Читать книгу Poems - Victor Hugo, Clara Inés Bravo Villarreal - Страница 35

     Between two ebon rocks

       Behold yon sombre den,

     Where brambles bristle like the locks

       Of wool between the horns of scapegoat banned by men!

     Remote in ruddy fog

       Still hear the tiger growl

     At the lion and stripèd dog

       That prowl with rusty throats to taunt and roar and howl;

     Whilst other monsters fast

       The hissing basilisk;

     The hippopotamus so vast,

       And the boa with waking appetite made brisk!

     The orfrey showing tongue,

       The fly in stinging mood,

     The elephant that crushes strong

       And elastic bamboos an the scorpion's brood;

     And the men of the trees

       With their families fierce,

     Till there is not one scorching breeze

       But brings here its venom – its horror to pierce —

     Yet, rather there be lone,

       'Mid all those horrors there,

     Than hear the sickly honeyed tone

       And see the swimming eyes of Noormahal the Fair!