Madame Calvé

Unmatched as actress, unsurpassed in song, The heroines of the lyric stage in thee, (Shadows most oft a world of shades among) As creatures full of fiery life we see: Thine own strong soul thou usest to inform These scenic puppets with the breath of life, So that we see them, passion-breathing, warm, Through all the gamut of their nature's strife; Carmen thou art, and Carmen thou alone; All Marguerites but thine are shadows dim; Ophelia, Messaline, Santuzza, shewn By thee no wreck of memory can dislimn: Yet these we feel are but a little part Of thy so splendid gifts of mind and heart.