The Black Shawl poem – Alexander Pushkin

A poem by Alexander Pushkin – Pouchkine, Pooshkin (1799-1837), in English translation

As of senses bereft, at a black shawl I stare,

And my chill heart is tortured with deadly despair.

When dreaming too fondly in credulous youth,

I loved a Greek maiden with passion and truth.

My Greek girl was gentle and loving and fair;

But my joy quickly sank in a day of despair.

Once I feasted gay friends; ere the banquet was o’er

A Jew, the accursed, softly knocked at my door.

“Thou art laughing,” he whispered,”in pleasure’s mad whirl;

But she hath betrayed thee, thy young Grecian girl.”

I cursed him; but gold as a guerdon I gave,

And took as companion my trustiest slave.

My swift charger I mounted; at once we depart,

And the soft voice of pity was stilled in my heart.

The Greek maiden’s dwelling I hardly could mark,

For my limbs they grew faint, and my eyes they grew dark.

I silently entered-alone and amazed;

An Armenian was kissing the girl as I gazed.

I saw not the light; but I seized my good blade;

The betrayer ne’er finished the kiss that betrayed.

On his warm, headless body I trampled, then spurn’d,

And silent and pale to the maiden I turned.

I remember her prayers-in her blood how she strove;

Then perished my Greek girl-then perished my love.

I tore the black shawl from her head as she lay,

Wiped the blood-dripping weapon, and hurried away.

When the mists of the evening rose gloomy, my slave

Threw each corpse in the Danube’s dark fastrolling wave.

Since then no bewildering eyes can delight;

Since then I forbear festive banquets at night.

As of senses bereft, at a black shawl I stare,

And my chill heart is tortured with deadly despair.

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• Владимир Бенедиктов – Комета by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Когда вдали от суеты всемирной by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Когда бы by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Казалось by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Калиф и раб by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – К женщине by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – К точкам by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Ореланна by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Она была добра by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Одно из двух by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Обвинение by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Обновление by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – О, не играй веселых песен мне by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Ну вот – всё ладится, идет всё понемногу by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Ночью by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Ночь близ Якац by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Недоверчивость by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Недолго by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Не трать огня напрасных убеждений by Владимир Бенедиктов
• Владимир Бенедиктов – Не надо by Владимир Бенедиктов

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