par is spleen

8/4/2019 Par is Spleen

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Paris SpleenParis Spleen

Charles BaudelaireCharles Baudelaire

18671867


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Baudelaires TalentBaudelaires Talent

n Poetry is lenfance retrouve volont.

uuchildhood willfully recoveredchildhood willfully recovered

nn llesprit lucideesprit lucide

nn The struggle between sensuality and theThe struggle between sensuality and the

critical mindcritical mind


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Baudelaires Classicism

Baudelaires Classicism

nn ClassicismClassicism finds voice in his struggle tofinds voice in his struggle to

find ideal formulation of ideas about humanfind ideal formulation of ideas about human

naturenature

nn The Rochefoucauld/The Rochefoucauld/SablSabl traditiontradition

uu For men whose profession it is to be funny,For men whose profession it is to be funny,

serious things have a fatal attraction.serious things have a fatal attraction. (from(from AAHeroic DeathHeroic Death))

uu Life is a hospital where every patient isLife is a hospital where every patient is

obsessed by the desire of changing beds.obsessed by the desire of changing beds.

(from(from Anywhere out of the WorldAnywhere out of the World))


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Baudelaires Romanticism

Baudelaires Romanticism

nn RomanticismRomanticism finds voice in his valuing offinds voice in his valuing of

individual experience and private moralityindividual experience and private morality

(or immorality) over public responsibility(or immorality) over public responsibility

uu Beat Up The PoorBeat Up The Poor

uu Get DrunkGet Drunk

uu ThirstlessThirstless have drunk, andhave drunk, and hungerlesshungerless eateneaten(from(from Questioning at MidnightQuestioning at Midnight))


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Baudelaires Symbolism

Baudelaires Symbolism

nn Symbolism finds voice in his attempts toSymbolism finds voice in his attempts to

reach the essence by writing in highlyreach the essence by writing in highly

private metaphors that have the illogicalprivate metaphors that have the illogical

sequence of dreams or hallucinationssequence of dreams or hallucinations

uu When I gnaw your elastic and rebellious hair IWhen I gnaw your elastic and rebellious hair I

seem to be eating memories.seem to be eating memories. (from(from AAHemisphere In Your HairHemisphere In Your Hair))

uu To Every Man His ChimeraTo Every Man His Chimera


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{Paris Spleen}

{{Paris Spleen}}d What is the spleen , and what is it supposed to do?

d seat of the emotions

d melancholy

d boredom

d 1) The Stranger (linfini dans le fini)

d 2) The Soup And The Clouds

d 3) The Eyes Of The Poor

d

4) One OClockIn the Morning

d 5) To Every Man His Chimera

d 6) The Bad Glazier

dd

7)7) ProjectsProjects


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Baudelaires Mistress, sketched

by Baudelaire

Baudelaires Mistress, sketched

by Baudelaire


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Charles BaudelaireCharles Baudelaire


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THE EYES OF THE POORTHE EYES OF THE POOR

Ah! So you would like to know why I hate you today?

It will certainly be harder for you to understand than

for me to explain, for you are, I believe, the most

perfect example of feminine impermeability that

exists.

We had spent a long day together which to me had

seemed short. We had duly promised each other that

all our thoughts should be shared in common, and

that our two souls henceforth be but one a dream

which, after all, has nothing original about it except

that, although dreamed by every man on earth, it

has been realized by none...


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THE EYES OF THE POORTHE EYES OF THE POORn That evening, a little tired, you wanted to sit down in

front of a new caf forming the corner of a new

boulevard still littered with rubbish but that already

displayed proudly its unfinished splendors. The caf

was dazzling. Even the gas burned with all the ardor

of a dbut, and lighted with all its might the blindingwhiteness of the walls, the expanse of mirrors, the

gold cornices and moldings, fat-cheeked pages

dragged along by hounds on leash, laughing ladies

with falcons on their wrists, nymphs and goddessesbearing on their heads piles of fruits, pats and game,

Hebes and Ganymedes holding out little amphoras of

syrups or parti-colored ices : all history and all

mythology pandering to gluttony.


