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GERARD DE NERVAL by ANDREW LANG

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

First Line: OF ALL THAT WERE THY PRISONS - AH, UNTAMED

Of all that were thy prisons-ah, untamed,
Of all that were thy prisons -ah, untamed,
Ah, light and sacred soul!-none holds thee now;
Ah, light and sacred soul!-none holds thee now;
No wall, no bar, no body of flesh, but thou
No wall, no bar, no body of flesh, but thou
Art free and happy in the lands unnamed,
Art free and happy in the lands unnamed,
Within whose gates, on weary wings and maimed,
Within whose gates, on weary wings and maimed,
Thou still wouldst bear that mystic golden bough
Thou still wouldst bear that mystic golden bough
The Sibyl doth to singing men allow,
The Sibyl doth to singing men allow,
Yet thy report folk heeded not, but blamed.
Yet thy report folk heeded not, but blamed.
And they would smile and wonder, seeing where

Thou stood'st, to watch light leaves, or clouds, or wind,

Dreamily murmuring a ballad air,
And they would smile and wonder, seeing where
Caught from the Valois peasants; dost thou find
Thou stood'st, to watch light leaves, or clouds, or wind,
A new life gladder than the old times were,
Dreamily murmuring a ballad air,
A love more fair than Sylvie and as kind?
Caught from the Valois peasants; dost thou find

A new life gladder than the old times were,

A love more fair than Sylvie and as kind?






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