by Mihai Eminescu
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A fost odata ca-n povesti, A fost ca niciodata, Din rude mari imparatesti, O prea frumoasa fata. Si era una la parinti Si mindra-n toate cele, Cum e Fecioara intre sfinti Si luna intre stele. Din umbra falnicelor bolti Ea pasul si-l indreapta Linga fereastra, unde-n colt Luceafarul asteapta. Privea in zare cum pe mari Rasare si straluce, Pe miscatoarele carari Corabii negre duce. Il vede azi, il vede mini, Astfel dorinta-i gata; El iar, privind de saptamini, Ii cade draga fata. Cum ea pe coate-si razima Visind ale ei timple De dorul lui si inima Si sufletu-i se imple. Si cit de viu s-aprinde el In orisicare sara, Spre umbra negrului castel Cind ea o sa-i apara. Si pas cu pas pe urma ei Aluneca-n odaie, Tesind cu recile-i scintei O mreaja de vapaie. Si cind in pat se-ntinde drept Copila sa se culce, I-atinge miinile pe piept, I-nchide geana dulce; Si din oglinda luminis Pe trupu-i se revarsa, Pe ochii mari, batind inchisi Pe fata ei intoarsa. Ea il privea cu un suris, El tremura-n oglinda, Caci o urma adinc in vis De suflet sa se prinda. Iar ea vorbind cu el in somn, Oftind din greu suspina: - "O, dulce-al noptii mele domn, De ce nu vii tu? Vina! Cobori in jos, luceafar blind, Alunecind pe-o raza, Patrunde-n casa si in gind Si viata-mi lumineaza!" El asculta tremurator, Se aprindea mai tare Si s-arunca fulgerator, Se cufunda in mare; Si apa unde-au fost cazut In cercuri se roteste, Si din adinc necunoscut Un mindru tinar creste. Usor el trece ca pe prag Pe marginea ferestrei Si tine-n mina un toiag Incununat cu trestii. Parea un tinar voievod Cu par de aur moale, Un vinat giulgi se-ncheie nod Pe umerele goale. Iar umbra fetei stravezii E alba ca de ceara - Un mort frumos cu ochii vii Ce scinteie-n afara. - "Din sfera mea venii cu greu Ca sa-ti urmez chemarea, Iar cerul este tatal meu Si muma-mea e marea. Ca in camara ta sa vin, Sa te privesc de-aproape, Am coborit cu-al meu senin Si m-am nascut din ape. O, vin'! odorul meu nespus, Si lumea ta o lasa; Eu sunt luceafarul de sus, Iar tu sa-mi fii mireasa. Colo-n palate de margean Te-oi duce veacuri multe, Si toata lumea-n ocean De tine o s-asculte." - "O, esti frumos, cum numa-n vis Un inger se arata, Dara pe calea ce-ai deschis N-oi merge niciodata; Strain la vorba si la port, Lucesti fara de viata, Caci eu sunt vie, tu esti mort, Si ochiul tau ma-ngheata." Trecu o zi, trecura trei Si iarasi, noaptea, vine Luceafarul deasupra ei Cu razele-i senine. Ea trebui de el in somn Aminte sa-si aduca Si dor de-al valurilor domn De inim-o apuca: - "Cobori in jos, luceafar blind, Alunecind pe-o raza, Patrunde-n casa si in gind Si viata-mi lumineaza!" Cum el din cer o auzi, Se stinse cu durere, Iar ceru-ncepe a roti In locul unde piere; In aer rumene vapai Se-ntind pe lumea-ntreaga, Si din a chaosului vai Un mindru chip se-ncheaga; Pe negre vitele-i de par Coroana-i arde pare, Venea plutind in adevar Scaldat in foc de soare. Din negru giulgi se desfasor Marmoreele brate, El vine trist si ginditor Si palid e la fata; Dar ochii mari si minunati Lucesc adinc himeric, Ca doua patimi fara sat Si pline de-ntuneric. - "Din sfera mea venii cu greu Ca sa te-ascult s-acuma, Si soarele e tatal meu, Iar noaptea-mi este muma; O, vin', odorul meu nespus, Si lumea ta o lasa; Eu sunt luceafarul de sus, Iar tu sa-mi fii mireasa. O, vin', in parul tau balai S-anin cununi de stele, Pe-a mele ceruri sa rasai Mai mindra decit ele." - "O, esti frumos cum numa-n vis Un demon se arata, Dara pe calea ce-ai deschis N-oi merge niciodata! Ma dor de crudul tau amor A pieptului meu coarde, Si ochii mari si grei ma dor, Privirea ta ma arde." - "Dar cum ai vrea sa ma cobor? Au nu-ntelegi tu oare, Cum ca eu sunt nemuritor, Si tu esti muritoare?" - "Nu caut vorbe pe ales, Nici stiu cum as incepe - Desi vorbesti pe inteles, Eu nu te pot pricepe; Dar daca vrei cu crezamint Sa te-ndragesc pe tine, Tu te coboara pe pamint, Fii muritor ca mine." - "Tu-mi cei chiar nemurirea mea In schimb pe-o sarutare, Dar voi sa stii asemenea Cit te iubesc de tare; Da, ma voi naste din pacat, Primind o alta lege; Cu vecinicia sunt legat, Ci voi sa ma dezlege." Si se tot duce... S-a tot dus. De dragu-unei copile, S-a rupt din locul lui de sus, Pierind mai