Rhymes From the Russian: Being Faithful Translations of Selections From The Best Russian Poets
9781465681423
213 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
Thro’ the midnight heavens an angel flew, And a soft low song sang he, And the moon and the stars and the rolling clouds Heard that holy melody. He sang of the bliss of sinless souls ’Neath the tents of Eden-bowers; Of God—the Great One—he sang; and unfeigned Was his praise of the Godhead’s powers. A little babe in his arms he bore, For this world of woe and tears, And the sound of his song in the soul of the child Kept ringing, though wordless, for years. And long languished she on this earth below, With a wondrous longing filled, But the world’s harsh songs could not change for her The notes which that angel trilled. Glitters a white, a lonely sail, Where stoops the grey mist o’er the sea. What does his distant search avail? At home, unfound, what leaveth he? Whistles the wind; the waves at play Sport round the bending, creaking mast; Ah! not for Fortune does he stray, Nor yet from Fortune flees he fast. ’Neath him, like sapphire, gleams the sea; O’er him, like gold, the sunlight glows; But storms, rebellious, wooeth he, As if in storms he’d find repose.