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n On the street directly in front of us, a worthy man

of about forty, with tired face and greying beard,

was standing holding a small boy by the hand and

carrying on his arm another little thing, still too

weak to walk. He was playing nurse-maid, taking

the children for an evening stroll. They were in

rags. The three faces were extraordinarily serious,

and those six eyes stared at the new caf withadmiration, equal in degree but differing in kind

according to their ages.


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THE EYES OF THE POORTHE EYES OF THE POORn Hebe

n Ganymede

n dbut

n The contrast of rich, spoiled pleasure seekers and a

poor working man with a family is this a politicaltale?

n A tale of isolations

n Why poor world?

n Why too weak to walk, instead of too young towalk?

n Why is the babys joy stupid and profound?

n Thirstless have drunk, and hungerless eaten.


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n The eyes of the father said, How beautiful it is!

How beautiful it is! All the gold of the poor world

must have found its way onto those walls. The

eyes of the little boy: How beautiful it is! How

beautiful it is! But it is a house where only people

who are like us cannot go. As for the baby, he

was much too fascinated to express anything but

joy utterly stupid and profound.


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n Song writers say that pleasure ennobles the soul and

softens the heart. The song was right that evening as

far as I was concerned. Not only was I touched by

this family of eyes, but I was even a little ashamed

of our glasses and decanters, too big for our thirst. Iturned my eyes to look into yours, dear love, to read

my thoughts in them; and as I plunged my eyes into

your eyes, so beautiful and so curiously soft, into

those green eyes, home of Caprice and governed bythe Moon, you said: Those people are insufferable

with their great saucer eyes. Cant you tell the

proprietor to send them away?


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n So you see how difficult it is to

understand one another, my dear angel,

how incommunicable thought is, even

between two people in love.


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One OClock in the Morning(page 15)

One OClock in the Morning(page 15)

hh The loathing of human society and weariness with ParisThe loathing of human society and weariness with Parishh A confession without a priest and without penanceA confession without a priest and without penance

h Dissatisfied with everything, dissatisfied with myself, Ilong to redeem myself and to restore my pride in the

silence and solitude of the night. Souls of those whom Ihave loved, souls of those whom I have sung, strengthenme, sustain me, keep me from the vanitiees of the worldand its contaminating fumes; and You, dear God! Grantme grace to produce a few beautiful verses to prove tomyself that I am not the lowest of men, that I am notinferior to those whom I despise.

hh A prayer based, not on charity, but pride.A prayer based, not on charity, but pride.

hh See also page 112:See also page 112: Questioning at MidnightQuestioning at Midnight


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TO EACH

HIS CHIMERA

TO EACH

HIS CHIMERA


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Chacun Sa Chimre/To Each His ChimeraChacun Sa Chimre/To Each His Chimera

nn SousSous un grandun grand ciel griciel gri,, dansdansune grande plaine poudreuseune grande plaine poudreuse,,

sanssans cheminschemins, sans, sans gazongazon,,

sans unsans un chardonchardon, sans, sans uneune

ortieortie,, je recontrai plusieursje recontrai plusieurs

hommeshommes quiqui marchaientmarchaientcoubcoubss..

nn Chacun dChacun deux portait sureux portait sur sonson

dosdos uneune norme Chimnorme Chimrere,,

aussi lourde quaussi lourde quunun sac desac de

farine oufarine ou dede charboncharbon,, ouou lele

fournimentfourniment ddunun fantassinfantassin

romainromain..

nn Under a wide gray sky,Under a wide gray sky,in a vast dusty plain,in a vast dusty plain,

without roads, or grass,without roads, or grass,

or thistle, or nettle, Ior thistle, or nettle, I

met several men whomet several men who

were walking bentwere walking bentover.over.

nn Each of them carriedEach of them carried

on his back a hugeon his back a huge

Chimera, as heavy as aChimera, as heavy as a

bag of flour or coal, orbag of flour or coal, or

the equipment of athe equipment of a

Roman foot soldier.Roman foot soldier.


