Life, 1915-09-16 · page 14 of 48
Life — September 16, 1915 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page presents a poem translated from French by Henri de Regnier, rendered into English by Walter Adolphe Roberts. The illustration depicts a soldier or military figure standing on a rocky outcrop, raising what appears to be a flag or torch, with dramatic cloudy skies above. The poem is a vow of vengeance and hatred, swearing to cherish "sacred venom" and "hate," referencing destruction of towns, hostages, murdered women and children. The oath culminates in fixing "eyes upon immortal Rheims, / Burning from nave to porch." This appears to reference World War I atrocities—specifically the German bombardment of Rheims Cathedral in 1914. The poem transforms personal witness testimony into a solemn vow of retribution, using classical oath-taking imagery to justify continued warfare against Germany.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Oath Translated from the French of Henri de Regnier, of the Académie Francaise, by Walter Adolphe Roberts SWEAR to cherish in my heart this hate Till my last heart-throb wanes; So may the sacred venom with my blood Mingle and charge my veins! May there pass never from my darkened brow The furrows hate has worn! May they plough deeper in my flesh, to mark The outrage I have borne! By towns in flames, by my fair fields laid waste, By hostages undone, By cries of murdered women and of babes, By cach dead warrior son, I swear to conquer or to fall, that Right And Justice rule again— 1, France, whose voice austere shall thrill the hearts Of all my valiant slain! I take my oath of hatred and of wrath Before God, and before The holy waters of the Marne and Aisne, Still ruddy with French gore; And fix my eyes upon immortal Rheims, Burning from nave to porch, Lest I forget, lest I forget who lit The sacrilegious torch! +