if illusions, pregnant in the air,
Have drawn our glances to the radiant west?

“Haply the sunset has deceived the sight—
Perchance ’tis evening, while we look for morning;
Bewildered in the mazes of twilight,
That lucid sunset may appear a dawning!”

G.W.M. REYNOLDS

La tour des rats de Victor Hugo - 1847 — La tour des rats de Victor Hugo – 1847

< < < Prelude to “The Songs of Twilight”
The Three Glorious Days > > >

French Literature – French Poetry – Victor Hugo – Poems by Victor Hugo

If you liked this article, subscribe , put likes, write comments!

Share on social networks

Visit us on Facebook or Twitter

Check out Our Latest Posts

The Land of Fable

Leave a comment Cancel reply