par is spleen
TRANSCRIPT
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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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THE EYES OF THE POORTHE EYES OF THE POOR
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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THE EYES OF THE POORTHE EYES OF THE POOR
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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THE EYES OF THE POORTHE EYES OF THE POOR
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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THE EYES OF THE POORTHE EYES OF THE POOR
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 LL, tout, tout nnest quest quordreordre etetbeautbeaut,,
nn LuxeLuxe,, calmecalme, et, et voluptvolupt..
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 There, restraint and order blessThere, restraint and order bless
nn Luxury and voluptuousnessLuxury and voluptuousness
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 LL, tout, tout nnest quest quordreordre etetbeautbeaut,,
nn LuxeLuxe,, calmecalme, et, et voluptvolupt..
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.
nn There, restraint and order blessThere, restraint and order bless
nn Luxury and voluptuousnessLuxury and voluptuousness
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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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