Poem: “After the Coup d’État” by Victor Hugo

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French Literature – French Poetry – Victor Hugo – Poems by Victor Hugo
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After the Coup d’État

(“Devant les trahisons.”)

{Bk. VII, xvi., Jersey, Dec. 2, 1852.}

Before foul treachery and heads hung down,
I’ll fold my arms, indignant but serene.
Oh! faith in fallen things—be thou my crown,
My force, my joy, my prop on which I lean:

Yes, whilst he’s there, or struggle some or fall,
O France, dear France, for whom I weep in vain.
Tomb of my sires, nest of my loves—my all,
I ne’er shall see thee with these eyes again.

I shall not see thy sad, sad sounding shore,
France, save my duty, I shall all forget;
Amongst the true and tried, I’ll tug my oar,
And rest proscribed to brand the fawning set.

O bitter exile, hard, without a term,
Thee I accept, nor seek nor care to know
Who have down-truckled ‘mid the men deemed firm,
And who have fled that should have fought the foe.

If true a thousand stand, with them I stand;
A hundred? ’tis enough: we’ll Sylla brave;
Ten? put my name down foremost in the band;
One?—well, alone—until I find my grave.

TORU DUTT.

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

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Patria > > >

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

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After the Coup d’État

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