I love Humanity and Nature,
But I don't like to merely stroll,
I know for sure, while filling pages:
No one will grasp my works at all.
Content with small stuff, I’m beholding
What stingy life gave, as it could:
A leaning elm and barn — my gold things,
A small, wide hill; on it, a wood.
No ill-bred fame or persecution
From fellow men I think I'll face,
Yet I've been trimming lilac bushes
Around my garden and terrace.
Люблю людей, люблю природу,
Но не люблю ходить гулять,
И твердо знаю, что народу
Моих творений не понять.
Довольный малым, созерцаю
То, что дает нещедрый рок:
Вяз, прислонившийся к сараю,
Покрытый лесом бугорок…
Ни грубой славы, ни гонений
От современников не жду,
Но сам стригу кусты сирени
Вокруг террасы и в саду.
«A Hog under a mighty Oak / Had glutted tons of tasty acorns, then, supine, / Napped in its shade; but when awoke, / He, with persistence and the snoot of real swine, / The giant's roots began to undermine. "The tree is hurt when they're exposed," / A Raven on a branch arose. / "It may d...»
«Under a huge old Oak, a Pig / With acorns has eaten herself quite fill, / Then has a nap in th' shadow, nice and still, / Awoke, and began around the roots to dig. Then Raven from the Oak said, / "You're doing bad! / With naked roots the tree may die." / "So what?!", Pig ans...»
«Once Donkey met / A Nightingale and said, / They all are talking that / You are so smart / In the vocal art. / Well, dear, / Please let me hear, / So I could myself decide / If they are right. ... He finished, yet. / "Well, well", our Donkey said, / "Not bad! / And honest...»
«This truth within the heart is graven: — / All flattery is false ; and so, there's no excuse, / If listeners succumb when flatterers seduce. Up on a little fir-tree lightly hopped a raven / That wished to breakfast at her ease, / And carried in her mouth a piece of fragrant cheese. /...»