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The merciless fire devoured
The house of my childhood games.
I needed to overcome sorrow,
And sailed on the golden-mast boat.
I played on my beautiful flute to
The high rising moon in the sky.
The moon, by my singing, got saddened,
And covered herself with a cloud.
Then I turned my eyes to the mountain,
But had no more songs on my mind.
It seemed: all the joys of my childhood
Were burned in the flames of my home.
I wished in despair for the refuge
That water could offer to me.
A sudden reflection of a woman
Slid by like the one of the moon.
And should she sincerely desire
And should the moon kindly approve
I'm willing to build a new house
In th' woman's mysterious heart.
The house of my childhood games.
I needed to overcome sorrow,
And sailed on the golden-mast boat.
I played on my beautiful flute to
The high rising moon in the sky.
The moon, by my singing, got saddened,
And covered herself with a cloud.
Then I turned my eyes to the mountain,
But had no more songs on my mind.
It seemed: all the joys of my childhood
Were burned in the flames of my home.
I wished in despair for the refuge
That water could offer to me.
A sudden reflection of a woman
Slid by like the one of the moon.
And should she sincerely desire
And should the moon kindly approve
I'm willing to build a new house
In th' woman's mysterious heart.
Перевод стихотворения Николая Гумилёва «Дом» на английский язык.
Дом
Тот дом, где я играл ребенком,
Пожрал беспощадный огонь.
Я сел на корабль золоченый,
Чтоб горе мое позабыть.
На дивно-украшенной флейте
Играл я высокой луне.
Но облаком легким прикрылась
Луна, опечалена мной.
Тогда я к горе обернулся,
Но песни не шли мне на ум.
Казалось, все радости детства
Сгорели в погибшем дому.
И мне умереть захотелось,
И я наклонился к воде.
Но женщина в лодке скользнула
Вторым отраженьем луны. —
И если она пожелает,
И если позволит луна,
Я дом себе новый построю
В неведомом сердце ее.