Sherry Chandler » 2008 » June » 29
From Charles Baudelaire, “Three drafts of a preface” to The Flowers of Evil, selected and edited by Marthiel and Jackson Mathews (New Directions, 1955). These notes toward a preface I assume were translated by the editors. This is the first attempt, probably dating from the second edition in 1861:
Great men are stupid.
My book may have done some good; I do not regret that. It may have done harm; I do not rejoice at that.
The aim of poetry. This book is not made for my wives, my daughters, or my sisters.
Every sin, every crime I have related has been imputed to me.
Hatred and contempt as forms of amusement. Elegists are vulgar scum. Et verbum caro factum est. The poet is of no party. Otherwise, he would be a mere mortal.
The Devil. Original sin. Man as good. If you would, you could be the Tyrant’s favorite; it is more difficult to love God than to believe in Him. On the other hand, it is more difficult for people nowadays to believe in the Devil than to love him. Everyone smells him and no one believes in him. Sublime subtlety of the Devil.
…We are all hanged or hangable.
I have included a certain amount of filth to please the gentlemen of the press. They have proved ungrateful.
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