multe zile. In vremea asta Catalin, Viclean copil de casa, Ce imple cupele cu vin Mesenilor la masa, Un paj ce poarta pas cu pas A-mparatesii rochii, Baiat din flori si de pripas, Dar indraznet cu ochii, Cu obrajei ca doi bujori De rumeni, bata-i vina, Se furiseaza pinditor Privind la Catalina. Dar ce frumoasa se facu Si mindra, arz-o focul; Ei Catalin, acu-i acu Ca sa-ti incerci norocul. Si-n treacat o cuprinse lin Intr-un ungher degraba. - "Da' ce vrei, mari Catalin? Ia du-t' de-ti vei de treaba." - "Ce voi? As vrea sa nu mai stai Pe ginduri totdeuna, Sa rizi mai bine si sa-mi dai O gura, numai una." - "Dar nici nu stiu macar ce-mi ceri, Da-mi pace, fugi departe - O, de luceafarul din cer M-a prins un dor de moarte." - "Daca nu stii, ti-as arata Din bob in bob amorul, Ci numai nu te minia, Ci stai cu binisorul. Cum vinatoru-ntinde-n cring La pasarele latul, Cind ti-oi intinde bratul sting Sa ma cuprinzi cu bratul; Si ochii tai nemiscatori Sub ochii mei ramiie... De te inalt de subtiori Te-nalta din calciie; Cind fata mea se pleaca-n jos, In sus ramii cu fata, Sa ne privim nesatios Si dulce toata viata; Si ca sa-ti fie pe deplin Iubirea cunoscuta, Cind sarutindu-te ma-nclin, Tu iarasi ma saruta." Ea-l asculta pe copilas Uimita si distrasa, Si rusinos si dragalas, Mai nu vrea, mai se lasa, Si-i zise-ncet: - "Inca de mic Te cunosteam pe tine, Si guraliv si de nimic, Te-ai potrivi cu mine... Dar un luceafar, rasarit Din linistea uitarii, Da orizon nemarginit Singuratatii marii; Si tainic genele le plec, Caci mi le imple plinsul Cind ale apei valuri trec Calatorind spre dinsul; Luceste c-un amor nespus, Durerea sa-mi alunge, Dar se inalta tot mai sus, Ca sa nu-l pot ajunge. Patrunde trist cu raze reci Din lumea ce-l desparte... In veci il voi iubi si-n veci Va raminea departe... De-aceea zilele imi sunt Pustii ca niste stepe, Dar noptile-s de-un farmec sfint Ce-l nu mai pot pricepe." - "Tu esti copila, asta e... Hai s-om fugi in lume, Doar ni s-or pierde urmele Si nu ne-or sti de nume. Caci amindoi vom fi cuminti, Vom fi voiosi si teferi, Vei pierde dorul de parinti Si visul de luceferi." Porni luceafarul. Cresteau In cer a lui aripe, Si cai de mii de ani treceau In tot atitea clipe. Un cer de stele dedesupt, Deasupra-i cer de stele - Parea un fulger nentrerupt Ratacitor prin ele. Si din a chaosului vai, Jur imprejur de sine, Vedea, ca-n ziua cea dentii, Cum izvorau lumine; Cum izvorind il inconjor Ca niste mari, de-a-notul... El zboara, gind purtat de dor, Pin' piere totul, totul; Caci unde-ajunge nu-i hotar, Nici ochi spre a cunoaste, Si vremea-ncearca in zadar Din goluri a se naste. Nu e nimic si totusi e O sete care-l soarbe, E un adinc asemene Uitarii celei oarbe. - "De greul negrei vecinicii, Parinte, ma dezleaga Si laudat pe veci sa fii Pe-a lumii scara-ntreaga; O, cere-mi, Doamne, orice pret, Dar da-mi o alta soarte, Caci tu izvor esti de vieti Si datator de moarte; Reia-mi al nemuririi nimb Si focul din privire, Si pentru toate da-mi in schimb O ora de iubire... Din chaos, Doamne,-am aparut Si m-as intoarce-n chaos... Si din repaos m-am nascut. Mi-e sete de repaos." - "Hyperion, ce din genuni Rasai c-o-ntreaga lume, Nu cere semne si minuni Care n-au chip si nume; Tu vrei un om sa te socoti, Cu ei sa te asameni? Dar piara oamenii cu toti, S-ar naste iarasi oameni. Ei numai doar dureaza-n vint Deserte idealuri - Cind valuri afla un mormint, Rasar in urma valuri; Ei doar au stele cu noroc Si prigoniri de soarte, Noi nu avem nici timp, nici loc, Si nu cunoastem moarte. Din sinul vecinicului ieri Traieste azi ce moare, Un soare de s-ar stinge-n cer S-aprinde iarasi soare; Parind pe veci a rasari, Din urma moartea-l paste, Caci toti se nasc spre a muri Si mor spre a se naste. Iar tu, Hyperion, ramii Oriunde ai apune... Cere-mi cuvintul meu dentii - Sa-ti dau intelepciune? Vrei sa dau glas acelei guri, Ca dup-a ei cintare Sa se ia muntii cu paduri Si insulele-n mare? Vrei poate-n fapta sa arati Dreptate si tarie? Ti-as da pamintul in bucati Sa-l faci imparatie. Iti dau catarg linga catarg, Ostiri spre a strabate Pamintu-n lung si marea-n larg, Dar moartea nu se poate... Si pentru cine vrei sa mori? Intoarce-te, te-ndreapta Spre-acel pamint ratacitor Si vezi ce te asteapta." In locul lui menit din cer Hyperion