Fact Or Fable?

(BISMARCK AND NAPOLEON III.)

("Un jour, sentant un royal appétit.")

[Bk. III. iii., Jersey, September, 1852.]


One fasting day, itched by his appetite,
A monkey took a fallen tiger's hide,
And, where the wearer had been savage, tried
To overpass his model. Scratch and bite
Gave place, however, to mere gnash of teeth and screams,
But, as he prowled, he made his hearers fly
With crying often: "See the Terror of your dreams!"
Till, for too long, none ventured thither nigh.
Left undisturbed to snatch, and clog his brambled den,
With sleepers' bones and plumes of daunted doves,
And other spoil of beasts as timid as the men,
Who shrank when he mock-roared, from glens and groves -
He begged his fellows view the crannies crammed with pelf
Sordid and tawdry, stained and tinselled things,
As ample proof he was the Royal Tiger's self!
Year in, year out, thus still he purrs and sings
Till tramps a butcher by - he risks his head -
In darts the hand and crushes out the yell,
And plucks the hide - as from a nut the shell -
He holds him nude, and sneers: "An ape you dread!"

H.L.W.

Victor-Marie Hugo

Victor-Marie Hugo was a French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic movement. He is considered one of the greatest French writers, with works such as "Les Misérables" and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame." His literary works often explore themes of justice, love, and human rights. In addition to his literary achievements, he was also a politician and human rights activist. Hugo's influence extends beyond literature into politics and society.

Victor-Marie Hugo

Serenade.

Victor-Marie Hugo, Simple Poetry

Cornflowers.

Victor-Marie Hugo, Simple Poetry

The Poet's Simple Faith.

Victor-Marie Hugo, Simple Poetry

The Refugee's Haven.

Victor-Marie Hugo, Simple Poetry

English

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The Epic Of The Lion.

("Un lion avait pris un enfant.")

[XIII.]


A Lion in his jaws caught up a child -
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It was a rosy boy, a king's own pride,
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Had but one girl, two years of age, and so
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The Fox, The Monkey, And The Animals.

^[1]

Left kingless by the lion's death,
The beasts once met, our story saith,
Some fit successor to install.
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The crown was brought, and, taken from its case,
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For ever ripe for such a rig,
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The Monkey And The Leopard.

^[1]

A monkey and a leopard were
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Each advertised his own attractions.
Said one, 'Good sirs, the highest place
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The monkey's show-bill to the mart
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The Animals Sending Tribute To Alexander.

^[1]

A fable flourished with antiquity
Whose meaning I could never clearly see.
Kind reader, draw the moral if you're able:
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The Monkey And The Cat (Prose Fable)

Bertrand was a monkey and Ratter was a cat. They shared the same dwelling and had the same master, and a pretty mischievous pair they were. It was impossible to intimidate them. If anything was missed or spoilt, no one thought of blaming the other people in the house. Bertrand stole all he could lay his hands upon, and as for Ratter, he gave more attention to cheese than he did to the mice.

One day, in the chimney corner, these two rascals sat watching some chestnuts that were roasting before the fire. How jolly it would be to steal them they thought: doubly desirable, for it would not only be joy to themselves, but an annoyance to others.

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Noormahal The Fair.[1]

("Entre deux rocs d'un noir d'ébène.")

[XXVII., November, 1828.]


Between two ebon rocks
Behold yon sombre den,
Where brambles bristle like the locks
Of wool between the horns of scapegoat banned by men!

Remote in ruddy fog
Still hear the tiger growl
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That prowl with rusty throats to taunt and roar and howl;

Whilst other monsters fast
The hissing basilisk;
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And the boa with waking appetite made brisk!

The orfrey showing tongue,
The fly in stinging mood,
The elephant that crushes strong
And elastic bamboos an the scorpion's brood;

And the men of the trees
With their families fierce,
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But brings here i...

Victor-Marie Hugo