Poems by Victor Hugo - HTML preview

THE HUMBLE HOME.

("L'église est vaste et haute.")
     {IV., June 29, 1839.}

The Church{1} is vast; its towering pride, its steeples loom on high;
     The bristling stones with leaf and flower are sculptured wondrously;
         The portal glows resplendent with its "rose,"
     And 'neath the vault immense at evening swarm
     Figures of angel, saint, or demon's form,
         As oft a fearful world our dreams disclose.
     But not the huge Cathedral's height, nor yet its vault sublime,
     Nor porch, nor glass, nor streaks of light, nor shadows deep with time;
         Nor massy towers, that fascinate mine eyes;
       No, 'tis that spot—the mind's tranquillity—
       Chamber wherefrom the song mounts cheerily,
         Placed like a joyful nest well nigh the skies.

     Yea! glorious is the Church, I ween, but Meekness dwelleth here;
     Less do I love the lofty oak than mossy nest it bear;
         More dear is meadow breath than stormy wind:
     And when my mind for meditation's meant,
     The seaweed is preferred to the shore's extent,—
         The swallow to the main it leaves behind.

     Author of "Critical Essays."
     {Footnote 1: The Cathedral Nôtre Dame of Paris, which is the scene of the
     author's romance, "Nôtre Dame."}