Love

Have You Nothing to Say for Yourself?

by Victor Hugo 1802–1885

Translated by C.H. Kenny (1888) · From Les Contemplations (1830–56)

Love

Speak, if you love me, gentle maiden!
Or haunt no more my lone retreat.
If not for me thy heart be laden,
Why trouble mine with smiles so sweet?

Ah! tell me why so mute, fair maiden,
Whene'er as thus so oft we meet?
If not for me thy heart be, Aideen,
Why trouble mine with smiles so sweet?

Why, when my hand unconscious pressing,
Still keep untold the maiden dream?
In fancy thou art thus caressing
The while we wander by the stream.

If thou art pained when I am near thee,
Why in my path so often stray?
For in my heart I love yet fear thee,
And fain would fly, yet fondly stay.

✦ ✦ ✦

French: "Si vous n'avez rien à me dire." [Bk. II. iv., May, 18--.]

MLA

Hugo, Victor. “Have You Nothing to Say for Yourself?” Translated by C.H. Kenny. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hugo/62/.

Chicago

Hugo, Victor. “Have You Nothing to Say for Yourself?” Translated by C.H. Kenny. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hugo/62/.

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