“Whether you come from heaven or hell, it doesn’t matter,
O Beauty! huge, frightening, ingenuous monster!
If your eye, your mouse, your foot, open the door for me
Of an Infinite that I love and have never known?

Satan or God, what does it matter? Angel or Siren,
It doesn’t matter if you surrender, – velvet-eyed fairy,
Rhythm, perfume, glow, O my only queen! –
The universe less hideous and the moments less heavy?”

“Whether you come from heaven or hell, whatever,
O Beauty! Huge monster, scary, ingenuous!
If your eye, your mouse, your foot, open the door
Of an Infinite that I love and have never known?

Satan or God, what does it matter? Angel or Mermaid,
What does it matter, if you render, – fairy with velvet eyes,
Rhythm, perfume, glow, O my only queen! –
The less ugly world and the less heavy moments?”

(Baudelaire – Hymn to beauty)