10 aug.
„The Well of St. Keyne” de Robert Southey
| A well there is in the West country, And a clearer one never was seen; There is not a wife in the West country But has heard of the Well of St. Keyne. |
În ţara de apus e-un puţ Cu apă de cleştar, pe nume Fântâna Sfintei Keyne; şi-l ştie Întreaga femeiască lume. |
| An oak and an elm tree stand beside, And behind does an ash-tree grow, And a willow from the bank above Droops to the water below. |
Pe lături e-un stejar şi-un ulm, În spate-un frasin se ascunde, Şi-o salce de pe ţărmu-nalt Se-apleacă spre-ale apei unde. |
| A traveller came to the Well of St. Keyne; Pleasant it was to his eye, For from cock-crow he had been travelling, And there was not a cloud in the sky. |
De puţ, cu inima voioasă, Se-apropie un călător; Căci drumeţise de cu noapte Şi nu mijea pe cer un nor. |
| He drank of the water so cool and clear, For thirsty and hot was he, And he sat down upon the bank, Under the willow-tree. |
Şi cum era-nsetat şi-ncins, Bău el pe nerăsuflate, Apoi se aşeză pe mal, La umbra salciei plecate. |
| There came a man from the neighboring town At the well to fill his pail, On the well-side he rested it, And bade the stranger hail. |
Un megieş veni cu-o vadră, Dar pân’ s-o umple la fântână, O puse jos şi făcu semn Necunoscutului cu mâna. |
| “Now art thou a bachelor, stranger?” quoth he, “For an if thou hast a wife, The happiest draught thou hast drank this day That ever thou didst in thy life. |
„Holtei eşti oare? zise dânsul. Dar chiar de eşti, cumva,-nsurat, Azi ai sorbit o băutură Cum încă nu ai mai gustat! |
| “Or has your good woman, if one you have, In Cornwall ever been? For an if she have, I ’ll venture my life She has drunk of the Well of St. Keyne.” |
Prin Cornwall, soaţa dumitale Trecut-a oareşicând, ce zici? Căci de-a trecut, pun mâna-n foc Că a băut apă de-aici.” |
| “I have left a good woman who never was here,” The stranger he made reply; “But that my draught should be better for that, I pray you answer me why.” |
„Prin Cornwall, zău, grăi drumeţul, Nu ştiu să-mi fi umblat nevasta… Dar spune-mi: faţă de-alte ape, Prin ce-i mai bună apa asta?” |
| St. Keyne,” quoth the countryman, “many a time Drank of this crystal well, And before the angel summoned her She laid on the water a spell. |
„Păi – apă din fântână, sfânta Venea adeseori să bea; Iar îngerul pân’ s-o răpească, Cu vrajă a vrăjit-o ea. |
| “If the husband of this gifted well Shall drink before his wife, A happy man thenceforth is he, For he shall be master for life. |
Dacă bărbatul, din ăst-puţ Va bea nainte de-a lui soaţă, L-aşteaptă fericire multă Şi el va fi stăpân pe viaţă. |
| “But if the wife should drink of it first, Heaven help the husband then!” The stranger stooped to the Well of St. Keyne, And drank of the waters again. |
Dar dacă bea întâi muierea, Va fi de soţu-i vai şi-amar!” Drumeţul, la fântână, trase O duşcă, apoi iar şi iar… |
| “You drank of the well, I warrant, betimes?” He to the countryman said. But the countryman smiled as the stranger spake, And sheepishly shook his head. |
„Din apa asta, socotesc, Te-ai adăpat şi dumneata?” Dar megieşul cât ce râse, Clăti din cap şi spuse-aşa: |
| “I hastened, as soon as the wedding was done, And left my wife in the porch. But i’ faith, she had been wiser than me, For she took a bottle to church.” |
„Mireasa, după nuntă-ndată Eu am lăsat-o în pridvor; Dar, de, mi-o luase înainte. Avea la dânsa un ulcior.” |
| Robert Southey | traducere de Leon Leviţchi |