LUCIFER
by
ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE
(1837-1909)
Écrasez l'infâme. - VOLTAIRE
Les prêtres ont raison de l'appeler Lucifer. - VICTOR
HUGO
VOLTAIRE, our England's lover, man divine
Beyond all Gods that ever fear adored
By right and might, by sceptre and by sword,
By godlike love of sunlike truth, made thine
Through godlike hate of falsehood's marshlight shine
And all the fume of creeds and deeds abhorred
Whose light was darkness, till the dawn-star soared,
Truth, reason, mercy, justice, keep thy shrine
Scared in memory's temple, seeing that none
Of all souls born to strive before the sun
Loved ever good or hated evil more.
The snake that felt thy heel upon her head,
Night's first-born, writhes as though she were not dead,
But strikes not, stings not, slays not as before.
Transcribed by Carl Mickelsen
