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Poems of Victor Hugo

by Victor Hugo

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St. John

(“Un jour, le morne esprit.”)
{Bk. VI. vii., Jersey, September, 1855.}

One day, the sombre soul, the Prophet most sublime
    At Patmos who aye dreamed,
And tremblingly perused, without the vast of Time,
    Words that with hell-fire gleamed,

Said to his eagle: “Bird, spread wings for loftiest flight—
    Needs must I see His Face!”
The eagle soared. At length, far beyond day and night,
    Lo! the all-sacred Place!

And John beheld the Way whereof no angel knows
    The name, nor there hath trod;
And, lo! the Place fulfilled with shadow that aye glows
    Because of very God.

NELSON R. TYERMAN.

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