Don't you look at me so reproachfully.
I do not bear malice to you,
But I like your appearance awfully
And your seeming modesty, too
Yes, you seem to be openhearted,
And I'd rather be glad to see
How a fox pretending departed
Catches crows like you want to catch me.
Try to catch me, I won't be daunted
Mind, you don't have your ardour restrained!
Many girls of your kind have haunted
Stumbling over my heart that waned.
It's not you that I love, my dearie,
You're only an echo, a shade,
I imagine a different girlie,
Oh so beautiful blue-eyed maid!
Though she isn't so humble-looking
And appears to be rather cool,
Her majestic manner of walking
Has rekindled the depth of my soul.
She's a girl that cannot be cheated,
Notwithstanding your will she'll entice,
Whereas you can't be possibly fitted
In my heart with embellished lies.
Though I scorn you, yet like a layman
I will shyly and openly say:
If there weren't any hell and heaven
Man would think something up anyway.
Не гляди на меня с упрёком,
Я презренья к тебе не таю,
Но люблю я твой взор с поволокой
И лукавую кротость твою.
Да, ты кажешься мне распростёртой,
И, пожалуй, увидеть я рад,
Как лиса, притворившись мёртвой,
Ловит воронов и воронят.
Ну и что же, лови, я не струшу,
Только как бы твой пыл не погас, —
На мою охладевшую душу
Натыкались такие не раз.
Не тебя я люблю, дорогая,
Ты — лишь отзвук, лишь только тень.
Мне в лице твоём снится другая,
У которой глаза — голубень.
Пусть она и не выглядит кроткой
И, пожалуй, на вид холодна,
Но она величавой походкой
Всколыхнула мне душу до дна.
Вот такую едва ль отуманишь,
И не хочешь пойти, да пойдёшь,
Ну, а ты даже в сердце не вранишь
Напоённую ласкою ложь.
Но и всё же, тебя презирая,
Я смущённо откроюсь навек:
Если б не было ада и рая,
Их бы выдумал сам человек.
«I must he ill, of course. I’ve been shivering / for three days now like a horse before the races. / Even the haughty man who lives on my landing / has said as much to me: / Bella, you’re shaking! / / Please control yourself, this strange disease of yours / is rocking the walls, it...»
«1 All morning I’ve had this Rain around me. / Rudely, I kept on saying: Leave me alone! / So it drew back, but soon there it was again / as sad and loving as a little daughter. Rain. On my back. Stuck there like a wing. / I reproached it: Here, you / shameless, useless thing! / Think...»
«Your house, all without feeling of misfortune, / Has met me and has smacked me on my cheek. / As if a fish out from water, / Behind the glass looked a tea service. / A dog has leaped out to me, / As small jackdaw, and yelling, / Defenseless burs, all with thorn's heap, / Were sitting t...»
«One fine day / a tiny laddie / came / and asked his dad: / “Could you tell me, / Daddy, / what is good / and what is bad?” / All his daddy said / ...»