Madelaine
By Victor Hugo
List to me, O Madelaine!
Now the snows have left the plain,
Which they warmly cloaked.
Come into the forest groves,
Where the notes that Echo loves
Are from horns evoked.
Come! where Springtide, Madelaine,
Brings a sultry breath from Spain,
Giving buds their hue;
And, last night, to glad your eye,
Laid the floral marquetry,
Red and gold and blue.
Would I were, O Madelaine,
As the lamb whose wool you train
Through your tender hands.
Would I were the bird that whirls
Round, and comes to peck your curls,
Happy in such bands.
Were I e'en, O Madelaine,
Hermit whom the herd disdain
In his pious cell,
When your purest lips unfold
Sins which might to all be told,
As to him you tell.
Would I were, O Madelaine,
Moth that murmurs 'gainst your pane,
Peering at your rest,
As, so like its woolly wing,
Ceasing scarce its fluttering,
Heaves and sinks your breast.
If you seek it, Madelaine,
You may wish, and not in vain,
For a serving host,
And your splendid hall of state
Shall be envied by the great,
O'er the Jew-King's boast.
If you name it, Madelaine,
Round your head no more you'll train
Simple marguerites,
No! the coronet of peers,
Whom the queen herself oft fears,
And the monarch greets.
If you wish, O Madelaine!
Where you gaze you long shall reign —
For I'm ruler here!
I'm the lord who asks your hand
If you do not bid me stand
Loving shepherd here!
Poem Analysis:
Victor Hugo's poem Madelaine is a beautiful and layered work that explores themes of love, admiration, idealization, and the contrast between simplicity and grandeur. Through the speaker’s deep longing for Madelaine, the poem weaves an intricate relationship between the human heart, nature, and the desire for a transcendent connection with the beloved.
Tone
The tone of Madelaine is reverent and wistful, filled with yearning and gentle adoration. The speaker’s desire to be close to Madelaine is almost palpable in the way he imagines himself in various roles, both humble and grand, in relation to her. There is a certain melancholy quality to the speaker’s longing, as he envisions a world where he could be more than a mere admirer.
Imagery and Nature as Metaphor
From the opening lines, the speaker invites Madelaine to experience the world around them, now that winter has passed. The imagery of "snow[s]... leaving the plain" evokes a sense of renewal and rebirth, which is a common theme in romantic literature. Nature itself seems to come alive, calling for Madelaine to join in its celebration of life and beauty. The "forest groves" and the "notes that Echo loves" suggest an idyllic and serene natural setting, where harmony between the natural world and human emotions is possible.
Spring, often a symbol of growth and rejuvenation, is personified as bringing a "sultry breath from Spain," and the imagery of "floral marquetry" in "red and gold and blue" emphasizes the vitality and color of the world Madelaine inhabits. Hugo creates a vivid picture of a flourishing, warm environment that contrasts with the colder, more barren world of winter. The lushness of spring serves as a metaphor for the speaker's feelings—vibrant, passionate, and full of longing.
Idealization of Madelaine
Throughout the poem, the speaker expresses an intense yearning to become part of Madelaine’s world, to be as close to her as possible. In the second stanza, he wishes he were the lamb whose wool Madelaine tends to, emphasizing his desire to be something pure, soft, and cared for in her hands. The image of the lamb also evokes themes of innocence and vulnerability, underscoring the speaker’s desire to be a cherished part of her life, rather than an outsider looking in.
In the third stanza, the speaker goes even further in his idealization by wishing he were a bird, circling Madelaine and "peck[ing] your curls," an image that suggests an almost possessive desire to be near her and intimately involved in her life. The bird's flight around her symbolizes freedom, yet the speaker’s wish to embody it also reveals his lack of control over his feelings for her—his yearning is boundless.
Similarly, the fourth stanza introduces the figure of the hermit, a traditionally solitary and pious figure, as a metaphor for the speaker's devotion to Madelaine. The hermit listens to her confessions, suggesting a deep spiritual connection between the two. In this image, Hugo subtly suggests that the speaker views his relationship with Madelaine not only as romantic but almost sacred. The hermit’s role as a confidant amplifies the speaker's desire to be a trusted and integral part of her life.
From Humble to Grandeur: The Dichotomy of Desire
The poem takes an interesting turn in the fifth and sixth stanzas, where the speaker imagines that Madelaine could possess immense wealth and power, should she desire it. The speaker promises her a "serving host" and a "splendid hall of state" that would rival the riches of kings, offering her the option to transcend her simple life and become one of grandeur. The transition from humble imagery—lambs, birds, and flowers—to the wealth and power associated with kings and queens adds depth to the speaker’s adoration. It suggests that Madelaine’s beauty and grace are not confined to the natural world, but can transcend the material world as well, aligning her with the highest forms of power and nobility.
However, the speaker also imagines that Madelaine’s life could be full of coronations and prestige, with "the coronet of peers" adorning her head. This moment in the poem implies that Madelaine has the potential to rise above her current station and become a monarch in her own right. There is a bittersweet quality to this imagery, as it reveals the speaker’s belief that Madelaine, though beautiful and admirable, could have more than what she presently possesses.
The Return to Simplicity and Devotion
In the final stanza, the speaker returns to the idea of love, placing himself in a position of power, albeit in a more humble and intimate way. By claiming to be the "lord who asks your hand," he contrasts the grandeur of the previous stanzas with his own longing to be the "loving shepherd" at her side. This is a return to simplicity—he does not desire the opulence of kings or the power of queens—but rather a humble, pure connection with Madelaine, where he can serve her and be near her in the most intimate and personal way.
The contrast between the speaker’s ability to offer grandeur and his ultimate wish for a simple, devoted role reveals the complexity of his emotions. He desires to be both everything to Madelaine and nothing at all—her humble companion, her confidant, her eternal admirer.
In Madelaine, Victor Hugo explores the nature of longing, idealization, and the relationship between love and power. Through rich natural imagery and the speaker’s shifting desires—from humble devotion to the promise of grandeur—Hugo reveals the complexities of human emotions and the tensions between desire for intimacy and admiration for beauty and power. Ultimately, the poem illustrates the speaker’s wish to be a part of Madelaine’s world, whether in a simple or grand form, suggesting that love and admiration can exist in many forms, from the most humble to the most exalted.