The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-10
XII.

Meanwhile We should note that "ouatrs-
Vingt- Treize" saw the light In February. 1874
This novel cost the author six months OF soil.
tude ard continues labor. passed in Guernsey,
whittier Victor Hugo had betaken himself In
order to give his entire time TO the new work.
This book was intended to be only the
first part OF a trilogy consecrated to 'gs,
the most momentous and fruitful year 81
the eighteenth century. In each OF the three
proGaRouists OF the drama, for q drama 10
virtually Is, the principle OF one OF the three
ages OF human society is incarnated. LAn-
tenac. the monarchio and Catholic chief. per-
sonines blind faith, tho Past. Cimoirdain. the
priest who has become a citizen. represents IN
flexible Justice. the Present. Gauvain. the mill
tant thinker. who braves death to give lfe. 10
the ideal of mercy. and presages the Future.
On the l4th OF March. 1873. appeared the SEQ.
ond volume Of The Historic dun Crime:" more
than a hundred thousand copies OF this book
were Immediately disposed OF. Almost all
English.sp-aking readers are familiar with
the terrible grandeur of this narrative. which,
like the later pages of Tacitus. WAS
penned by an eyewitness. In tho following
April the inexhaustible author put forth a new
poem. lie Pape." and this was succeeded n
February. 1870, by La itie Supreme" The
purpose OF these two works was to inculcate two
decisive lessons, the first addressed To men who
do not fear TO assume moral infA!libIlity: the
second. to those who do not fear 10 exercise mate
rial omnipotence. These poems naturally group
themselves with two. subsequently, published.
Religions and Religion" aud Lame" the
two last-named compositions point out two
rocks which. Ike Scylla aud Char bdis, PER-
pctually threaten human progress; SUPER
stitlon In which faith is lost. and pedantry.
In which reason is ccllpsed. Taken together,
tho four poems constitute sort OF philnsophio
tetralogy. In which tie r!oomiest and Iaoss
formidable questions that can engage human
thought are resolved In brilliant symbols
win u logic As natural and cogent as IL -
stones brought by poetry TO serve a. the basis ot
an Ideal temple. IN which future ages wi.
celebrate the cult Of humanity. In MAY. 1851.
Victor Hugo. being then in his clgh' eth year,
brought cut Les Qu,tre Vents derE .pri,," an
extraordinary miscellany of epic, lyrical. and
dramatic poetry: III" admiration expressed for
this work by cnntem porary readers was unau!-
nous and profound. one OF the only two
sonnets which he Is known to have written 10
contained in this hnoR. The other. ms get
imprinted In any volume. was written In
Mcndes: II bore the till. Ave. den; morturus
te s%alutnt." As hitherto II has been unpub-
lished, We quote an English translation oft:
Beauty and Death are things profound, contaiuIns
50 much NJ shade and nIure they might DO
Der I've same riddle, tic same mystaTy.
o, women, i've die, my star is waning,
u" loved, % looks and tress"S fair to see
q pearls the sea for It's great waves ~ gaining!
EriIht birds that mid the sombrc woods NIT fresl
Judith, our fates are closer far united
Tns ae eysy S,Sins IN ,n, NM ss s9s "a" i.. VI ~ rae" Sia 20 '.o~
And by the starry Guit my soul f. Lighted.
Wer- near TO heaven, ana we the secret hold
For thou art beautiful, and | am old.
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