Пророк |
The Prophet |
Духовной жаждою
томим, В пустыне мрачной я влачился, - И шестикрылый серафим На перепутье мне явился. Перстами легкими как сон Моих зениц коснулся он. Отверзлись вещие зеницы, Как у испуганной орлицы. Моих ушей коснулся он, - И их наполнил шум и звон: И внял я неба содроганье, И горний ангелов полет, И гад морских подводный ход, И дольней лозы прозябанье. И он к устам моим приник, И вырвал грешный мой язык, И празднословный и лукавый, И жало мудрыя змеи В уста замершие мои Вложил десницею кровавой. И он мне грудь рассек мечом, И сердце трепетное вынул, И угль, пылающий огнем, Во грудь отверстую водвинул. Как труп в пустыне я лежал, И бога глас ко мне воззвал: "Восстань, пророк, и виждь, и внемли, Исполнись волею моей, И, обходя моря и земли, Глаголом жги сердца людей". 1825 |
My lonely heart athirst, I trod A barren waste when, so 'twas fated, A winged seraph 'fore me stood: Where crossed the desert roads he waited. Upon my orbs of sightless clay His fingers lightly he did lay. And like a startled eagle round me I gazed and saw the earth surrounded, Hemmed in by sky... He touched my ear, Then t'other, and, most marked and clear, There came to me the gentle flutter Of angels' wings, I heard the vine Push through the earth and skyward climb, The deep-sea monsters in the water Like tiny fishes glide... And o'er Me calm he bent and out he tore My sinful tongue... Not once withdrawing His gaze from mine, he pushed, unseen, A serpent's deadly sting between My ice-cold lips... Then, swiftly drawing His shining sword, he clove my breast, Plucked out my quivering heart, and, sombre And grim of aspect, coolly thrust Into the gaping hole an ember That ran with flame... I lay there, dead, And God, God spake, and this He said: "Arise, O sage! My summons hearing, Do as I bid, by naught deterred; Stride o'er the earth, a prophet, searing The hearts of men with righteous word." Translated by
I.Zheleznova |
The Prophet |
|
Parched with the spirit's thirst, I crossed An endless desert sunk in gloom, And a six-winged seraph came Where the tracks met and I stood lost. Fingers light as dream he laid Upon my lids; I opened wide My eagle eyes, and gazed around. He laid his fingers on my ears And they were filled with roaring sound: I heard the music of the spheres, The flight of angels through the skies, The beasts that crept beneath the sea, The heady uprush of the vine; And, like a lover kissing me, He rooted out this tongue of mine Fluent in lies and vanity; He tore my fainting lips apart And, with his right hand steeped in blood, He armed me with a serpent's dart; With his bright sword he split my breast; My heart leapt to him with a bound; A glowing livid coal he pressed Into the hollow of the wound. There in the desert I lay dead, And God called out to me and said: 'Rise, prophet, rise, and hear, and see, And let my works be seen and heard By all who turn aside from me, And burn them with my fiery word.' |