The Poetry Corner

Love Of The Woodland.

By Victor-Marie Hugo

("Orphe au bois du Caystre.") [Bk. I. ii.] Orpheus, through the hellward wood Hurried, ere the eve-star glowed, For the fauns' lugubrious hoots Followed, hollow, from crookd roots; Aeschylus, where Aetna smoked, Gods of Sicily evoked With the flute, till sulphur taint Dulled and lulled the echoes faint; Pliny, soon his style mislaid, Dogged Miletus' merry maid, As she showed eburnean limbs All-multiplied by brooklet brims; Plautus, see! like Plutus, hold Bosomfuls of orchard-gold, Learns he why that mystic core Was sweet Venus' meed of yore? Dante dreamt (while spirits pass As in wizard's jetty glass) Each black-bossed Briarian trunk Waved live arms like furies drunk; Winsome Will, 'neath Windsor Oak, Eyed each elf that cracked a joke At poor panting grease-hart fast - Obese, roguish Jack harassed; At Versailles, Molire did court Cues from Pan (in heron port, Half in ooze, half treeward raised), "Words so witty, that Boileau's 'mazed!" Foliage! fondly you attract! Dian's faith I keep intact, And declare that thy dryads dance Still, and will, in thy green expanse!