Page:Aicard - Molière à Shakspeare, 1879.djvu/17

La bibliothèque libre.
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— 14 —


In their melodious bark, Alceste and Célimène,
Tartufe, Orgon, and all, — thy glorious fools, —
Pass, playing again before us the comedy of life
On waves — like thee, smiling and deep.

O thou, our immortal honour, all the Earth,
O peerless Poet, hails thee in this day !

To Shakspeare :


Thou, Shakspeare, England’s immortal pride,
Molière hails thee ! And France with him !

To the audience :


Under the protection of these names, our highest glories,
We hail you, our Spectators, our Hosts,
Englishmen ! Once before, — ten years ago, — when a dark wind
Was blowing, covering despairing France with grief, —