the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Auguste Maquet : Les Feuilles Vertes

'Rondeau On reading a work by M. Auguste Maquet entitled Les Vertes Feuilles. See, "The Green Leaves", I leave them here uncut, − Drop them, recoiling, at the first debut − Lay down the book and with superb disdain, Smiling but sold, go on my way again Through life’s green vale, remarking simply “Zut!” Devoid of style, of fable and of smut, How, how, shall I portray its dullness? − Tut! See for yourself − see, whelmed in grief and pain, − See "The Green Leaves"! Thus one, sweet-toothed, yet of a tender gut, Who sees before him many peaches put In some tall cafe by the shores of Seine, Schools his bold heart to choose and to refrain: The ripe he eats with gluttonous ardour − but, See, the green leaves!'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Robert Louis Stevenson      Print: Book

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