| Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888. | | | | Profanation | | By Sully Prudhomme (1839–1907) |
| | Translated by Arthur O’Shaughnessy
BEAUTY, that mak’st the body like a fane, | |
| What gods have spurned thee, since thou fall’st thus low, | |
| Lending thyself to harlots and thy glow | |
| To deck dead hearts that cannot live again? | |
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| Made for the chaste and strong, didst thou in vain | 5 |
| Seek strength and purity, round such to throw | |
| Thy glorious garb aright? and is it so | |
| Thou robest sin and hidest falsehood’s stain? | |
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| Fly back to heaven; profane no more thy worth, | |
| Nor drag down love and genius to base kneeling | 10 |
| At foot of courtezans when thee they seek. | |
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| Quit the white flock of women; and henceforth | |
| Form shall be moulded upon truth, revealing | |
| The soul, and truth upon the brow shall speak. | | | | |
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