In the fair days when God
By man as godlike trod,
And each alike was Greek, alike was free,
God's lightning spared, they said,
Alone the happier head
Whose laurels screened it; fruitless grace for thee,
To whom the high gods gave of right
Their thunders and their laurels and their light.

This quote from Victor Hugo, as lauded by Swinburne, encapsulates the Romantic ideal of harmony and grandeur in the human experience, akin to the divine. In "the fair days," a time mythologically rich and spiritually elevated, humanity was perceived as godlike, free, and Greek—a symbol for cultural and intellectual flourishing. The imagery of "God's lightning" sparing "the happier head" suggests divine favor, but Hugo implies it as "fruitless grace." This paradox highlights the fleeting nature of worldly accolades and protection, as these laurels and divine gifts come without true substance or permanence. Swinburne appreciates Hugo's ability to intertwine divine elements with human emotion, capturing the spirit of Greek verse where man's existence mirrors the gods. The passage celebrates the Romantic era's intense emotional expression, emphasizing both the ephemeral and eternal aspects of human life and art.