O Time, you pursue me with legions of terrors
With painful disclosure, disfavour, dismay;
Today you denounce me for Yesterday's errors
And smash my delusions like castles of clay.
Who knew that old truths were so easily shaken?
Then why do you laugh at me, why such unkindness?
I erred in the things in which you were mistaken,
Repeating your words in my rapturous blindness!
Ты, время, вступаешь со мной врукопашную,
Пытаешь прозреньем, караешь презреньем,
Сегодня клеймишь за ошибки вчерашние
И крепости рушишь — мои заблужденья.
Кто знал, что окажутся истины зыбкими?
Чего же смеешься ты, мстя и карая?
Ведь я ошибался твоими ошибками,
Восторженно слово твое повторяя!
«Today, I see, you look especially sad, / your arms embracing your knees and especially thin. / Listen: far, far away round Lake Chad / wanders an elegant giraffe. / He is graceful, shapely and languid, / divine gifts — a magical pattern for his skin / that only the moon dares to compet...»
«Your eyes look at me with especial sadness today, / Your arms give the knees an especially fragile embrace. / Now listen, along Lake Chad’s shore, far away, / An exquisite giraffe makes its pace. He’s gracefully slender, with heavenly joy he is blessed, / His skin is adorned with a patt...»
«Today I can see that your features are strikingly sad, / Your arms on your knees are as thin as dandelion stalks. / But listen, in far-away lands that surround lake Chad / A graceful giraffe softly walks. A slender and delicate beauty he rightfully owns, / And magical ornaments run through ...»
«Today, I can see that your glance is especially sad, / And hands are especially thin and the hair if up fluff. / Hey, listen, as far as in Africa, down at lake Chad / Is walking a graceful Giraffe. He's owing that elegance, slender and languor he is, / Such beautiful patterns are shimmering...»