The Humble Home

Read 'The Humble Home' by 'Victor Hugo' and provide your summary and literary analysis in the comments section below.

The Humble Home by Victor Hugo

 ("L'église est vaste et haute.") 
 
 {IV., June 29, 1839.} 


 The Church{1} is vast; its towering pride, its steeples loom on high; 
 The bristling stones with leaf and flower are sculptured wondrously; 
 The portal glows resplendent with its "rose," 
 And 'neath the vault immense at evening swarm 
 Figures of angel, saint, or demon's form, 
 As oft a fearful world our dreams disclose. 
 But not the huge Cathedral's height, nor yet its vault sublime, 
 Nor porch, nor glass, nor streaks of light, nor shadows deep with time; 
 Nor massy towers, that fascinate mine eyes; 
 No, 'tis that spot—the mind's tranquillity— 
 Chamber wherefrom the song mounts cheerily, 
 Placed like a joyful nest well nigh the skies. 
 
 Yea! glorious is the Church, I ween, but Meekness dwelleth here; 
 Less do I love the lofty oak than mossy nest it bear; 
 More dear is meadow breath than stormy wind: 
 And when my mind for meditation's meant, 
 The seaweed is preferred to the shore's extent,— 
 The swallow to the main it leaves behind. 
 
 Author of "Critical Essays." 
 
 {Footnote 1: The Cathedral Nôtre Dame of Paris, which is the scene of the 
 author's romance, "Nôtre Dame."} 


 

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