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 

• Михаил Ломоносов – Надпись 3 к статуе Петра Великого by Михаил Ломоносов
• Михаил Ломоносов – Надпись 1 к статуе Петра Великого by Михаил Ломоносов
• Михаил Ломоносов – На сочетание стихов Российских by Михаил Ломоносов
• Михаил Ломоносов – На Сарское село августа 24 дня 1764 года by Михаил Ломоносов
• Михаил Ломоносов – На Фридриха II, короля Прусского (Сочинение господина Вольтера, переведенное господином Ломоносовым) by Михаил Ломоносов
• Михаил Ломоносов – Молчите, струйки чисты by Михаил Ломоносов
• Михаил Ломоносов – Лишь только дневной шум замолк by Михаил Ломоносов
• Михаил Ломоносов – День коронования Великия государыни императрицы Елисаветы Петровны by Михаил Ломоносов
• Михаил Ломоносов – Чем ты дале прочь отходишь by Михаил Ломоносов
• Михаил Ломоносов – Богиня, дщерь божеств, науки основавших by Михаил Ломоносов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Звуки и взор by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Зови надежду сновиденьем by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Жена севера by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Желанье by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Земля и небо by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Завещание by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Забудь опять свои надежды by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Юнкерская молитва by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Я видел тень блаженства by Михаил Лермонтов
• Михаил Лермонтов – Я счастлив, тайный яд течёт в моей крови by Михаил Лермонтов

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