se-ntoarse Si, ca si-n ziua cea de ieri, Lumina si-o revarsa. Caci este sara-n asfintit Si noaptea o sa-nceapa; Rasare luna linistit Si tremurind din apa. Si imple cu-ale ei scintei Cararile din cringuri. Sub sirul lung de mindri tei Sedeau doi tineri singuri: - "O, lasa-mi capul meu pe sin, Iubito, sa se culce Sub raza ochiului senin Si negrait de dulce; Cu farmecul luminii reci Gindirile strabate-mi, Revarsa liniste de veci Pe noaptea mea de patimi. Si de asupra mea ramii Durerea mea de-o curma, Caci esti iubirea mea dentii Si visul meu din urma." Hyperion vedea de sus Uimirea-n a lor fata; Abia un brat pe git i-a pus Si ea l-a prins in brate... Miroase florile-argintii Si cad, o dulce ploaie, Pe crestetele-a doi copii Cu plete lungi, balaie. Ea, imbatata de amor, Ridica ochii. Vede Luceafarul. Si-ncetisor Dorintele-i increde: - "Cobori in jos, luceafar blind, Alunecind pe-o raza, Patrunde-n codru si in gind, Norocu-mi lumineaza!" El tremura ca alte dati In codri si pe dealuri, Calauzind singuratati De miscatoare valuri; Dar nu mai cade ca-n trecut In mari din tot inaltul: - "Ce-ti pasa tie, chip de lut, Dac-oi fi eu sau altul? Traind in cercul vostru strimt Norocul va petrece, Ci eu in lumea mea ma simt Nemuritor si rece." 1883, 24 apr - 6 mai Mihail Eminescu |
Once on a time, as poets sing High tales with fancy laden, Born of a very noble king There lived a wondrous maiden. An only child, her kinsfolk boon, So fair, imagination faints; As though amidst the stars the moon, Or Mary amidst the saints From 'neath the castle's dark retreat, Her silent way she wended Each evening to the window-seat Where Lucifer attended. And secretly, with never fail, She watched his double race, Where vessels drew their pathless trail Across the ocean's face. And as intent she drank his light, Desire was quickly there; While he who saw her every night Soon fell in love with her. And sitting thus with rested head, Her elbows on the sill, Her heart by youthful fancy led Did with deep longing fill. While he, a brilliant shining spark, Glowed always yet more clear Towards the castle tall and dark Where she would soon appear * * * * Until one night with shower of rays He slips into her room, As though a strange and silver haze Did round about her loom. And when at last the child to rest Upon her sofa lies, He lays her arms across her breast And closes her soft eyes. While where his ray on mirror lands And is upon her couch red rifted, It falls upon her throat and hands And on her face uplifted. A smile is on her lips it seems; He in the mirror trembles, For smooth his ray glides midst her dreams And round her soul assembles. And while she is in slumber gone She murmurs through her sighs: "Come down to me beloved one, Fair prince of the clear skies. Come down, good Lucifer and kind, O lord of my aspire, And flood my chamber and my mind With your sweetest fire !" And Lucifer beams still more bright To hear her word's emotion; Then like a comet in its flight Dives down into the ocean. And where his bolt is lost to view The sea in whirlpool surges, Till out of the unfathomed blue A handsome youth emerges, Who, leaping off the fretful wave, Lightly through her casement passes; And in his hand he holds a stave Crowned with a wreath of grasses. A prince indeed of royal stock, With heavy hanging golden hair; A purple winding-sheet his smock, Hung round his shoulders bare. A starry glow shines from his eyes, His cheeks are deathly white; A lifeless thing in living guise, A youth born of the night. "Down from the spheres do I come Though dreadful the commotion, My father is the vaulted dome, My mother is the ocean. For I have left my realm to keep Obedience to your command; Born of the zenith and the deep Here I before you stand. O come, fair child of royal birth, Cast this your world aside, For Lucifer has flown to earth To claim you as his bride. And you will live till time is done In castles built of sky, And all the fish will be your own, And all the birds that fly". "O, beautiful you are, good Sire, As but an angel prince could be, But to the course that you desire I never shall agree Strange, as your voice and vesture show, I live while you are dead; Your eyes gleam with an icy glow Which fills my soul with dread." One day went past, and