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nn MaisMais lala monstrueusemonstrueuse bbtete

nntaittait pas unpas un poids inertepoids inerte;;

au contraire,au contraire, elle enveloppaitelle enveloppaitetet opprimait lopprimait lhommehomme dede sesses

musclesmuscles lastiqueslastiques etet

puissantspuissants;; elle selle sagrafaitagrafait avecavec

ses deux vastes griffesses deux vastes griffes lala

poitrinepoitrine dede sa monturesa monture; et; et sasa

ttte fabuleuse surmontaitte fabuleuse surmontait lele

front defront de llhommehomme,, commecomme unun

dede ces caques horriblesces caques horribles parpar

lesquellesquel lesles anciens guerriersanciens guerriers

espespraient ajouterraient ajouter lala terreurterreur

dede llennemiennemi..

nn But the monstrous beastBut the monstrous beast

was not an inert weight;was not an inert weight;

on the contrary, iton the contrary, itcovered and oppressedcovered and oppressed

the man with its elastic,the man with its elastic,

powerful muscles; itpowerful muscles; it

fastened itself with itsfastened itself with its

two large claws on thetwo large claws on the

chest of its mounts; andchest of its mounts; and

its fabulous head roseits fabulous head rose

above the manabove the mans head,s head,

like one of those horriblelike one of those horrible

helmets by which ancienthelmets by which ancient

warriors hoped to instillwarriors hoped to instill

terror in the enemy.terror in the enemy.


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nn Je questionnai lJe questionnai lunun desdes cesces

hommeshommes, et, et je lui demandaije lui demandai

oo ils allaient ainsiils allaient ainsi Il meIl merrpondit qupondit quil nil nen savaiten savait

rienrien,, ni luini lui,, nini lesles autresautres;;

mais qumais quvidemment ilsvidemment ils

allaient quelqueallaient quelque part,part,

puisqupuisquilsils taient poustaient pousss parpar

un invincibleun invincible besoinbesoin dede

marcher.marcher.

nn I questioned one of thoseI questioned one of those

men, and asked himmen, and asked him

where they were going inwhere they were going inthis way. He answeredthis way. He answered

that neither he nor thethat neither he nor the

others knew anythingothers knew anything

about it; but thatabout it; but that

obviously they wereobviously they were

going somewhere, sincegoing somewhere, since

they were impelled by anthey were impelled by an

invincible need to walk.invincible need to walk.


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nn ChoseChose curieusecurieuse noternoter::aucunaucun dede cesces voyageursvoyageurs

nnavait lavait lairair irritirrit contrecontre lalabbtete ffroce suspendueroce suspendue sonson coucou etet collcollee sonsondos; ondos; on eet dit qut dit quilil lalaconsidconsidrait fatigurait fatiguss etet

ssrieuxrieux nene ttmoignaientmoignaientddaucun daucun dsespoirsespoir;; soussous lalacoupole spleencoupole spleentique dutique ducielciel, les, les pieds plongpieds plongssdansdans lala poussipoussirere ddun solun solaussi daussi dsolsol queque ce cielce ciel,,ils cheminaientils cheminaient avec laavec laphysionomie rphysionomie rsignsignee dedeceuxceux quiqui sont condamnsont condamnss espesprer toujoursrer toujours..

nn One curious thing to note:One curious thing to note:no one of these travelersno one of these travelers

seemed irritated with theseemed irritated with thewild beast hanging on hiswild beast hanging on hisneck and glued to his back;neck and glued to his back;you might say he lookedyou might say he lookedupon it as part of himself.upon it as part of himself.All those weary serious-All those weary serious-looking faces gave nolooking faces gave noevidence of despair; underevidence of despair; underthe mournful cupola of thethe mournful cupola of thesky, where their feet sanksky, where their feet sankinto the dust of an earth asinto the dust of an earth as

sad as the sky, they walkedsad as the sky, they walkedon with the resigned faceson with the resigned facesof those who are eternallyof those who are eternallycondemned to hope.condemned to hope.


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Et le cortEt le cortgege passapassa cctt dede moimoi etet

ssenfonenfona dansa dans

llatmosphatmosphrere dede

llhorizonhorizon,, llendroit oendroit o lala

surfacesurface arrondiearrondie dede

lala planplantete sese ddroberobe

lala curiositcuriosit duduregardregard humainhumain..

