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Maurice Maeterlinck. (1862–1949) (continued)

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Men’s weaknesses are often necessary to the purposes of life.

Joyzelle. Act ii.

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All our knowledge merely helps us to die a more painful death than the animals that know nothing. A day will come when science will turn upon its error and no longer hesitate to shorten our woes. A day will come when it will dare and act with certainty; when life, grown wiser, will depart silently at its hour, knowing that it has reached its term.

Our Eternity.

Edmond Rostand. (1868–1918)

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Malebranche would have it that not a soul is left;
We humbly think that there still are hearts.1

Chantecler. Prélude.

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Without doubt
I can teach crowing: for I gobble.2

Chantecler. Act i. Sc. 2.

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I fall back dazzled at beholding myself all rosy red,
At having, I myself, caused the sun to rise.3

Chantecler. Act ii. Sc. 3.

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And sounding in advance its victory,
My song jets forth so clear, so proud, so peremptory,
That the horizon, seized with a rosy trembling,
Obeys me.4

Chantecler. Act ii. Sc. 3.

Note 1.
Malebranche dirait qu’il n’y a plus une âme:
Nous pensons humblement qu’il reste encor des cœurs. [back]

Note 2.
Sans doute
Je peux apprendre à coqueriquer: je glougloute. [back]

Note 3.
Je recule
Ébloui de me voir moi même tout vermeil
Et d’avoir, moi, le coq, fait élever le soleil. [back]

Note 4.
Et sonnant d’avance sa victoire,
Mon chant jaillit si net, si fier, si peremptoire
Que l’horizon, saisi d’un rose tremblement,
M’obéit. [back]