went past-two, Then o'er the castle dark, Fair Lucifer again to view Shone forth his lustrous spark. And scarce his beam waved bright above, Her dreams to him were borne, Her heart again by aching love And cruel longing torn. "Come down, good Lucifer and kind, O lord of my aspire, And flood my chamber and my mind With your sweetest fire !" Now, as he heard her tender cry With pain he faded out, And lightning flew about the sky, Which wheeled and rocked about; Around the earth a lurid glow Poured like a torrent race, Till out of its chaotic flow There grew a human face; About the head dark wisps of hair Girt with a crown of flame, And through the sun-illumined air Borne up by truth he came. His arms of rounded marble sheen Did 'neath a cloak of raven show, And sad and thoughtful was his mien And pallid was his brow. Bright eyes he had that seemed to tell Of strange chimerical bonds; And deep they were as passion's spell, And dark as moonlit ponds. "Down from the spheres have I flown, Though terrible my flight; My father wears Apollo's crown, My mother is the night. O come, fair child of royal birth, Cast this your world aside, For Lucifer has flown to earth To claim you as his bride. A starry halo from the skies About your hair will fall, And you among the spheres will rise The proudest of them all." "O, beautiful you are, good Sire, As but a demon prince could be, But to the course of your desire I never shall agree. You wound me with your crude behest; I dread what you extol; Your heavy eyes, as though possessed, Gleam down into my soul." "But why should I descend to thee? Far better what I give; My days are all eternity, While you but one hour live." "I would not chosen phrases seek, Nor carefully my words arrange, But though with human mouth you speak, Your speech to me is strange. Yet if you wish to prove your worth, That I betroth myself to you, Well, then come down to me on earth And be a mortal too." You ask my endless, life above To barter for a kiss. Aye, I will show how my love, How deep my longing is. My birthright I will fling aside To be reborn of sin, and I Who to all rolling time am tied, Will that great knot untie." At which he turned and went away Midst a cloud of sombre pearl, To renounce his birthright from that day For the love of a mortal girl. * * * * About this time young Catalin Was a page boy of that house, Who filled the festive cups with wine At feast and royal carouse. And carried high the regal train; A foundling, brought by chance, Born of a humble unknown strain, Though roguish in his glance, Round-cheeked, like rose-apples red, Mischievous, bright-eyed, A slipped with quick yet stealthy tread To Catalina's side. Upon my soul, Queen of romance ! Was such a darling ever? Come Catalin, quick try your chance, For now's your time or never. At which he round her waist did twine His arm in sudden wooing. "Behave, you rascal Catalin, Whatever are you doing?" "By sorrow brooding all the while You would your heart assuage, But better you would turn and smile And kiss just once your page." "I know not what your wishes are, Leave me alone, you knave. Ah me ! The longing for that star Will drive me to the grave." "If you don't know, and you would learn How love is set about, Don't recklessly my teaching spurn, First fairly hear me out. As trappers deftly birds pursue With nets among the tree, When I stretch out my arm to you, Slip your arm thus round me. Your eyes into my eyes must glow, Nor turn away, nor close And when I lift you softly, so, Rise gently on your toes. And when my face is downwards bent Your face turned up will stay, That we may gaze with sweet intent For ever and a day. While should you wish at last to learn The measure of love's bliss, When hot my lips on yours do burn Give back again my kiss." Amused, yet with a girl's surprise At what the youth acclaimed, She blushed and turned away her eyes, Half willing, half ashamed. "A chatterbox you were since small With overmuch to tell, Yet I had felt, in spite of all, We'd suit each other well". But Lucifer's slow sailing spark Crept up out of the sea Over the horizon's arc, Prince of eternity. And now my wretched heart does bleed, With tears my eyes grow dim, When e'er I watch the waves that speed Across the sea to him. While