Избранная лирика - Вордсворт Уильям. Страница 61

ИЗМЕНЧИВОСТЬ [97]

                      Восходит ввысь мелодией могучей
                      Распад вселенский и на спад идет
                      Неспешной чередой ужасных нот,
                      Гармонией скрежещущих созвучий;
                         Кто слышит их, — тот презирает случай,
                         Бежит нечистых выгод и хлопот.
                         Бессмертна правда; но она живет
                         В обличьях дня, в их смене неминучей.
                      Так иней, выбеливший утром луг,
                      Растает; так седая башня вдруг
                      От возгласа случайного качнется
                         И, словно слепленная из песка,
                         Обрушится, — когда ее коснется
                         Невидимая Времени рука.

INSIDE OF KING'S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE

                 Tax not the royal Saint with vain expense,
                 With ill-matched aims the Architect who planned —
                 Albeit labouring for a scanty band
                 Of white-robed Scholars only — this immense
                 And glorious Work of fine intelligence!
                 Give all thou canst; high Heaven rejects the lore
                 Of nicely-calculated less or more;
                 So deemed the man who fashioned for the sense
                 These lofty pillars, spread that branching roof
                 Self-poised, and scooped into ten thousand cells,
                 Where light and shade repose, where music dwells
                 Lingering — and wandering on as loth to die;
                 Like thoughts whose very sweetness yieldeth proof
                 That they were born for immortality.

В КАПЕЛЛЕ КОРОЛЕВСКОГО КОЛЛЕДЖА В КЕМБРИДЖЕ [98]

                   Не упрекай святых за мотовство,
                   Ни зодчего, что создал небывалый
                   Великолепный храм — для горстки малой
                   Ученых прихожан, — вложив в него
                      Все, без остатка — мысль и мастерство!
                      Будь щедрым; чужд взыскательным высотам
                      Труд, отягченный мелочным расчетом;
                      Так думал он, вознесший волшебство
                   Резных колонн и арок невесомых,
                   Где радуги дрожат в цветных проемах,
                   Где в полумраке музыка парит,
                      Блуждая в сотах каменного свода, —
                      Как мысли, коих сладость и свобода
                      Нам о бессмертье духа говорит.

From "THE POETICAL WORKS"

Из книги "ПОЭТИЧЕСКИЕ ПРОИЗВЕДЕНИЯ"

LAMENT OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, ON THE EVE OF A NEW YEAR

      I
                     Smile of the Moon! — for so I name
                     That silent greeting from above;
                     A gentle flash of light that came
                     From her whom drooping captives love;
                     Or art thou of still higher birth?
                     Thou that didst part the clouds of earth,
                     My torpor to reprove!
      II
                     Bright boon of pitying Heaven! — alas,
                     I may not trust thy placid cheer!
                     Pondering that Time to-night will pass
                     The threshold of another year;
                     For years to me are sad and dull;
                     My very moments are too full
                     Of hopelessness and fear.
      III
                     And yet, the soul-awakening gleam,
                     That struck perchance the farthest cone
                     Of Scotland's rocky wilds, did seem
                     To visit me, and me alone;
                     Me, unapproached by any friend,
                     Save those who to my sorrows lend
                     Tears due unto their own.
      IV
                     To-night the church-tower bells will ring
                     Through these wild realms a festive peal;
                     To the new year a welcoming;
                     A tuneful offering for the weal
                     Of happy millions lulled in sleep;
                     While I am forced to watch and weep,
                     By wounds that may not heal.
      V
                     Born all too high, by wedlock raised
                     Still higher — to be cast thus low!
                     Would that mine eyes had never gazed
                     On aught of more ambitious show
                     Than the sweet flowerets of the fields
                     — It is my royal state that yields
                     This bitterness of woe.
      VI
                     Yet how? — for I, if there be truth
                     In the world's voice, was passing fair;
                     And beauty, for confiding youth,
                     Those shocks of passion can prepare
                     That kill the bloom before its time;
                     And blanch, without the owner's crime,
                     The most resplendent hair.
      VII
                     Unblest distinction! showered on me
                     To bind a lingering life in chains:
                     All that could quit my grasp, or flee,
                     Is gone; — but not the subtle stains
                     Fixed in the spirit; for even here
                     Can I be proud that jealous fear,
                     Of what I was remains.
      VIII
                     A Woman rules my prison's key;
                     A sister Queen, against the bent
                     Of law and holiest sympathy,
                     Detains me, doubtful of the event;
                     Great God, who feel'st for my distress,
                     My thoughts are all that I possess,
                     О keep them innocent!
      IX
                     Farewell desire of human aid,
                     Which abject mortals vainly court!
                     By friends deceived, by foes betrayed,
                     Of fears the prey, of hopes the sport;
                     Nought but the world-redeeming Cross
                     Is able to supply my loss,
                     My burthen to support.
      X
                     Hark! the death-note of the year
                     Sounded by the castle-clock!
                     From her sunk eyes a stagnant tear
                     Stole forth, unsettled by the shock;
                     But oft the woods renewed their green,
                     Ere the tired head of Scotland's Queen
                     Reposed upon the block!