The light will burn and darken, then burn with stronger blaze,
But unreturning darkens the sheen of youthful days.
Glow then, and be enkindled, the while thou still art young,
Let ever more undwindled the heart's loud chords be strung,
That something be remembered in waning years of woe,
That chill old-age be lighted by that decayless glow,
Born of exalted fancies, and headstrong youth's ado,
Heedless, but full of splendour, heedless and hallowed, too.
Свеча горит и меркнет и вновь горит сильней,
Но меркнет безвозвратно сиянье юных дней,
Гори же, разгорайся, пока ещё ты юн,
Сильней, полней касайся сердечных звонких струн.
Чтоб было что припомнить на склоне трудных лет,
Чтоб старости холодной светил нетленный свет —
Мечтаний благородных, порывов молодых,
Безумных, но прекрасных, безумных — и святых.
«1. We're sharp and we are ready, / All the faster. / In each word, in each glance, in each gesture — / Two sisters. Unique and refined our taste is / And our words, / We from the old Damascus / Are two swords. Out, threshing-floor and bread's burden / And the ox! / We — are ...»
«2. We — are the dressing of poplars / In the spring, / We — are the last hope / Of the kings. We're on the bottom of ancient cup. / Come see now: / In it is your dawn, and our / Two dawns too. And touching lips to the cup / Drink all the way. / You will see on the bottom / ...»
«1 Such voices can be, / That you're silent, don't repeat them, / So that wonders you foresee. / There are also giant eyes / The color of the sea Now he stands in front of you: / Look at forehead and at blood / And compare him with you! / The decrepit blood, / Tiredness turned blue....»
«2 Like seaweed, like branches of willows / Of Malmazonia are your limbs, / Thus you did lie in sprays of sea foam / And absent-mindedly transfixed Upon the sweet light-golden melons / Of diamond and aquamarine / The eyes forever semi-open / So blue-and-grayish, bluish-green. The wav...»