Alphonse de Lamartine Geoffrey Barto Edition des souscripteurs Geoffrey Barto 2002 You crushed it badly, Christ, this reptile so vile That every truth finds in its path! With its hideous bends it wraps up the whole world, And its deep sting remains in the human race's side. You promised us the horrible viper Would never again tighten its sallow sections about us, That man would be the son, and God would be the father, And that you alone would pay the earthly ransom. Two thousand years have passed and man still waits, Ah! rise up to your Father, angel of the future, And tell him evening has replaced the dawn, And that the celestial gift is too slow in coming.