The Demon / Демон. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Let remembrance day be only

One long sorrow-laden day;

For the rest, be strong and lonely

Free of earthly cares as they!В»

В«As soon as night has spread her veil

To cover the Caucasian heights;

As soon as nature 'neath the spell

Of magic words falls silent quite;

As soon as on the cliffs the wind

Runs rustling through the fading grass,

And the small bird that hides behind

The brittle blades flies up at last;

And, drinking in the evening dew

Beneath the vine-leaves in the gloom,

Night flowering blossoms come to bloom;

As soon as the great, golden moon

Above the mountain quietly peeps

To steal a stealthy glance at you;

I shall come flying to watch your sleep

And on your silken lashes lay

Enchanted dreams of golden day…»

XVI

And softly as a strange delusion

The voice fell silent, sound on sound.

The maid sprang up and gazed around,

An inexpressible confusion

Within her breast; – sorrow nor fear

Nor ecstasy could now compare

With this great upsurge of emotion.

The soul from its fast fetters broke

And burning fire coursed through her veins

It seemed as though the voice still spoke

Unknown and wonderful – and then

The sleep she craved came down to bless

Her weary eyes with heaviness;

But now he troubled even her thought

With dreams prophetic and unsought:

A stranger, mist-enshrouded, stood

Beside her bed and spoke no word

But, glimmering with unearthly beauty,

He looked at her with quiet devotion

And sadly, as it were in pity.

But this was not her guardian angel,

No visitant from realms divine:

About his head no radiant halo

Upon the shadowy curls did shine

Nor was it some tormented sprite

Some vicious spirit of hell – ah no!

Neither of darkness nor of light!..

More like the gentle afterglow

As evening deepens into night!.

Part II

I

В«Ah, father, father, leave your threat's

Scold not your daughter yet again.

For see these tears! I'm weeping yet

You know full well since when

The suitors come to seek my hand

From all the corners of the land…

As though in Georgia only one

Young maid there were they'd have as bride…

But I–I can be wife to none!..