If thou hadst waked up in the middle of the Sahara,

If thy feet had trampled this carpet of sand,

Sprinkled with flowers like to pearls,

Thou wouldst have admired our plants,

The singular variety of their hues,

Their grace, their delicious perfume;

Thou wouldst have drawn in this balmy breath which

doubles life, for it has not passed over the impurity of

cities.

If, going out some splendid night,