\u00c0 M. B ***<\/p>\n
Lorsqu\u2019autrefois, au seuil des saintes basiliques,
\nDes rois, couverts d\u2019un sac, et baisant des reliques.
\nLes reins ceints d\u2019une corde, et les pieds tout meurtris,
\nVenaient s\u2019agenouiller repentants et contrits ;
\nEn expiation de quelques grands scandales
\nHumiliaient leur front dans la poudre des dalles.
\nEt dans le sanctuaire o\u00f9 Dieu s\u2019\u00e9tait cach\u00e9
\nSe frappaient la poitrine en criant : J\u2019ai p\u00e9ch\u00e9 !
\nDans le fond de ces c\u0153urs \u00e0 qui voulait descendre
\nL\u2019orgueil apparaissait bient\u00f4t sous cette cendre,
\nEt laissait voir \u00e0 nu ce que de vanit\u00e9
\nRecelait en dedans si haute humilit\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Mais quand un homme obscur qui n\u2019eut jamais l\u2019envie
\nQue de cacher \u00e0 tous la trace de sa vie,
\nQui va suivant sa route en marquant chaque pas,
\nPar quelque \u0153uvre de bien que l\u2019on ne conna\u00eet pas,
\nQuand par hasard cet homme, apr\u00e8s soixante ann\u00e9es
\nD\u2019honneur et de vertus l\u2019une \u00e0 l\u2019autre encha\u00een\u00e9es,
\nArrivant pr\u00e8s du terme, et las d\u2019avoir march\u00e9,
\nDans cette voie \u00e9troite une fois a bronch\u00e9.
\nAlors il faut g\u00e9mir qu\u2019aux choses de la terre
\nLa main d\u2019un Dieu jaloux ait fait ce caract\u00e8re
\nDe ne pouvoir toujours, entre tant de combats,
\nGarder une vertu qui n\u2019est point d\u2019ici-bas,
\nEt vienne t\u00f4t ou tard jeter quelque m\u00e9lange
\nSur cette puret\u00e9 qu\u2019il r\u00e9serve pour l\u2019ange.
\nComme pour faire voir que toujours d\u2019un c\u00f4t\u00e9
\nUn c\u0153ur, si haut qu\u2019il soit, touche \u00e0 l\u2019humanit\u00e9.<\/p>\n
Mais lors qu\u2019apr\u00e8s, cet homme, ayant dans le silence
\nPes\u00e9 cette action au poids de sa balance,
\nS\u2019en revient devant tous pensif et recueilli,
\nDire en plein jour, tout haut : Mes fr\u00e8res, j\u2019ai failli !
\nOh ! s\u2019il a fait cela, la victoire est plus belle
\nQu\u2019il vient de remporter sur cette \u00e2me rebelle.
\nCet effort est plus grand et plus beau, que d\u2019avoir
\nAchev\u00e9, sans combat, la route du devoir.
\nL\u00e0, ce n\u2019est pas le cri d\u2019un vain orgueil qui pense
\nDans son abaissement trouver sa r\u00e9compense,
\nC\u2019est le sublime aveu d\u2019un c\u0153ur qui ne veut pas
\nSe faire un tel fardeau pour l\u2019heure du tr\u00e9pas :
\n\u2014 Donc, relevez la t\u00eate, et ne vous touchez gu\u00e8res
\nDe ce qu\u2019ont dit en soi tous ces hommes vulgaires
\nQui n\u2019ont jamais senti, n\u2019ayant point combattu,
\nCe que donne de prix la lutte \u00e0 la vertu.
\nLaissez-les ces gens-l\u00e0, tra\u00eener sans r\u00e9sistance
\nDans de froides vertus une p\u00e2le existence,
\nPar les chemins battus laissez-les pas-\u00e0-pas
\nS\u2019avancer vers un but qu\u2019ils ne comprennent pas ;
\nEt tenez pour certain qu\u2019il est moins m\u00e9ritoire
\nD\u2019avoir toujours suivi sans lutte et sans victoire
\nLa monotone voix d\u2019un honneur r\u00e9tr\u00e9ci.
\nQu\u2019apr\u00e8s \u00eatre tomb\u00e9 se relever ainsi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"annee":[656],"poems-book":[623],"poemes-theme":[349,366],"poete":[649],"class_list":["post-14214","poemes","type-poemes","status-publish","hentry","annee-656","poems-book-pieces-inedites","poemes-theme-condition-humaine","poemes-theme-temps-qui-passe","poete-felix-arvers"],"yoast_head":"\n