He came to me — I don't know who he is.
He encircled me within a ring.
He said that I don't know who he is,
But he hid his face behind a cape.
I begged him to tarry longer,
To step back, not touch me, and to wait.
If he only could but tarry longer
And not enclose me within that ring.
The Dark One was amazed: "What can I do?"
Quietly he laughed under his cloak.
"Your own sin encircles you. What can I do?
Your own sin enclosed you in that ring."
As he left he also said: "You're wretched!"
As he left he sank into a void.
"Break the ring around you. Don't be wretched!"
Break and stretch it out into a line."
So he left, but he will yet return.
So he left and never showed his face.
What am I to do if he returns?
There's no way that I can break the ring.
Он пришел ко мне, — а кто, не знаю,
Очертил вокруг меня кольцо.
Он сказал, что я его не знаю,
Но плащом закрыл себе лицо.
Я просил его, чтоб он помедлил.
Отошел, не трогал, подождал.
Если можно, чтоб еще помедлил
И в кольцо меня не замыкал.
Удивился Темный: «Что могу я?»
Засмеялся тихо под плащом.
«Твой же грех обвился, — что могу я?
Твой же грех обвил тебя кольцом».
Уходя, сказал еще: «Ты жалок!»
Уходя, сникая в пустоту.
«Разорви кольцо, не будь так жалок!
Разорви и вытяни в черту».
Он ушел, но он опять вернется.
Он ушел — и не открыл лица.
Что мне делать, если он вернется?
Не могу я разорвать кольца.
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