A titmouse journeyed to the sea,
Took one look, and announced that he
Would set the thing on fire.
The news spread quickly through the whole empire:
From the jungle, all the beasts came on the run
To see how high the ocean's flames would leap;
Huge flocks of birds eclipsed the sun;
And terror gripped the dwellers in the briny deep.
Among the first arrivals at the beach
Were certain well-known gluttons, each
Armed with a spoon.
Ready to tackle a tureen
Of hot fish soup the likes of which they’d never seen
On the table of the wealthiest tycoon.
The crowed grew thick. All found the miracle amazing,
Though it hadn’t happened yet. Then, eyes fixed on the sea,
They waited. From time to time someone would whisper, “See,
It’s steaming! Any minute, now, it will be blazing!”
But no: the ocean didn't flare up like a pan of fat.
At least it simmered? No, not even that.
So they called the little titmouse a big liar,
And home he flew in shame.
He’d made big plans, and got himself a Name:
But he never set the sea on fire.
Синица на море пустилась:
Она хвалилась,
Что хочет море сжечь.
Расславилась тотчас о том по свету речь.
Страх обнял жителей Нептуновой столицы;
Летят стадами птицы;
А звери из лесов сбегаются смотреть,
Как будет Океан и жарко ли гореть.
И даже, говорят, на слух молвы крылатой,
Охотники таскаться по пирам
Из первых с ложками явились к берегам,
Чтоб похлебать ухи такой богатой,
Какой-де откупщик и самый тороватый
Не давывал секретарям.
Толпятся: чуду всяк заранее дивится,
Молчит и, на море глаза уставя, ждёт;
Лишь изредка иной шепнёт:
«Вот закипит, вот тотчас загорится!»
Не тут-то: море не горит.
Кипит ли хоть? — и не кипит.
И чем же кончились затеи величавы?
Синица со стыдом всвояси уплыла;
Наделала Синица славы,
А море не зажгла.
____
Примолвить к речи здесь годится,
Но ничьего не трогая лица:
Что делом, не сведя конца,
Не надобно хвалиться.
«His home was burned down by foe, / They murdered all his kin and wife. / Where now the soldier has to go? / And what is left in his hard life? In a wide field the soldier found, / Near the crossing of two paths, / A desolate small burial mound, / Grown `over with a native grass. ...»
«There the apple, pear-trees were blooming, / Mists were flying over the creeks. / And Katyusha on the bank had stepped to, / On the river bank, so high and steep. She went out with a song delightful / All about her grey steppe eagle strong, / All about him, whom she loved heartly, / All...»
«There is no better blossom, / Then the apple-tree in spring. / There is no better moment, / When my darling coming in. When I see him, when I hear him, / Then the everything is whirled. / All my soul is on fire, / All my soul sings a song. We would look in eyes each other, / And the ...»
«Dedicated to P. Chagin I know my talent well. / That writing poetry / Is not so difficult, I can attest. / But, poetry apart, / The love I bear my country, / Has tortured me, / Given my.heart no rest. To praise in rhyme / A girl, the stars or moonlight — / Why, anyone can do that...»