while as beautiful as May,
A female child of ten years tried to stoop
And hide her little palpitating breast
Amidst the bodies lulled (1) in bloody rest (2).
Two villanous Cosaques pursued the child
With flashing eyes and weapons; matched with them
The rudest brute (5) that roams Siberia's wild
Has feelings (4) pure and polish'd as a gem,
The bear is civilized, the wolf is mild:
And whom for this at last must we condemn?
Their natures? or their sovereigns who employ
All arts to teach their subjects to destroy?
Their sabres glittering o'er her little head,
Whence her fair hair rose twining (5) with affright,
Her hidden face was plunged amidst the dead:
When Juan caught a glimpse of that sad sight,
I shall not say exactly what he said.
Because it might not solace (6) ears polite;
But what he did, was to lay on (7) their backs,
The readiest way of reasoning with Cosaques.
(1) Lulled, bercé, endormi.
(2) Bloody rest, repos sanglant.
(5) The rudest brute, l'animal le plus féroce. (4) Feelings, sentiments, caractère.
(5) To twine, s'entortiller.
(6) To solace, flatter, plaire.
(7) To lay on, tomber sur, frapper.
THE VISION OF ALP THE RENEGADE.
A successful invader
Beholds a youthful warrior stand
Alone beside his native river,
The red blade (1) broken in his hand,
And the last arrow in his quiver.
"Live," said the conqueror," live to share
"The trophies and the crowns I bear (2)! "
Silent that youthful warrior stood
Silent he pointed (3) to the flood
All crimson with his country's blood,
Then sent his last remaining dart
For answer to the invader's heart.
THE VISION OF ALP THE RENEGADE.
He sate him down at a pillar's base,
And pass'd his hand athwart (4) his face;
Like one in dreary musing mood (5),
Declining was his attitude;
His head was drooping (6) on his breast,
Fever'd, throbbing and opprest,
And o'er his brow so downward bent,
(1) Blade, lame, épée.
(2) To bear, porter, remporter.
(5) To point, montrer du doigt.
(4) Athwart ou across, à travers, sur.
(5) Mood, disposition de l'esprit, humeur. • (6) Drooping, penché, penchant.
Oft his beating fingers went
Hurriedly (1), as you may see
Your own run over the ivory-key (2),
Ere the measured tone (5) is taken
By the chords you would awaken.
There he sate all heavily,
As he heard the night wind sigh.
Was it the wind through some hollow stone,
Sent that soft and tender moan (4)?
He lifted his head and he looked on the sea,
But it was unrippled (5) as glass may be;
He look'd on the long grass, it wav'd not a blade (6).
How was that gentle sound convey'd?
He look'd on the banners, each flag lay still :
So did the leaves (7) on Cithaeron's hill;
And he felt not a breath come over his cheek.
What did that sudden sound bespeak (8)?
He turn'd to the left is he sure of sight?
There sate a lady youthful and bright.
He started up with more of fear
Than if an armed foe were near.
"God of my fathers! what is here?"
(1) Hurriedly, rapidement.
(2) The ivory-key, le clavier d'ivoire. (3) The measured tone, la mesure.
(4) Moan, plainte.
(5) Unrippled, uni, poli.
(6) A blade of grass, un brin d'herbe.
(7) The leaves, les feuilles des arbres.
(8) To bespeak, annoncer, présager.
MALEDICTION ON A TRAITOR.
MALEDICTION ON A TRAITOR WHOSE TREASON HAD
SNATCHED A VICTORY FROM HIS COUNTRY.
O for a tongue to curse the slave
Whose treason, like the deadly blight (1),
Comes o'er the councils of the brave,
And blasts them in their hour of might!
May life's unblessed cup for him
Be drugg'd (2) with treacheries to the brim;
With hopes that but allure to fly,
With joys that vanish as he sips (3),
Like Dead-Sea fruits (4) that tempt the eye,
But turn to ashes on the lips!
His country's curse! - his children's shame!
Outcast (5) of virtue, peace and fame!
May he at last with lips of flame
On the parched desert thirsting die,
While lakes that shone in mockery nigh
Are fading off (6), untouched, untasted,
Like the once glorious hopes he blasted!
And when from earth his spirit flies,
Just Prophet, let the damned one (7) dwell
Full in the sight of Paradise
Beholding heaven and feeling hell.
(1) A deadly blight, nielle mortelle, maladies des plantes, brouissure.
(2) Drugged, empoisonné, drogué.
(5) To sip, boire, buvotter.
(4) Dead-Sea fruits, fruits de la mer Morte.
(5) Outcast, proscrit, rejeté.
(6) To fade off, disparaitre.
(7) The damned one, l'âme damnée, le condamné.
What is the end (1) of fame? 'Tis but to fill
A certain portion of uncertain paper.
Some liken (2) it to climbing up a hill,
Whose summit like all hills is lost in vapour.
For this men write, speak, preach, and heroes kill,
And bards burn what they call their midnight taper (3),
To have, when the original is dust,
A name, a wretched picture and worse bust.
And there the volleying thunders pour,
Till waves grow smoother (4) to the roar;
The trench is dug, the cannon's breath
Wings (5) the far-hissing globe of death;
Fast whirl (6) the fragments from the wall,
Which crumbles (7) with the ponderous ball;
And from that wall the foe replies
O'er dusty plain and smoky skies
With fire that answers fast and well
The summons of the Infidel.
(1) The end, le bul.
(2) To liken, comparer.
(5) Midnight-taper, bougie nocturne. (4) To grow smoother, s'apaiser.
(5) To wing, donner des ailes, lancer.
(6) To whirl, s'élancer, voler rapidement.
(7) To crumble, s'écrouler, réduire en petits morceaux.
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