St. John

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Title:     St. John
Author: Victor Hugo [More Titles by Hugo]

("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.

 

Translated by NELSON R. TYERMAN.

[The end]
Victor Hugo's poem: St. John

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