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Benediction: Difference between revisions
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{{poem | {{poem | ||
| title = Benediction | | title = Benediction | ||
| author = Charles Baudelaire | | author = Charles Baudelaire | ||
| section = | | section =[[fr.ws: Bénédiction|'''Bénédiction''']] | ||
| previous = | | previous = | ||
| next = | | next = | ||
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<poem> | <poem> | ||
'''Benediction''' | '''Benediction''' | ||
When, on a certain day, into this harassed world | When, on a certain day, into this harassed world | ||
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His mother, overwhelmed by shame and fury, hurled | His mother, overwhelmed by shame and fury, hurled | ||
These blasphemies at God, clenching her fists in scorn: | These blasphemies at God, clenching her fists in scorn: | ||
"Would I had whelped a knot of vipers — at the worst | "Would I had whelped a knot of vipers — at the worst | ||
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Oh, cursèd be that night of pleasure, thrice accurst | Oh, cursèd be that night of pleasure, thrice accurst | ||
My womb, that has conceived and nourished my despair! | My womb, that has conceived and nourished my despair! | ||
"Since, of all mortal women, it would seem my fate | "Since, of all mortal women, it would seem my fate | ||
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And since I may not toss this monster in the grate — | And since I may not toss this monster in the grate — | ||
Like any crumpled letter, reeking of stale lust — | Like any crumpled letter, reeking of stale lust — | ||
"Upon his helpless form, whereby Thou humblest me, | "Upon his helpless form, whereby Thou humblest me, | ||
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And I shall twist so well this miserable tree | And I shall twist so well this miserable tree | ||
That it shall not put forth one pestilential bud!" | That it shall not put forth one pestilential bud!" | ||
Thus did she foam with anger, railing, swallowing froth; | Thus did she foam with anger, railing, swallowing froth; | ||
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She set about to draw Gehenna on them both, | She set about to draw Gehenna on them both, | ||
Eyeing the fire, considering how he might be killed. | Eyeing the fire, considering how he might be killed. | ||
Meantime, above the child an unseen angel beats | Meantime, above the child an unseen angel beats | ||
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And everything he drinks and everything he eats | And everything he drinks and everything he eats | ||
Are nectar and ambrosia to this hapless one. | Are nectar and ambrosia to this hapless one. | ||
Companioned by the wind, conversing with the cloud, | Companioned by the wind, conversing with the cloud, | ||
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And the bright Spirit, following him, weeps aloud | And the bright Spirit, following him, weeps aloud | ||
To see him hop so gaily, like a little bird. | To see him hop so gaily, like a little bird. | ||
Those whom he longs to love observe him with constraint | Those whom he longs to love observe him with constraint | ||
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Grow bold, and seek to draw from him some sharp complaint, | Grow bold, and seek to draw from him some sharp complaint, | ||
Wreaking on him all day their dull ferocities. | Wreaking on him all day their dull ferocities. | ||
Cinders are in his bread, are gritty in his teeth; | Cinders are in his bread, are gritty in his teeth; | ||
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They hesitate to set their shoes, mincing beneath | They hesitate to set their shoes, mincing beneath | ||
Hypocrisy; all things he touched, they call unclean. | Hypocrisy; all things he touched, they call unclean. | ||
His wife in public places cries, "Since after all | His wife in public places cries, "Since after all | ||
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I'll make a business of it, be an idol, call | I'll make a business of it, be an idol, call | ||
For gold, to have myself regilded now and then! | For gold, to have myself regilded now and then! | ||
"And some day, when I'm drunk with frankincense, rich food, | "And some day, when I'm drunk with frankincense, rich food, | ||
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I'll get from him (while laughing in his face, I could!) | I'll get from him (while laughing in his face, I could!) | ||
That homage he has kept, so far, for things divine. | That homage he has kept, so far, for things divine. | ||
"And, when my pleasure in these impious farces fails, | "And, when my pleasure in these impious farces fails, | ||
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And these long nails of mine, so like to harpies' nails, | And these long nails of mine, so like to harpies' nails, | ||
Shall dig till they have dug a tunnel to his heart. | Shall dig till they have dug a tunnel to his heart. | ||
"Then, like a young bird, caught and fluttering to be freed, | "Then, like a young bird, caught and fluttering to be freed, | ||
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I'll wrench his heart out, warm and bleeding — let it bleed! — | I'll wrench his heart out, warm and bleeding — let it bleed! — | ||
And drop it, with contempt and loathing, to the ground." | And drop it, with contempt and loathing, to the ground." | ||
Meanwhile toward Heaven, the goal of his mature desire, | Meanwhile toward Heaven, the goal of his mature desire, | ||
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His lucid essence flames with lightnings — veiled by fire | His lucid essence flames with lightnings — veiled by fire | ||
Is all the furious world, all the lewd conflict there. | Is all the furious world, all the lewd conflict there. | ||
"Be praised, Almighty God, that givest to faulty me | "Be praised, Almighty God, that givest to faulty me | ||
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To fortify my puny strength, to bid me see | To fortify my puny strength, to bid me see | ||
