French Satirical Poem: Victor Hugo’s “Les Châtiments” (“The Castigations”)
Posted on 13. Dec, 2011 by Hichem in Culture, History, Literature, People, Vocabulary
L’Hôtel des Invalides in Paris hosts Napoleon Bonaparte‘s tomb, which, if you take a good look at it, evokes the image of une citadelle imprenable (impregnable citadel); however, Victor Hugo, a self-styled French “Tomb Raider” of the 19th century, demonstrates through an eloquently incisive poem that the “tomb-citadel” housing the self-anointed Emperor stood little chance of repelling the mighty assault of a faceless yet terrifyingly compelling force: The inescapable sense of culpabilité (guiltiness) vis-à-vis one’s too many committed crimes
* Excerpt from Victor Hugo’s “l’Expiation“, belonging to his “Les Châtiments” compendium
L’horrible vision s’éteignit, L’empereur,
The horrible vision faded out, the Emperor
Désespéré, poussa dans l’ombre un cri d’horreur
Desperate, uttered in the shadows a horrified scream
Baissant les yeux, dressant ses mains épouvantées
Looking down, raising his terrified hands
Les Victoires, de marbre à la porte sculptées,
The victories, out of marber sculpted at the door
Fantômes blancs debout hors du sépulcre obscur,
White ghosts standing outside of the obscure grave
Se faisaient du doigt signe et, s’appuyant au mur,
Crossed themselves and, lying on the wall
Écoutaient le titan pleurer dans les ténèbres
Listened to the titan cry in the darkness
Et lui, cria : Démon aux visions funèbres,
As he screamed to the gloomy visions
Toi qui me suis partout, que jamais je ne vois,
You who follows me everywhere, whom I never see
Qui donc es-tu ?
Who are you?
Je suis ton crime, dit la voix
I am your crime, said the voice
La tombe alors s’emplit d’une lumière étrange
The grave then filled up with a strange light
Semblable à la clarté de Dieu quand il se venge ;
Similar to the clarity of God when He takes revenge
Pareils aux mots que vit resplendir Balthazar,
Like the words Balthazar saw glowing
Deux mots dans l’ombre écrits flamboyaient sur César :
Two words written in the shadow blazed on Cesar
Bonaparte, tremblant comme un enfant sans mère,
Bonaparte, shaking like a motherless child
Leva sa face pâle et lut : DIX-HUIT BRUMAIRE !
Looked up and read: Eighteenth of Brumaire!
Love this!