"Demon" by Mikhail Lermontov

A Free Translation. Part V.

Mountain Stream in the Caucasus. Arseny Meshchersky. Russian, 1889.

Continued from Part IV:

“Demon”

by Mikhail Lermontov

V.

A giant's hall, its courtyard wide
The grey Gudal himself erected…
To pain and tears this place subjected
Slaves, who long sorrow meek did bide.
At dawn, the crags on every side
By this palace's walls are shaded.
Into the rock cut steps are graded;
These, from the corner tower's height
To th'river plunge; and on them flashes
Hid by a veil of snowy white
Young Princess Tamara, who dashes
To draw Aragva’s water bright.

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Русский:

Высокий дом, широкий двор
Седой Гудал себе построил…
Трудов и слез он много стоил
Рабам послушным с давних пор.
С утра на скат соседних гор
От стен его ложатся тени.
В скале нарублены ступени;
Они от башни угловой
Ведут к реке, по ним мелькая,
Покрыта белою чадрой,
Княжна Тамара молодая
К Арагве ходит за водой.

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