Poems by Victor Hugo - HTML preview

MY HAPPIEST DREAM.

("J'aime à me figure.")
     {Bk. III. vii. and viii.}

I love to look, as evening fails,
     On vestals streaming in their veils,
     Within the fane past altar rails,
         Green palms in hand.
     My darkest moods will always clear
     When I can fancy children near,
     With rosy lips a-laughing—dear,
         Light-dancing band!

     Enchanting vision, too, displayed,
     That of a sweet and radiant maid,
     Who knows not why she is afraid,—
         Love's yet unseen!
     Another—rarest 'mong the rare—
     To see the gaze of chosen fair
     Return prolonged and wistful stare
         Of eager een.

     But—dream o'er all to stir my soul,
     And shine the brightest on the roll,
     Is when a land of tyrant's toll
         By sword is rid.
     I say not dagger—with the sword
     When Right enchampions the horde,
     All in broad day—so that the bard
     May sing the victor with the starred
         Bayard and Cid!