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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Poems in English 

• Жан де Лафонтен – Садовод и Помещик by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Пьяница и Жена его by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Предостережение богов Симониду by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Павлин, жалующийся Юноне by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Осел со священной ношей by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Осел и Собака by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Орел и Сова by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Орел, Дикая Свинья и Кошка by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Обезьяна и Дельфин by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Мужчина средних лет и его две Возлюбленные by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Мельник, Сын его и Осел by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Львиный указ by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Лисица, Мухи и Еж by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Лисица и Аист by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Лев, сраженный Человеком by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Лес и Дровосек by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Ласочка в амбаре by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Кошка, превращенная в женщину by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Карман by Jean de La Fontaine
• Жан де Лафонтен – Городская и полевая Крысы by Jean de La Fontaine

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