And the processionAnd the processionpassed beside mepassed beside me

and disappeared intoand disappeared into

the atmosphere onthe atmosphere on

the horizon, at thethe horizon, at thespot where thespot where the

rounded surface ofrounded surface of

the planetthe planet

withdraws from thewithdraws from the

curiosity of humancuriosity of human

eyes.eyes.


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Et pendantEt pendant quelquesquelques instantsinstants jeje

mmobstinaiobstinai vouloirvouloir

comprendre ce mystcomprendre ce mystrere;; maismaisbeintbeintt lt lirrirrsistiblesistible

IndefIndefrence srence sabattit ur moiabattit ur moi,,

etet jjen fusen fus plusplus lourdementlourdement

accablaccabl ququilsils nene lltaienttaient

euxeux--mmmesmes parpar leursleurs

crasantes Chimcrasantes Chimresres..

And for a few seconds IAnd for a few seconds I

persisted in trying topersisted in trying to

understand this mystery;understand this mystery;but soon irresistiblebut soon irresistible

Indifference closed overIndifference closed over

me, and I was moreme, and I was more

heavily crushed by itheavily crushed by it

than they themselvesthan they themselves

were by their weightywere by their weighty

Chimeras.Chimeras.


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Boredom fromBoredom from

But among the jackals, panthers, bitches,But among the jackals, panthers, bitches,

Monkeys, scorpions, vultures, serpents,Monkeys, scorpions, vultures, serpents,

The monsters squealing, yelling, grunting, crawlingThe monsters squealing, yelling, grunting, crawlingThe infamous menagerie of our vicesThe infamous menagerie of our vices

There is one uglier, more wicked and more foul than all!There is one uglier, more wicked and more foul than all!

Although he does not make great gestures or great cries,Although he does not make great gestures or great cries,

He would gladly make the earth a shamblesHe would gladly make the earth a shamblesAnd swallow the world in a yawn;And swallow the world in a yawn;

It is boredom! his eyes weeping an involuntary tear,It is boredom! his eyes weeping an involuntary tear,

He dreams of gibbets as he smokes his hookah.He dreams of gibbets as he smokes his hookah.You know him, reader, this delicate monster,You know him, reader, this delicate monster,

Hypocrite readerHypocrite reader my twinmy twin my brother!my brother!


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PASCAL On BoredomPASCAL On Boredom

Man finds nothing so intolerable as to be in astate of complete rest, without passions,without occupation, without diversion,without effort.

Then he faces his nullity, loneliness,inadequacy, dependence, helplessness,emptiness.

And at once there wells up from the depths ofhis soul boredom, gloom, depression,chagrin, resentment, despair.Penses #622/131


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THE STRANGERTHE STRANGER


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Whom do you prefer, enigmatical man, tell me: yourWhom do you prefer, enigmatical man, tell me: your

father, your mother, your sister or your brother?father, your mother, your sister or your brother?I have no father, nor mother, nor sister, nor brother.I have no father, nor mother, nor sister, nor brother.

Your friends?Your friends?

You are using a word whose meaning remainsYou are using a word whose meaning remains

unknown to me.unknown to me.Your country?Your country?

I do not know in what latitude it lies.I do not know in what latitude it lies.

Beauty?Beauty?

I could willingly love her, goddess and immortal.I could willingly love her, goddess and immortal.Gold?Gold?

I hate it as you hate God.I hate it as you hate God.

So, what do you love, extraordinary stranger?So, what do you love, extraordinary stranger?


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I love the cloudsthe clouds whichpass by...over yonder...over yonder...themarvelous clouds.

I love the cloudsthe clouds whichpass by...over yonder...over yonder...the

marvelous clouds.


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The Soup and the CloudsThe Soup and the CloudsMy dear little mad beloved was serving my

dinner, and I was looking out of the open

dining-room window contemplating those

moving architectural marvels that Godconstructs out of mist, edifices of the

impalpable. And as I looked I was saying to

myself: All those phantasmagoria are

almost as beautiful as my belovedsbeautiful eyes, as the green eyes of my mad

monstrous little beloved.


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All of a sudden I felt a terrible blow of a fist

on my back, and heard a husky and a

charming voice, an hysterical voice, ahoarse brandy voice, the voice of my dear

little beloved, saying: Arent you ever

going to eat your soup, you damned bastard

of a cloud-monger?


