Sova, Antonín: A Song (Pisen in English)
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Pisen (Czech)Já housle vzal jsem v ruku po letech doma zas! Tak neuměle, tiše zvuk nesmělý se třás! Zvuk nesmělý se třás- já hrát již zapomněl, ó marno! vzpomínám si, já hrát již zapomněl! A v žádosti a touze po měkkých houslích svých, jež plakaly tak dlouze za nocí měsíčních- za nocí měsícních!- já silnéj v struny vjel, o marno, struna praskla, já hrát již zapomněl! I ta, jež ráda měla můj hovor dumavý, se ani nezachvěla, zrak nevzplál pátravý! Zrak nevzplál pátravy' po letech, jaký žel! Já zestár jsem a dávno jsem líbat zapomněl! |
A Song (English)I took the fiddle in my hand:
for years had passed, and I was home. Then faint and artless came the sound - a timid, quavering tone! A timid, quavering tone- I had forgotten how to play. So hopeless! I remembered then, I had forgotten how to play. And longing, oh so fervently for the mellow, stringed delights of that drawn-out weeping melody from the distant, moonlit nights - from the distant moonlit nights! - I tried to make the strings obey. So hopeless! For the string had snapped. I had forgotten how to play. And the one who loved my musings once, and touched my words with grace, she gave -no sign, made no response; no radiance crossed her face. No radiance crossed her face: time brings its nemesis; for years had passed and I was old. I had forgotten how to kiss. |