At the new moon, he walked out,
The friend I loved. I’ll be okay!
“Tightrope dancer,” He joked loud,
“How will you survive till May?”
As to a brother, I replied then,
Without gripes or jealousy,
But four new cloaks just aren’t likely
To replace this loss for me.
Let there be danger where I walk,
The way of grief fills me with dread…
The bottom of my shoes are chalked,
My Chinese parasol shines red!
The orchestra plays gleefully,
And lips are smiling with delight,
And yet the heart, the heart can see
The fifth lodge is unoccupied.
Меня покинул в новолунье
Мой друг любимый. Ну так что ж!
Шутил: «Канатная плясунья!
Как ты до мая доживёшь?»
Ему ответила, как брату,
Я, не ревнуя, не ропща,
Но не заменят мне утрату
Четыре новые плаща.
Пусть страшен путь мой, пусть опасен,
Ещё страшнее путь тоски…
Как мой китайский зонтик красен,
Натерты мелом башмачки!
Оркестр весёлое играет,
И улыбаются уста.
Но сердце знает, сердце знает,
Что ложа пятая пуста!
«Above the restaurants in the evenings / The sultry air is wild and still, / And the decaying breath of spring / Drives drunken shouting. Above the dusty distant lanes / The boredom of summer homes, / The baker's gold sign barely shines / And a child's crying rings out. Each night, beyo...»
«Night, street, lamp, drugstore, / A dull and meaningless light. / Go on and live another quarter century - / Nothing will change. There's no way out. You'll die, then start from the beginning, / It will repeat, just like before: / Night, icy ripples on a canal, / Drugstore, street, lam...»
«"Oh, yes, love is free as a bird," / But all the same I am yours! / And all the same I will dream / Of your figure, all aflame! The ravening strength of your fine hands, / Your eyes saddened by betrayal / Are all the madness of my vain passion, / Are all my nights, Carmen! Of you I wil...»
«All valor I forgot and noble deeds / And glory on this grief-filled earth, / While in a simple frame your face / Glowed before me on the desk. The hour arrived, you left the house. / I flung the cherished ring into the night. / You pledged yourself to someone else, / And I forgot your l...»