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Vrchlický, Jaroslav: Adagio

Portre of Vrchlický, Jaroslav

Adagio (Czech)

Do velké, šedé škeble mramoru,
kde místo vody svadlé listí leží,
se kloní větve bříz a javorů.
Vše v dřímotě, jen mraky nebem běží.
Zde chtěl bych státi v zamyšlení dumnén
a dívat se, jak večer táhne sem,
a luňák v letu posupném a šumném
jak po kořisti slídi nad lesem;
tou sochou chtěl bych býti kamennou,
jež o samotě dumá v lesni hloubi,
jež s větry mluví jen a ozvěnou,
na jejiž skráni s noci den se snoubí.



Adagio (English)

Over the marble with its great drab shell,
Where faded leaves in place of water lie,
The boughs of birches and of maples fell:
All slumbers, save the scudding clouds on high.
Fain would I linger here in wistful poring,
And gaze at evening drawing nigh this way;
And at the hawks gloom-covered, clamorous soaring,
How o'er the wood he watches for his prey;
Fain would I be this statue wrought in stone,
On loneliness in forost-depths to brood,
Speaking with winds and echo all alone,
Upon whose brow the night by day is wooed.




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