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Poems of Victor Hugo

by Victor Hugo

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Serenade

(“Quand tu chantes.”)

When the voice of thy lute at the eve
     Charmeth the ear,
In the hour of enchantment believe
     What I murmur near.
That the tune can the Age of Gold
     With its magic restore.
Play on, play on, my fair one,
     Play on for evermore.

When thy laugh like the song of the dawn
     Riseth so gay
That the shadows of Night are withdrawn
     And melt away,
I remember my years of care
     And misgiving no more.
Laugh on, laugh on, my fair one,
     Laugh on for evermore.

When thy sleep like the moonlight above
     Lulling the sea,
Doth enwind thee in visions of love,
     Perchance, of me!
I can watch so in dream that enthralled me,
     Never before!
Sleep on, sleep on, my fair one!
     Sleep on for evermore.

HENRY F. CHORLEY.

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