The Princess and the Dragon (Part Three)

PART III: The Princess and the Dragon

Four years flew as the young girl grew
And bloomed just like a flower,
And with each year that fluttered past
His heart more in her power.

He spent his days with fishing nets
Upon the brimming sea;
By night he crept across her lawn
To play pipes beneath a tree.

Alone at sea he dreamed of her
Then watched her in her bower;
Day after day, night after night
His heart more in her power.

She seemed sunrise in human form,
Her coming shed a light,
And should she but choose to smile – why!
His joy was at its height.

Her uncle scarce could let her go,
His garden’s prettiest flower:
Lethierry kept her safe at home,
The princess in his tower.

But he had won his fame at sea
And felt at home with fish;
In town at pains, on deck at ease,
The breeze still made him wish.

And so he launched a ship of steam
Which made him rich on land:
His second niece to Deruchette,
He named the boat Durande!

But steam was sin to island folk,
A beast of omen dire –
They saw a volcano belching smoke,
A dragon breathing fire…

So when one day that ship of steam
Was lost in fog and mist,
They said it brought the wrath of God
That such a thing exist.

“To speak of steam means long ago –
How links this with your crime?”
So spoke the priest, but thus the voice,
“All will be clear in time.”

News arrived that most had survived
Saved by a passing ship:
The pillars of Les Douvres held
The steamer in their grip.

The crowds soon ran to Lethierry
To tell him of his boat,
Which trapped between the Douvres
Only Heaven underwrote.

He heard how waves had thrown the boat,
Then came the strangest fact:
Though twenty feet above the sea,
The engines were intact!

No sailor spoke of salvage –
It would only leave two wrecks:
No ship could anchor off those rocks,
No crew would risk their necks.

Beside the uncle sat his niece –
Then, taking hold his hand,
Said she: “I’d gladly marry he
Who could bring back Durande.”

At this, Lethierry leaped and shrieked:
“The engine still has life!
Save the machine which made the steam –
My niece shall be your wife!”

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'The game is afoot!' as Holmes might say... this part really sets the plot of Hugo's tale in motion. This is also one of my favourite illustrations from the exhibition: I think the cool colours really capture the mood of the harbour in winter. More images and verses every couple of days from now until the opening: stay tuned!