The Talisman, from the Russian of Alexander Pushkin; With Other Pieces

Transcribed by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk
Contents:
The Talisman The Mermaid Ancient Russian Song Ancient Ballad The Renegade
From the Russian of Pushkin .
Where fierce the surge with awful bellow Doth ever lash the rocky wall; And where the moon most brightly mellow Dost beam when mists of evening fall; Where midst his harem’s countless blisses The Moslem spends his vital span, A Sorceress there with gentle kisses Presented me a Talisman.
And said: until thy latest minute Preserve, preserve my Talisman; A secret power it holds within it— ’Twas love, true love the gift did plan. From pest on land, or death on ocean, When hurricanes its surface fan, O object of my fond devotion! Thou scap’st not by my Talisman.
The gem in Eastern mine which slumbers, Or ruddy gold ’twill not bestow; ’Twill not subdue the turban’d numbers, Before the Prophet’s shrine which bow; Nor high through air on friendly pinions Can bear thee swift to home and clan, From mournful climes and strange dominions— From South to North—my Talisman.
But oh! when crafty eyes thy reason With sorceries sudden seek to move, And when in Night’s mysterious season Lips cling to thine, but not in love— From proving then, dear youth, a booty To those who falsely would trepan From new heart wounds, and lapse from duty, Protect thee shall my Talisman.
From the Russian of Pushkin .
Close by a lake, begirt with forest, To save his soul, a Monk intent, In fasting, prayer and labours sorest His days and nights, secluded, spent; A grave already to receive him He fashion’d, stooping, with his spade, And speedy, speedy death to give him, Was all that of the Saints he pray’d.
As once in summer’s time of beauty, On bended knee, before his door, To God he paid his fervent duty, The woods grew more and more obscure: Down o’er the lake a fog descended, And slow the full moon, red as blood, Midst threat’ning clouds up heaven wended— Then gazed the Monk upon the flood.