Roulons-y sans remords, amazone inhumaine,
Afin d’éterniser l’ardeur de notre haine![[72]]
To be exact, I should mention that the collection contains verses less comprehensible than these, but not one poem which is plain and can be understood without a certain effort—an effort seldom rewarded, for the feelings which the poet transmits are evil and very low ones. And these feelings are always, and purposely, expressed by him with eccentricity and lack of clearness. This premeditated obscurity is especially noticeable in his prose, where the author could, if he liked, speak plainly.
Take, for instance, the first piece from his Petits Poèmes:—
L’ÉTRANGER.
Qui aimes-tu le mieux, homme énigmatique, dis? ton père, ta mère, ta sœur, ou ton frère?
Je n’ai ni père, ni mère, ni sœur, ni frère.
Tes amis?
Vous vous servez là d’une parole dont le sens m’est resté jusqu’ à ce jour inconnu.
Ta patrie?