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Enamels and Cameos and other Poems

by Théophile Gautier (1811–1872)

  • Free to read
  • 55 min read
  • 12 chapters
  • Reading level: 7th grade

"Enamels and Cameos" by Théophile Gautier is a collection of poems written during the mid to late 19th century. This anthology encompasses a wide variety of themes, ranging from the beauty of nature and love to reflections on art and mortality. Gautier, known for his contributions to the Romantic literary movement, intricately weaves emotion and vivid imagery throughout his work, showcasing his fascination with beauty in all its forms. The poems in "Enamels and Cameos" reveal a profound engagement with aesthetic experience and the transience of life. In pieces like "The Poem of Woman" and "Symphony in White Major," Gautier explores the themes of beauty and desire, often personifying natural elements and employing rich metaphorical language. The collected works evoke a range of emotions, from nostalgia and loss in "Nostalgia of the Obelisks" to the joyous celebration of life in "Spring's First Smile." Overall, the poems reflect a deep appreciation for the sensory experiences of life, encapsulated in the elegant beauty of Gautier's verse.

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  • French poetry · Translations into English

Read the opening

Chapter I

IMPERIA

A sculptor showed to me one day
A hand, a Cleopatra's lure,
Or an Aspasia's, cast in clay,
Of masterwork a fragment pure.

Seized in a snowy kiss, and fair
As lily in the argent rise
Of dawn, like whitest poem there
Its beauty lay before mine eyes,

Bright in its pallor lustreless,
Reposing on a velvet bed,
Its fingers, weighted with their dress
Of jewels, delicately spread.

A little parted lay the thumb,
Showing the undulating line,
Beautiful, graceful, subtlesome,
Of its proud contour Florentine.

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Contents

  1. Front Matter
  2. Preface
  3. Chapter I
  4. Chapter II
  5. Chapter I
  6. Chapter II
  7. Chapter III
  8. Chapter IV
  9. Chapter I
  10. Chapter II
  11. Chapter III
  12. Chapter IV

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About this edition

This free edition of Enamels and Cameos and other Poems by Théophile Gautier comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #29521, released 2009-07-27. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Poetry, French Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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