Gloss by M. Eminescu Translated by: Andrei Bantas
Time will come and time will fly,
All is old, but new in kind;
What is right and what is wry
You should ponder in your mind;
Don't be Hope's or Terror's thrall;
Wave-like things like waves shall pass;
Should they urge or should they call,
Keep as cool as ice or glass.
Many sounds our ears will touch,
Much - before our eyes - will glisten;
Who can bear in mind so much
And to all is fain to listen?
Finding your own self anew
You should loftily stand by,
Even though with vain ado
Time will come and time will fly.
Nor should reason's icy scales
Bend their needle, out of measure,
To'ards the moment with swift sails
Fleetingly disguised as pleasure,
Which is born out of its knell,
- Just for moments, you may find;
To whoever knows it well,
All is old, but new in kind.
In the world's dramatic show,
Deem yourself a looker-on:
Should some men feign joy or woe,
Their true face you'll read anon;
Should they weep or insults dart-
Inwardly rejoicing, lie,
Sifting out from all their art
What is right and what is wry.
Both the future and the past
Are but sides of the same page;
In beginnings, ends are cast
For whoever can be sage;
All that was or e'er will be
In the present we can find;
But as to its vanity,
You should ponder in your mind.
For no matter what appears
By the same means will be swirled.
And for many thousand years,
Mirth and grief have ruled the world;
Other masks - the play's the same;
Other lips - the same tune all;
Duped too often, you keep game:
Don't be Hope's or Terror's thrall.
Have no hope if rogues you see
Soft tongued when victorious;
Fools may top your apogee -
Though you be most glorious;
Never fear, they'll try again
One another to outclass;
Hurry not to join them then;
Wave-like things like waves shall pass.
Siren songs - meant to encage -
Are the nets the world unfurls;
Just to change the cast on stage
It will lure you into whirls;
From temptations stay away;
You should never heed at all
Those who'd lead your ship astray
Should they urge or should they call.
Give their touch a wide, wide birth;
Hold your tongue if they blaspheme;
Since you know what they are worth,
What could your advise redeem?
Let them say whate'er they like:
Never mind whom they surpass;
Lest you should endear some tyke,
Keep as cool as ice or glass.
Keep as cool as ice or glass,
Should they urge or should they call;
Wave-like things like waves shall pass,
Don't be Hope's or Terror's thrall;
You should ponder in your mind
What is right and what is wry;
All is old, but new in kind;
Time will come and time will fly.
|