Shakespeare - Sonnet 12

[lauerz]

When I do count the clock that tells the time,

And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;

When I behold the violet past prime,

And sable curls all silvered o'er with white;

When lofty trees I see barren of leaves,

Which erst from heat did canopy the herd,

And summer’s green all girded up in sheaves

Borne on the bier with white and bristly beard;

Then of thy beauty do I question make,

That thou among the wastes of time must go,

Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsake

And die as fast as they see others grow,

  And nothing 'gainst Time’s scythe can make defense

  Save breed to brave him when he takes thee hence.

*

Сонет 12

---------- Перевод Самуила Яковлевича Маршака ----------
Когда часы мне говорят, что свет
Потонет скоро в грозной тьме ночной,
Когда фиалки вянет нежный цвет
И темный локон блещет сединой,

Когда листва несется вдоль дорог,
В полдневный зной хранившая стада,
И нам кивает с погребальных дрог
Седых снопов густая борода, -

Я думаю о красоте твоей,
О том, что ей придется отцвести,
Как всем цветам лесов, лугов, полей,
Где новое готовится расти.

Но если смерти серп неумолим,
Оставь потомков, чтобы спорить с ним!

Comments

Modern Text

[lauerz.livejournal.com]

When I look at the clock and notice time ticking away, and see splendid day sink into hideous night; when I see the violet wilt and curly black hair turn white with age; when I see tall trees that once provided shade for herds now barren of leaves, and the summer’s crops tied up and hauled to the barn as if summer itself were an old man being carried off to his grave—then I have doubts about the fate of your beauty, since you too will have to undergo the ravages of time. Sweet and beautiful creatures don’t stay that way; they die as fast as they see others grow. And there’s no defense against Time’s destructive power, except perhaps to have children—to defy Time when he takes you away.