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GERARD DE NERVAL, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Of all that were thy prisons - ah, untamed


Of all that were thy prisons -ah, untamed,
Of all that were thy prisons-ah, untamed,
Ah, light and sacred soul!-none holds thee now;
Ah, light and sacred soul!-none holds thee now;
No wall, no bar, no body of flesh, but thou
No wall, no bar, no body of flesh, but thou
Art free and happy in the lands unnamed,
Art free and happy in the lands unnamed,
Within whose gates, on weary wings and maimed,
Within whose gates, on weary wings and maimed,
Thou still wouldst bear that mystic golden bough
Thou still wouldst bear that mystic golden bough
The Sibyl doth to singing men allow,
The Sibyl doth to singing men allow,
Yet thy report folk heeded not, but blamed.
Yet thy report folk heeded not, but blamed.
And they would smile and wonder, seeing where

Thou stood'st, to watch light leaves, or clouds, or wind,

And they would smile and wonder, seeing where
Dreamily murmuring a ballad air,
Thou stood'st, to watch light leaves, or clouds, or wind,
Caught from the Valois peasants; dost thou find
Dreamily murmuring a ballad air,
A new life gladder than the old times were,
Caught from the Valois peasants; dost thou find
A love more fair than Sylvie and as kind?

A new life gladder than the old times were,
A love more fair than Sylvie and as kind?









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