She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
Она идет во всей красе
Светла, как ночь ее страны.
Вся глубь небес и звезды все
В ее очах заключены,
Как солнце в утренней росе,
Но только мраком смягчены.
Прибавить луч иль тень отнять -
И будет уж совсем не та
Волос агатовая прядь,
Не те глаза, не те уста
И лоб, где помыслов печать
Так безупречна, так чиста.
А этот взгляд, и цвет ланит,
И легкий смех, как всплеск морской, -
Все в ней о мире говорит.
Она в душе хранит покой
И если счастье подарит,
То самой щедрою рукой!
(Перевод С. Маршака)
She Walks in Beauty, Like the Night
Of Cloudless Climes and Starry Skies;
And all that's Best of Dark and Bright
Meet in Her Aspect and Her Eyes:
Thus Mellowed to that Tender Light
Which Heaven to Gaudy Day Denies.
One Shade the More, One Ray the Less,
Had Half Impaired the Nameless Grace
Which Waves in EVERY RAVEN TRASS,
Or softly Lightns o'er her face;
WHERE THUUGHTS SERENELY SWEET Express
How Pure, How Dear Their Dwelling-Place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So Soft, So Calm, Yet Eloquent,
The Smiles that Win, The Tints that Glow,
But Tell of Days in Goodness Spent,
A Mind at Peace with All Below,
A heART Who Love is Innocent!
She goes in all its glory
Light as the night of her country.
All the depths of heaven and the stars are all
In her eyes are concluded
Like the sun in the morning dew
But only in darkness are softened.
Add a beam or shadow to take away -
And it will be not at all the same
Hair is agate strand,
The wrong eyes, not the mouth
And the forehead, where the priest is the seal
So impeccable, so clean.
And this look and color launches,
And light laugh, like a splash of sea, -
Everything in her speaks about the world.
She keeps peace in her soul
And if he gives happiness
Then the most generous hand!
(Translation by S. Marshak)