Explore "Carmen" by Théophile Gautier on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Slender is Carmen, of lissome guise, / Her hair is black as the midnight's heart; / Dark circles are under her gypsy eyes, / Her swarthy skin is the devil's art.
The women will mock at her form and face; / But the men will follow her all the day. / Toledo's Archbishop (now save His Grace! ) / Tones his mass at her knees, they say.
Nestled in warmth of her amber neck / Lies a massive coil, till she fling it down / To be a raiment to frame and deck / Her delicate body from foot to crown.
Then out from her pallid face with power / Her witching, terrible smiles compel. / Her mouth is a mystical poison-flower / That hath drawn its crimson from hearts in hell.
The haughtiest beauty must yield her fame, / When this strange vision shall dusk her sky. / For Carmen rules, and her glance's flame / Shall set the torch to satiety.
Wild, graceless Carmen! -- Though yet this be, / Savour she hath of a world undreamt, / Of a world of wonder, whose salt young sea / Provoked a Venus to rise and tempt.