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The Urge to Escape:

LInvitation au Voyage(Invitation to the Voyage)

The Urge to Escape:

LInvitation au Voyage(Invitation to the Voyage)


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nn Mon enfant, maMon enfant, ma soeursoeur

nn SongeSonge la douceurla douceur

nn DDaller laller l-bas vivre ensemble!-bas vivre ensemble!

nn AimerAimer loisirloisir,,

nn Aimer etAimer et mourirmourir

nn Au pays quiAu pays qui te ressemblete ressemble!!

nn LesLes soleils mouillsoleils mouillss

nn DeDe ces ciels brouillces ciels brouillss

nn PourPour monmon espritesprit ontont leslescharmescharmes

nn Si mystSi mystrieuxrieux

nn DeDe tes trates tratres yeuxtres yeux,,

nn BrillantBrillant travers leurs larmestravers leurs larmes..

nn LL, tout, tout nnest quest quordreordre etetbeautbeaut,,

nn LuxeLuxe,, calmecalme, et, et voluptvolupt..

nn My child, my sister,My child, my sister,

nn dreamdream

nn How sweet all things would seemHow sweet all things would seem

nn Were we in that kind land to live together,Were we in that kind land to live together,

nn And there love slow and long,And there love slow and long,

nn There love and die amongThere love and die among

nn Those scenes that image you,Those scenes that image you,that sumptuous weather.that sumptuous weather.

nn Drowned suns that glimmer thereDrowned suns that glimmer therenn Through cloud-disheveled airThrough cloud-disheveled air

nn Move me with such a mystery as appearsMove me with such a mystery as appears

nn Within those other skiesWithin those other skies

nn Of your treacherous eyesOf your treacherous eyes

nn When I behold them shining through theirWhen I behold them shining through theirtears.tears.

nn There, restraint and order blessThere, restraint and order bless

nn Luxury and voluptuousnessLuxury and voluptuousness


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nn DesDes meubles luisantsmeubles luisants,,

nn Polis par lesPolis par les ansans

nn DDcoreraient notre chambrecoreraient notre chambre;;

nn Les plusLes plus rares fleursrares fleurs

nn MMlant leurs odeurslant leurs odeurs

nn AuxAux vagues senteursvagues senteurs dedellambreambre,,

nn Les riches plafonds,Les riches plafonds,

nn LesLes miroirs profondsmiroirs profondsnn LaLa splendeur orientalesplendeur orientale

nn Tout yTout y parleraitparlerait

nn AA llmeme en secreten secret

nn SaSa doucedouce languelangue natalenatale..



nn We should have a roomWe should have a room

nn Never out of bloom:Never out of bloom:

nn Tables polished by the palmTables polished by the palm

nn Of the vanished hoursOf the vanished hours

nn Should reflect rare flowersShould reflect rare flowers

nn In that amber-scented calm;In that amber-scented calm;

nn Ceilings richly wroughtCeilings richly wrought

nn Mirrors deep as thought,Mirrors deep as thought,

nn Walks with easternWalks with eastern splendoursplendourhung, --hung, --

nn All should speak apartAll should speak apart

nn To the homesick heartTo the homesick heart

nn In its own dear native tongueIn its own dear native tongue



nn ..


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nn Vois sur ces caneauxVois sur ces caneaux

nn Dormir ces vaisseauxDormir ces vaisseaux

nn DonDontt llhumeur est vagabondehumeur est vagabonde;;

nn CCest pourest pour assouvirassouvir

nn TonTon moindre dmoindre dsirsir

nn QuQuilsils viennentviennent dudu boutbout dudumonde.monde.

nn LesLes soleils couchantssoleils couchants

nn RevRevtenttent les champs,les champs,nn LesLes caneauxcaneaux, la, la villeville entientirere,,

nn DDhyacinthehyacinthe etet ddoror;;

nn Le mondeLe monde ssendortendort

nn Dans une chaudeDans une chaude lumilumirere..



