Paris, 30 Mars, 1917.

Madame:

J'ai lu et hautement apprÉciÉ la belle traduction que vous avez faite de mon poÈme et je vous remercie de votre pensÉe de la faire connaÎtre dans votre pays.

Autant d'AmÉricains fraternels partagent notre indignation franÇaise et qui s'unis si rÉellement  la cause de la justice et du droit.

Daigniez agrÉer, Madame, avec tous mes remerciements, mes hommages respectueux.

Henri de Regnier.

THE VOW

I

I swear to keep forever in my heart

This sacred Hate, until the final beat.

This holy venom will become a part

Of every drop which forms its living heat.

Forever graven on my sombre face

A tragic furrow on my mournful brow.

This outrage leaves its utmost loathly trace

Upon my mind and soul, Forever, Now.

II

My ruined fields, my cities sunk in flame,

My murdered hostages, my fallen sons,

My wounded babes, the nameless deeds of shame

Upon my women, helpless, fore the Huns,

I swear I shall avenge! My justice and my right

Shall conquer, or my last red blood I shed.

I, France, austere and blazing in my might

Shout forth this message to my valiant dead.

III

This Holy vow of wrath, this oath of hate,

Before high Heaven solemnly I swear,

Before the waters of the Marne and Aisne,

Still crimson with French blood, I consecrate

Myself. Oh, Rheims sublime! Thou torch whose glare,

Still shows the sacred ruins of thy fane,

Burning and crumbling on the horizon,

Hear, thou, my vow of vengeance on the Hun!

Henri de Regnier.

1917, Translated by Elsie Deming Jarves.