BA2 (PDF)

По улице моей который год
звучат шаги – мои друзья уходят.
Друзей моих медлительный уход
той темноте за окнами угоден.

Along my street, for many years, sound of my
friends' steps is heard; my friends are leaving.
Slow-paced/lackadaisical departure of my
friends is favored [a Biblical word used] by the
darkness behind the windows.

The sound of steps recedes along the street.
My friends depart, I hear their sluggish stride.
This lazy sound of their departing feet
Is pleasant to the emptiness outside

Запущены моих друзей дела,
нет в их домах ни музыки, ни пенья,
и лишь, как прежде, девочки Дега
голубенькие оправляют перья.

My friends' businesses are not attended to, their
homes lack either music or singing, and only, as
in old days, Dega's girls are adjusting their
light-blue feathers.

Their businesses are left to no use
And music is not gracing theirs dominions,
But as in autrefois, Degas' danseuse
Is readjusting her cerule'n pinions.

Ну что ж, ну что ж, да не разбудит
страх
вас, беззащитных, среди этой ночи.
К предательству таинственная страсть,
друзья мои, туманит ваши очи.

OK, OK, let fear never wakes you up, you,
defenseless, in the midst of this night.
Mysterious lust for treachery fogs your eyes
(Biblical word used).

Well, let your fright not wake you with disgust,
Defenseless, from your sleep a little groggy.
For perfidy unfathomable lust,
My friends, is rendering your eyesight rather
foggy.

О одиночество, как твой характер
крут!
Посверкивая циркулем железным,
как холодно ты замыкаешь круг,
не внемля увереньям бесполезным.

Oh solitude, how harsh/strong is your character!
With your shiny steel compass, how coldly you
close the circle, not trusting useless
assurances/supplications.

Oh solitude, why is your will so stark!
With iron compass indiscreetly gleaming,
How calmly you complete the fretful arc,
Discarding unconvincing, useless pleading.

Так призови меня и награди!
Твой баловень, обласканный тобою,
утешусь, прислонясь к твоей груди,
умоюсь твоей стужей голубою.

So summon me and reward me! Your favorite
[child], having received much of your kindness,
I will be consoled, leaning against your breast,
and will wash my face with you light-blue frost.

So call me up and give me my reward!
Your darling, so much sheltered in your
kindness,
Take me to you, I want to be your ward,
and solace find in your morose politeness.

Дай стать на цыпочки в твоем лесу,
на том конце замедленного жеста
найти листву, и поднести к лицу,
и ощутить сиротство, как блаженство.

Oh let me stand on my toes amidst your forest,
and find, at the far end of a slow-motion
gesture, some leaves, bring them close to my
face, and feel orphanhood as bliss.

Oh let me find amidst your wooded heights
To ends of twigs reluctantly progressing,
The farthest leaf, and bring it to my eyes.
And recognize abandonment as blessing.

Даруй мне тишь твоих библиотек,
твоих концертов строгие мотивы,
и – мудрая – я позабуду тех,

Present me with a gift of your libraries'
quietude, the stern tunes of your concerts, and,

Give me the gifts of quiet reading rooms
And harmony of your precise recitals
Sagaciously, I'll forget the tombs

кто умерли или доселе живы.

wise as I am, I will forget those who have died
or are still (Biblical word used) living.

Of dead, and their still living rivals.

И я познаю мудрость и печаль,
свой тайный смысл доверят мне
предметы.
Природа, прислонясь к моим плечам,
объявит свои детские секреты.

And I will acquire knowledge of wisdom and of
sadness, things [material things] will trust me
with their secret meaning, and nature, leaning
against my shoulders, will announce to me her
childhood's secrets.

And I will learn of wisdom and distress,
The things around will trust me with their
notions
And Nature will recline against my breast
And share the childhood world of her emotions.

И вот тогда – из слез, из темноты,
из бедного невежества былого
друзей моих прекрасные черты
появятся и растворятся снова.

And only then - from tears, from darkness, from
poor ignorance of the past (Biblical word), my
friends beautiful facial features will emerge and
then again will dissolve.

And only then - from tears and from twilight,
from ignorance, my friends will gain their living
Their lovely faces, splendid in delight,
Will form, and then dissolve themselves from
being.