nn See, sheltered from the swellsSee, sheltered from the swells

nn There in the still canalsThere in the still canals

nn Those drowsy ships that dream of sailingThose drowsy ships that dream of sailing

forth;forth;

nn It is to satisfyIt is to satisfy

nn Your least desire, they plyYour least desire, they ply

nn Hither through all the waters of the earth.Hither through all the waters of the earth.

nn The sun at close of dayThe sun at close of day

nn Clothes the fields of hay,Clothes the fields of hay,

nn Then the canals, at last the town entireThen the canals, at last the town entire

nn In hyacinth and gold:In hyacinth and gold:

nn Slowly the land is rolledSlowly the land is rolled

nn SleepwardSleepward under a sea of gentle fire.under a sea of gentle fire.




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Gaugin, South Sea IslandGaugin, South Sea Island


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SoSoSo now we return.


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nn LaLa sottisesottise,, llerreurerreur, le, le ppchch, la, la llsinesine,,

Occupent nos espritsOccupent nos esprits etet travaillent nostravaillent nos corps,corps,

EtEt nous alimentons nos aimables remordnous alimentons nos aimables remord,,

CommeComme lesles mendiants nourrissent leur verminemendiants nourrissent leur vermine

nn Folly, error, sin and avariceFolly, error, sin and avarice

Occupy our minds and waste our bodies,Occupy our minds and waste our bodies,

And we feed our polite remorseAnd we feed our polite remorseA beggars feed their lice.A beggars feed their lice.

Les Fleurs du Mal/Flowers of EvilAu Lecteur/To The Reader

Les Fleurs du Mal/Flowers of EvilAu Lecteur/To The Reader


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nn Nos pNos pchchss,, sont tsont ttustus,, nos repentirs sont lnos repentirs sont lchesches;;

Nous nous faisonsNous nous faisons payerpayer grassement nos aveuxgrassement nos aveux,,

EtEt nous rentrons gaiement dansnous rentrons gaiement dans lele chemin bourbeuxchemin bourbeux,,CroyantCroyant par depar de vils pleursvils pleurs laverlaver toutes nos tachestoutes nos taches..

nn Our sins are stubborn, our repentance is cowardlyOur sins are stubborn, our repentance is cowardly

We ask high prices for our vows.We ask high prices for our vows.And we gaily return to the muddy road,And we gaily return to the muddy road,

Believing we will wash away all our spots with vile tears.Believing we will wash away all our spots with vile tears.


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nn Sur lSur loreiller duoreiller du malmal ccestest SatanSatan TrismTrismgistegiste

QuiQui berce longuement notreberce longuement notre espritesprit enchantenchant,,Et le richeEt le riche mmtaltal dede notre volontnotre volont

EstEst touttout vaporisvaporis parpar cece savantsavant chimistechimiste..

nn

On the pillow of evil is the Thrice-Great SatanOn the pillow of evil is the Thrice-Great Satan

Who endlessly rocks our bewitched mind,Who endlessly rocks our bewitched mind,

And the rich metal of our willAnd the rich metal of our will

Is vaporized by that wise chemist.Is vaporized by that wise chemist.


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nn CCest leest le diablediable quiqui tienttient lesles filsfils quiqui nous remuentnous remuent!!

AuxAux objets robjets rpugnants nous trouvonspugnants nous trouvons desdes appasappas;;

ChaqueChaque jourjour vers lvers lEnfer nou descendonsEnfer nou descendons ddun pasun pasSansSans horreurhorreur,, traverstravers desdes ttnnbresbres quiqui puentpuent..

nn It is the Devil who pulls the strings that move us! InIt is the Devil who pulls the strings that move us! In

repulsive objects we find enticing lure; Eachrepulsive objects we find enticing lure; Each

day we go down one more step toward Hell, Withoutday we go down one more step toward Hell, Without

horror, through the darkness which reeks.horror, through the darkness which reeks.


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nn Ainsi quAinsi quun dun dbauchbauch pauvrepauvre quiqui baisebaise et mangeet mange

LeLe sein martyrissein martyris dduneune antiqueantique catincatin,,Nous volonsNous volons au passage unau passage un plaisir clandestinplaisir clandestin

QueQue nous pressons biennous pressons bien fort comefort come une vieilleune vieille orange.orange.

nn Just as a lustful pauper who kisses and bitesJust as a lustful pauper who kisses and bites

nn The martyredThe martyred breatbreat of an aged whore,of an aged whore,

We steal, as we move along, a clandestine pleasureWe steal, as we move along, a clandestine pleasure

Which we squeeze hard like an old orange.Which we squeeze hard like an old orange.


