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Jules LERMINA,
The Suez isthmus, 1859.
(Centre historique des Archives nationales, 278 AP10)
On 20 January, 1859, Jules Lermina sent Ferdinand de Lesseps the
following poem in praise of the enormous enterprise of digging
the Suez isthmus. It was sent with a covering note saying :
"Please allow me to send you this. I am just yet another person to request the pleasure of being able to bask in your light. So, please look upon me with favour and even a little indulgence, me, a fervent follower of hard work and ambition."
"[...] It is the powerful hammer in the hands of Thought
Which turns over the stone which Jehovah threw out,
Yes, I listen and I hear in my bowed head
The noise which rises, walks and grows: There they are!
A man has risen, great amongst men
For whom it is not enough to hold out a distant hand,
Who says, Brothers, let us show at last that we are brothers!
Separated today, united tomorrow!
And this man’s name is de Lesseps! Immense desert,
Take your hardest block of stone, your most beautiful granites
Stand up straight and shout: Glory to the man of France!
You will not just have served the tombs!
Tell the universe again about when the crowd ardently
Threw itself towards you through the open passage,
Go on, tell him, cold and huge against the racing torrent
His name was de Lesseps
And each person will ponder! [...]"
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