Poems by Victor Hugo - HTML preview

THE OBDURATE BEAUTY.

("A Juana la Grenadine!")
     {XXIX., October, 1843.}

To Juana ever gay,
     Sultan Achmet spoke one day
       "Lo, the realms that kneel to own
       Homage to my sword and crown
     All I'd freely cast away,
       Maiden dear, for thee alone."

     "Be a Christian, noble king!
     For it were a grievous thing:
       Love to seek and find too well
       In the arms of infidel.
     Spain with cry of shame would ring,
       If from honor faithful fell."

     "By these pearls whose spotless chain,
     Oh, my gentle sovereign,
       Clasps thy neck of ivory,
       Aught thou askest I will be,
     If that necklace pure of stain
       Thou wilt give for rosary."

     JOHN L. O'SULLIVAN.