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nn SerrSerr,, fourmillantfourmillant, come un million, come un million ddhelintheshelinthes,,

Dans nos cerveaux riboteDans nos cerveaux ribote unun peuplepeuple dede DDmonsmons,,Et,Et, quand nous respironsquand nous respirons, la Mort, la Mort dans nos poumonsdans nos poumons

Descend,Descend, fleuvefleuve invisible, avec deinvisible, avec de sourdes plaintessourdes plaintes..

nn Packed tight and swarming like a million maggots,Packed tight and swarming like a million maggots,

A crowd of Demons carouse in our brains,A crowd of Demons carouse in our brains,

And, when we breathe, Death in our lungsAnd, when we breathe, Death in our lungs

Descends, an invisible river, with heavy wailings.Descends, an invisible river, with heavy wailings.


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nn SiSi le viol, le poison, lele viol, le poison, le poignardpoignard,, llincendieincendie,,

NNontont paspas encor brodencor brod dede leurs plaisants dessinsleurs plaisants dessins

LeLe canevascanevas banal de nbanal de n os piteux destinsos piteux destins,,

CCest queest que notrenotre meme,, hhlaslas!! nnestest paspas assez hardieassez hardie..

nn If rape, poison, the knife and arsonIf rape, poison, the knife and arson

Have not yet woven with their pleasing patternsHave not yet woven with their pleasing patternsThe banal canvas of our pitiful fate,The banal canvas of our pitiful fate,

It is because our soul, alas, is not bold enough.It is because our soul, alas, is not bold enough.


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nn Mais parmiMais parmi lesles chacalschacals, les, les panthpanthresres, les, les liceslices,,

Les singes, les scorpions, lesLes singes, les scorpions, les vautoursvautours, les serpents,, les serpents,

LesLes monstres glapissantsmonstres glapissants,, hurlantshurlants,, grognantsgrognants,, rampantsrampants,,DansDans lala mmnagerie infnagerie infmeme desdes nosnos vices,vices,

nn But among the jackals, panthers, bitches,But among the jackals, panthers, bitches,

Monkeys, scorpions, vultures, serpents,Monkeys, scorpions, vultures, serpents,The monsters squealing, yelling, grunting, crawlingThe monsters squealing, yelling, grunting, crawling

The infamous menagerie of our vicesThe infamous menagerie of our vices


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nn Il enIl en estest un plus laid, plusun plus laid, plus mmchantchant, plus, plus immondeimmonde!!

QuoiquQuoiquilil nene pousse ni grands gestes ni grands crispousse ni grands gestes ni grands cris,,

IlIl ferait volontiersferait volontiers de lade la terreterre unun ddbrisbris

EtEt dansdans unun bbillement avaleraitillement avalerait le monde;le monde;

nn

There is one uglier, more wicked and more foul than all!There is one uglier, more wicked and more foul than all!Although he does not make great gestures or great cries,Although he does not make great gestures or great cries,

He would gladly make the earth a shamblesHe would gladly make the earth a shambles

And swallow the world in a yawn;And swallow the world in a yawn;


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nn CCestest llEnnuiEnnui!!lloeiloeil chargcharg ddunun pleur involontairepleur involontaire,,

IlIl rrve dve dchafaudschafauds enen fumantfumant sonson houkahouka..

TuTu lele connaisconnais,, lecteurlecteur,, ce monstre dce monstre dlicatlicat,,

HypocriteHypocrite lecteurlecteur,, mon semblablemon semblable,, monmon frfrre!re!

nn It is boredom! his eyes weeping an involuntary tear,It is boredom! his eyes weeping an involuntary tear,

He dreams of gibbets as he smokes his hookah.He dreams of gibbets as he smokes his hookah.

You know him, reader, this delicate monster,You know him, reader, this delicate monster,

Hypocrite readerHypocrite reader my twinmy twin my brother!my brother!


