
A haunting, lyrical tapestry opens with a mournful voice that remembers a beloved lost to a night that never returns. The narrator wanders through moon‑lit streets and ancient ruins, hearing the echo of forgotten gods and feeling the weight of grief that clings to every stone. Vivid images of black flowers, storm‑laden lakes, and the scent of wilted roses create a world where memory and myth intertwine.
As the poem unfolds, the speaker confronts a procession of shadowy figures—silent deities, spectral lovers, and a lone heroic figure whose fate seems sealed by fate’s cruel hand. The language swells with the cadence of classic elegies, inviting listeners to linger over each line as it balances beauty and melancholy. In these first moments, the work sets a tone of solemn reverence, promising a journey through timeless sorrow and fragile hope that will linger long after the final verse.
Language
fr
Duration
~2 hours (121K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Laurent Vogel and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at http://gallica.bnf.fr)
Release date
2013-12-05
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1864–1912
A leading voice of French Symbolism, this poet and critic also used his pen in public life, speaking out on justice and human rights. His work moves between literature, philosophy, translation, and journalism.
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