Giant, with iron secrecies ennighted, Cloaked, Balzac stands and sees. Immense disdain, Egyptian silence, mastery of pain, Gargantuan laughter; shake or still the ignited Stature of the Master, vivid. Far affrighted, The stunned air shudders on the skin. In vain The Master of "La Comédie Humaine" Shadows the deep-set eyes, genius-lighted.
Epithalamia, birth-songs, epitaphs, Are written in the mistery of his lips. Sad wisdom, scornful shame, grand agony In the coffin-folds of the cloak, scarred mountains, lie, And the pity hides i' th' heart. Grim knowledge grips The essential manhood. Balzac stands, and laughs.