She that bare Columbus next: then she that made her spoil of Ind.
She that hears not what man's rage but only what the sea-wind
saith:
She that turned Spain's ships to cloud-wrack at the blasting of her
breath,
By her strengths of strong-souled children and of strong winds done
to death.
North and south the Great King's galleons went in Persian wise: and
here
She, with Æschylean music on her lips that laughed back fear,
In the face of Time's grey godhead shook the splendour of her
spear.
Fair as Athens then with foot upon her foeman's front, and strong
Even as Athens for redemption of the world from sovereign wrong,
Like as Athens crowned she stood before the sun with crowning song.
All the world is theirs with whom is freedom: first of all the
free,
Blest are they whom song has crowned and clothed with blessing:
these as we,
These alone have part in spirit with the sun that crowns the sea.

_April 1881._




THE STATUE OF VICTOR HUGO


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