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Parisian DreamParisian Dream


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nn DeDe cece terribleterrible paysagepaysage,,Tel queTel que jamais mortel njamais mortel nen viten vit,,Ce matinCe matin encoreencore llimageimage,,Vague etVague et lointainelointaine, me, me ravitravit..

n Of that terrible landscape,Such as no mortal ever saw,This morning the image,

Vague and distant, still excites me.nn LeLe sommeil est pleinsommeil est plein de miracles!de miracles!

Par un capricePar un caprice singuliersingulierJJavais banniavais banni dede cesces spectaclesspectacles

LeLe vvggtal irrtal irrguliergulier,,n Sleep is full of miracles!

By a strange capriceI had banished from that spectacle

Irregular vegetation.


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n Et, peintre fier de mon gnie,Je savourais dans mon tableauLenivrante monotonieDu mtal, du marbre et de leau.

n And, a painter proud of my talent,I enjoyed in my pictureThe intoxicating monotony

Of metal, marble, and water.n Babel descaliers et darcades,

Ctait un palais infini,Plein de bassins et de cascades

Tombant dans lor mat ou bruni;n Babel of stairways and arcades,

It was an endless palace,Full of reservoirs and cascades

Falling into a dull or darkened gold;


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n Et des cataractes pesantes,Comme des rideaux de cristal,Se suspendaint, blouissantes,A des murailles de mtal.

n And the heavy cataracts,Like crystal curtains,Hung, in shimmering light,

On metal walls.n Non darbres, mais de colonnades

Les tangs dormants sentouraient,O de gigantesques naades,

Comme des femmes, se miraient.n Not wih trees, but with colonnades

The sleeping ponds were surrounded,Where huge nymphs,Like women,were mirrored.


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n Des nappes deau spanchaient, bleues,Entre des quais roses et verts,Pendant des millions de lieues,Vers les confins de lunivers;

n Sheets of water spread out, blue,Between rose and green quays,Through millions of leagues,

Toward the ends of the universe;n Ctaient des pierres inoues

Et des flots magiques; ctaientDimmenses glaces blouies

Par tout ce quelles refltaient!n They were unheard-of stones

And magic waves; they wereHuge and dazzling glaciersIn all they reflected!


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n Insouciants et taciturnes,Des Ganges, dans le firmament,Versaient le trsor de leurs urnesDans des gouffres de diamant.

n Carefree and taciturn,Ganges Rivers, in the firmament,Poured the treasure of their urns

Into diamond abysses.n Architecte de mes feries,

Je faisais, ma volont,Sous un tunnel de pierreries

Passer un ocan dompt;n Architect of my own fantasies,

I made a pass, at will,Under a tunnel of precious stonesA conquered ocean;


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n Et tout, mme le couleur noire,Semblait fourbi, clair, iris;Le liquide enchssait sa gloireDans le rayon cristallis.

n And everything, even the color black,Seemed polished, clear, prismatic;The liquid encased its glory

In the crystallized ray.n Nul astre dailleurs, nuls vestiges de

Soleil, mme au bas du ciel,Pour illuminer ces prodiges,

Qui brillaient dun feu personnel!n There was no star, no vestige

Of a sun, even at the horizon of the sky,To illumine these prodigies,Which shone with personal fire!


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n Et sur ces mouvantes merveilles

Planait (terrible nouveaut!

Tout pour loeil, rien pour les oreilles!)Un silence dternit.

n And over these moving marvels

Hovered (a terrifying novelty!

Everything for the eye, nothing for the ear!)

A silence of eternity.


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n En rouvrant mes yeux pleins de flammeJai vu lhorreur de mon taudis,Et senti, rentrant dans on m,La pointe des soucis maudits;

n On opening again my eyes full of flameI saw the horror of my garret,

And felt, as I turned inwardly,The sharp prick of accursed worries;n La pendule aux accents funbres

Sonnait brutalement midi,Et le ciel versait des tnbres

Sur le triste monde engourdi.n The clock with the funeral tones

Struck noon brutally,And the sky poured darkness

Over the sad lethargic world.

II.


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par is spleen

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