Pure Faith, and what voluptuous blisses dwell therein. | Pure Faith, and what voluptuous blisses dwell therein. | ||
"I know that in those ranks on ranks of happy blest | "I know that in those ranks on ranks of happy blest | ||
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And that Thou wilt at length to the eternal feast | And that Thou wilt at length to the eternal feast | ||
Of Virtues, Thrones and Dominations, summon him. | Of Virtues, Thrones and Dominations, summon him. | ||
"I know, Pain is the one nobility we have | "I know, Pain is the one nobility we have | ||
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I know that space and time, beyond the temporal grave, | I know that space and time, beyond the temporal grave, | ||
Weave me a mystic crown, free from all earthly flaw. | Weave me a mystic crown, free from all earthly flaw. | ||
"Not emeralds, not all the pearls of the deep sea, | "Not emeralds, not all the pearls of the deep sea, | ||
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Antique Palmyra hides, could ever seem to me | Antique Palmyra hides, could ever seem to me | ||
So beautiful as that clear glittering diadem. | So beautiful as that clear glittering diadem. | ||
"Of Light, of Light alone, it will be fashioned, Light | "Of Light, of Light alone, it will be fashioned, Light | ||
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Whereof the eyes of mortal men, so starry bright, | Whereof the eyes of mortal men, so starry bright, | ||
Are but the mirrors, mirrors cloudy and obscure." | Are but the mirrors, mirrors cloudy and obscure." | ||
— Edna St. Vincent Millay, Flowers of Evil (NY: Harper and Brothers, 1936) | — Edna St. Vincent Millay, Flowers of Evil (NY: Harper and Brothers, 1936) | ||
</poem> | </poem> | ||
Revision as of 07:59, 17 October 2007
| Benediction ~ Bénédiction written by Charles Baudelaire |
| NOTE: No.1 from "The Flowers of Evil" / "Les Fleurs du mal". Translated by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892-1950), Flowers of Evil (NY: Harper and Brothers, 1936). Source: fleursdumal.org. | Link to further information |
Benediction
When, on a certain day, into this harassed world
The Poet, by decree of the high powers, was born,
His mother, overwhelmed by shame and fury, hurled
These blasphemies at God, clenching her fists in scorn:
"Would I had whelped a knot of vipers — at the worst
'Twere better than this runt that whines and snivels there!
Oh, cursèd be that night of pleasure, thrice accurst
My womb, that has conceived and nourished my despair!
"Since, of all mortal women, it would seem my fate
To be my saddened husband's horror and disgust;
And since I may not toss this monster in the grate —
Like any crumpled letter, reeking of stale lust —
"Upon his helpless form, whereby Thou humblest me,
I shall divert Thy hatred in one raging flood;
And I shall twist so well this miserable tree
That it shall not put forth one pestilential bud!"
Thus did she foam with anger, railing, swallowing froth;
And, unaware of what the mighty powers had willed,
She set about to draw Gehenna on them both,
Eyeing the fire, considering how he might be killed.
Meantime, above the child an unseen angel beats
His wings, and the poor waif runs laughing in the sun;
And everything he drinks and everything he eats
Are nectar and ambrosia to this hapless one.
Companioned by the wind, conversing with the cloud,
Along the highway to the Cross his song is heard;
And the bright Spirit, following him, weeps aloud
To see him hop so gaily, like a little bird.
Those whom he longs to love observe him with constraint
And fear, as he grows up; or, seeing how calm he is,
Grow bold, and seek to draw from him some sharp complaint,
Wreaking on him all day their dull ferocities.
Cinders are in his bread, are gritty in his teeth;
Spittle is in his wine. Where his footprints are seen
They hesitate to set their shoes, mincing beneath
Hypocrisy; all things he touched, they call unclean.
His wife in public places cries, "Since after all
He loves me so, that he's the laughingstock of men,
I'll make a business of it, be an idol, call
For gold, to have myself regilded now and then!
"And some day, when I'm drunk with frankincense, rich food,
Flattery, genuflexions, spikenard, beady wine,
I'll get from him (while laughing in his face, I could!)
That homage he has kept, so far, for things divine.
"And, when my pleasure in these impious farces fails,
My dainty, terrible hands shall tear his breast apart,
And these long nails of mine, so like to harpies' nails,
Shall dig till they have dug a tunnel to his heart.
"Then, like a young bird, caught and fluttering to be freed,
('Twill make a tasty morsel for my favorite hound)
I'll wrench his heart out, warm and bleeding — let it bleed! —
And drop it, with contempt and loathing, to the ground."
Meanwhile toward Heaven, the goal of his mature desire,
The Poet, oblivious, lifts up his arms in prayer;
His lucid essence flames with lightnings — veiled by fire
Is all the furious world, all the lewd conflict there.
"Be praised, Almighty God, that givest to faulty me
This suffering, to purge my spirit of its sin,
To fortify my puny strength, to bid me see
Pure Faith, and what voluptuous blisses dwell therein.
"I know that in those ranks on ranks of happy blest
The Poet shall have some place among Thy Seraphim;
And that Thou wilt at length to the eternal feast
Of Virtues, Thrones and Dominations, summon him.
"I know, Pain is the one nobility we have
Which not the hungry ground nor hell shall ever gnaw;
I know that space and time, beyond the temporal grave,
Weave me a mystic crown, free from all earthly flaw.
"Not emeralds, not all the pearls of the deep sea,
All the rare metals, every lost and buried gem
Antique Palmyra hides, could ever seem to me
So beautiful as that clear glittering diadem.
"Of Light, of Light alone, it will be fashioned, Light
Drawn from the holy fount, rays primitive and pure,
Whereof the eyes of mortal men, so starry bright,
Are but the mirrors, mirrors cloudy and obscure."
— Edna St. Vincent Millay, Flowers of Evil (NY: Harper and Brothers, 1936)