he looms with adoring ray My grief to overthrow, Yet ever climbs to heights away Where mortals cannot go. His silver beams that space defy Sadly my watchers are And I shall love him till I die, Yet he be ever far. And thus it is the days to me Are drear as desert sand, The nights filled with a mystery I dare not understand..." "How childish is the way you speak. Come on ! Come, lets run away, That all the world for us shall seek Though no one finds the way. And we shall nothing of this life regret But joyous live and sprightly, Till soon your parents you'll forget, Nor dream your longings nightly." * * * * Lucifer set out and o'er The sky his wings extended, And million years flew past before As many moments ended. A sky of stars above his way, A sky of stars below; As lightning flash midst them astray In one continuous flow. Till round his primal chaos hurled When out of causeless night The first, up flaming dawn unfurled Its miracle of light. Still further flew he ere the start Of things of form devoid, Spurred by the yearning of his heart, Far back into the void. Yet where he reach's is not the bourn Nor yet where eye can see; Beyond where struggling time was torn Out of eternity. Around him there was naught. And still, Strange yearning there was yet, A yearning that all space did fill, As when the blind forget. "O, Father God, this knot untie Of my celestial birth, And praised you will be on high And on the rolling earth. The price you ask is little count, Give fate another course, For you are of fair life the fount And of calm death the source. Take back this halo from my head, Take back my starry lower, And give to me, o God, instead Of human love one hour. Out of the chaos was I wrought, In chaos would I be dispersed, Out of the empty darkness brought, For darkness do I thirst..." "Hyperion, o child divine, Don't thus your state disclaim, Nor ask for miracle, nor sign That has nor sense nor name. You wish to be a man of son, To be a star you scorn; But men quick perish every one, And men each day are born. Yet stars burn on with even glow, And it is fate's intending That they nor time, nor place shall know, Unfettered and unending. Out of eternal yesterday Into tomorrow's grave, Even the sun will pass way That other sun's shall lave; The sun that every morn does rise At last it's spirit gives, For each thing lives because it dies, And dies because it lives. But you, Hyperion, never wane, Night's miracle sublime, But in the sky your place retain, The wonder of all time. So what strange fancy holds your mind What dreaming thus berates you? Return to earth and there you'll find The awakening that awaits you." * * * * Hyperion did straightway go To where through ages gone His gleam upon the earth below Nightly he had shone. And it was evening when he came, Night's darkness slow assembled, And rose the moon a frozen flame That in the water trembled, And filled the forest's twilight clime With a silver starry mist, Where 'neath a tall and spreading lime Two fair-haired children kissed. "O, let me lay in lover's wise My head upon your breast, Beneath the wonder of your eyes, In soft and fragrant rest. In mystery's enchanted light Pervade me with your charm, And flood my soul through passion's night With time's eternal calm. O, quench my longing's eager thirst, My aching doubts overcast, For you to me are love the first, And of my dreams the last." Hyperion gazed down and knew The fire their souls possessed; For scarce the boy her nearer drew, She clasped him to her breast. A rain of petals in the air That softly did enfold Two fervent children strangely fair, With locks of plated gold. She, lost in love's enraptured flight, To heaven turned her eyes, Saw Lucifer's down shining light And whispered through her sighs: "Come down, good Lucifer and kind, O lord of my aspire. And fill the forest and my mind With your sweetest fire !" And Lucifer, alone in space, Her tender summons heard, A planet o'er the ocean's face That trembled at her word, But did not plunge as in former day, And in his heart did cry: "O, what care you, fair face of clay, If it be he or I? Still earth shall only earth remain, Let luck its course unfold, And I in my own kingdom reign Immutable and cold." Translated by Corneliu M. Popescu |
