Оценить:
 Рейтинг: 0

Poems

Год написания книги
2017
<< 1 ... 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 ... 118 >>
На страницу:
61 из 118
Настройки чтения
Размер шрифта
Высота строк
Поля
Women appeared upon the crenelated heights —
Those battlements embrowned with age and rust —
And hurled upon the Hebrews stones and dust,
And spun and sang when weary of the game.
At the fifth circuit came the blind and lame,
And with wild uproar clamorous and high
Railed at the clarion ringing to the sky.
At the sixth time, upon a tower's tall crest,
So high that there the eagle built his nest,
So hard that on it lightning lit in vain,
Appeared in merriment the king again:
"These Hebrew Jews musicians are, meseems!"
He scoffed, loud laughing, "but they live on dreams."
The princes laughed submissive to the king,
Laughed all the courtiers in their glittering ring,
And thence the laughter spread through all the town.

At the seventh blast – the city walls fell down.

    TORU DUTT.

AFTER THE COUP D'ÊTAT

("Devant les trahisons.")

{Bk. VII, xvi., Jersey, Dec. 2, 1852.}

Before foul treachery and heads hung down,
I'll fold my arms, indignant but serene.
Oh! faith in fallen things – be thou my crown,
My force, my joy, my prop on which I lean:

Yes, whilst he's there, or struggle some or fall,
O France, dear France, for whom I weep in vain.
Tomb of my sires, nest of my loves – my all,
I ne'er shall see thee with these eyes again.

I shall not see thy sad, sad sounding shore,
France, save my duty, I shall all forget;
Amongst the true and tried, I'll tug my oar,
And rest proscribed to brand the fawning set.

O bitter exile, hard, without a term,
Thee I accept, nor seek nor care to know
Who have down-truckled 'mid the men deemed firm,
And who have fled that should have fought the foe.

If true a thousand stand, with them I stand;
A hundred? 'tis enough: we'll Sylla brave;
Ten? put my name down foremost in the band;
One? – well, alone – until I find my grave.

    TORU DUTT.

PATRIA.{1}

("Là-haut, qui sourit.")

{Bk. VII. vii., September, 1853.}

Who smiles there? Is it
A stray spirit,
Or woman fair?
Sombre yet soft the brow!
Bow, nations, bow;
O soul in air,
Speak – what art thou?

In grief the fair face seems —
What means those sudden gleams?
Our antique pride from dreams
Starts up, and beams
Its conquering glance, —
To make our sad hearts dance,
And wake in woods hushed long
The wild bird's song.
Angel of Day!
Our Hope, Love, Stay,
Thy countenance
Lights land and sea
Eternally,
Thy name is France
Or Verity.

Fair angel in thy glass
When vile things move or pass,
Clouds in the skies amass;
Terrible, alas!
Thy stern commands are then:
"Form your battalions, men,
The flag display!"
And all obey.
Angel of might
Sent kings to smite,
The words in dark skies glance,
"Mené, Mené," hiss
Bolts that never miss!
Thy name is France,
Or Nemesis.

<< 1 ... 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 ... 118 >>
На страницу:
61 из 118