The Novels Complete And Unabridged Of Victor Hugo Volume 11 PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1894. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... A SALON An Elegiac Poet, reading. The next day, footsteps were seen in the forest, A dog, whining, wandered along the banks of the river, And when the damsel all in tears Returned, her heart full of fears, To watch from the very old tower of an antique chatel, She heard her sad sobs, the sad Isaure, But she heard no more, the mandore Of the handsome minstrel! ALL THE AUDIENCE. Bravo! Charming! Ravishing! They clap their hands. MADAME DE BLINVAL. There is in that ending an indefinable mystery which brings tears to the eyes. THE ELEGIAC POET, modestly. The catastrophe is hidden. The Chevalier, throwing up his head. Mandore, minstrel, so romantic! THE ELEGIAC POET. Yes, sir, but only the reasonably romantic, the true romantic. What would you have? We must make some concessions. THE CHEVALIER. Concessions! concessions! That is how taste declines. I would give all the romantic verses in the world for this simple quatrain: So by Pride and by Cythere, Handsome Bernard is warned That the Art of Loving would on Saturday Come to sup with the Art of Pleasing. There is true poetry. The Art of Loving supping on Saturday with the Art of Pleasing! Well and good! But to-day it is the mandore, the minstrel. We no longer have fugitive poetry. If I were a poet, I would write fugitive poetry, but I, / am not a poet. THE ELEGIAC POET. However, the elegies . . . THE CHEVALIER. Fugitive poetry, sir! (Aside to Madame de Blinvar) And then chdtcl is not French; we say castel. Someone, to the Elegiac Poet. Note, sir. You say the antique chatel, why not the Gothic? THE ELEGIAC POET. Gothic is not in the verse. SOMEONE. Ah! That is different. The Elegiac Poet, continuing. You see, sir, we must limit ourselves. I am not one of those who wish to disorganize French verse, and lead us back to t...