Scrisoarea ICînd cu gene ostenite sara suflu-n lumînare,Doar ceasornicul urmeazã lung-a timpului cãrare, Cãci perdelele-ntr-o parte cînd le dai, si în odaie Luna varsã peste toate voluptoasa ei vãpaie, Ea din noaptea amintirii o vecie-ntreagã scoate De dureri pe care însã le simtim ca-n vis pe toate. Lunã tu, stãpîn-a mãrii, pe a lumii boltã luneci Si gîndirilor dînd viatã, suferintele întuneci; Mii pustiuri scînteiazã sub lumina ta fecioarã, Si cîti codri-ascund în umbrã strãlucire de izvoarã! Peste cîte mii de valuri stãpînirea ta strãbate, Cînd plutesti pe miscãtoarea mãrilor singurãtate! Cîte tãrmuri înflorite, ce palate, si cetãti, Strãbãtute de-al tãu farmec, tie singurã-ti arãti! Si în cîte mii de case lin pãtruns-ai prin feresti, Cîte frunti pline de gînduri, gînditoare le privesti! Vezi pe-un rege ce-mpînzeste globu-n planuri pe un veac, Cînd la ziua cea de mîne abia cuget-un sarac... Desi trepte osebite le-au iesit din urna sortii Deopotrivã-i stãpîneste raza ta si geniul mortii; La acelasi sir de patimi deopotrivã fiind robi, Fie slabi, fie puternici, fie genii ori neghiobi! Unul cautã-n oglindã de-si bucleazã al sãu pãr, Altul cauta în lume si în vreme adevãr, De pe galbenele file el adunã mii de coji, A lor nume trecãtoare le înseamnã pe rãboj; Iarã altu-mparte lumea de pe scîndura tãrãbii, Socotind cît aur marea poartã-n negrele-i corãbii, Iar colo bãtrînul dascãl cu-a lui hainã roasã-n coate, într-un calcul fãrã capãt tot socoate si socoate Si de frig la piept si-ncheie tremurînd halatul vechi, îsi înfundã gîtu-n guler si bumbacul în urechi; Uscativ asa cum este, gîrbovit si de nimic, Universul fãrã margini e în degetul lui mic, Cãci sub frunte-i viitorul si trecutul se încheagã, Noapte-adînc-a veciniciei el în siruri o dezleagã; Precum Atlas în vehime sprijinea cerul pe umãr Asa sprijinã el lumea si vecia într-un numãr. Pe cînd luna straluceste peste-a tomurilor bracuri, într-o clipã-l poartã gîndul îndãrãt cu mii de veacuri, La-nceput pe cînd fiintã nu era nici nefiintã, Pe cînd totul era lipsã de viatã si vointã, Cînd nu s-ascundea nimica, desi tot era ascuns... Cînd pãtruns de sine însusi odihnea cel nepãtruns. Fu prãpastie? Genune? Fu noian întins de apã? N-a fost lume priceputã si nici minte s-o priceapã, Cãci era un întuneric ca o mare fãr-o razã, Dar nici de vãzut nu fuse si nici ochiu care sã o vazã. Umbra celor nefãcute nu-ncepuse-a se desface, Si în sine împãcarea stãpînea eterna pace!... Dar deodat-un punct se miscã... cel întîi si singur. Iatã-l Cum din chaos face mumã, iarã el devine Tatãl... Punctu-acela de miscare, mult mai slab ca boaba spumii, E stãpînul fãrã margini peste marginile lumii... De-atunci negura eternã se desface în fãsii, De atunci rãsare lumea, lunã, soare si stihii... De atunci si pînã astãzi colonii de lumi pierdute Vin din sure vãi de chaos pe cãrãri necunoscute Si în roiuri luminoase izvorînd din infinit, Sunt atrase în viatã de un dor nemãrginit. Iar în lumea asta mare, noi copii ai lumii mici, Facem pe pãmîntul nostru musunoaie de furnici; Microscopice popoare, regi, osteni si învãtati Ne succedem generatii si ne credem minunati; Musti de-o zi pe-o lume micã de se mãsurã cu cotul, în ãcea nemãrginire ne-nvîrtim uitînd cu totul Cum ca lume asta-ntreagã e o clipa suspendatã, Cã-ndãrãtu-i si-nainte întuneric se aratã. Precum pulberea se joacã în imperiul unei raze, Mii de fire viorie ce cu raza înceteazã, Astfel, într-a vecinciei noapte pururea adîncã, Avem clipa, avem raza, care tot mai tine încã... Cum s-o stinge, totul piere, ca o umbrã-n întuneric, Cãci e vis al nefiintii universul cel himeric... în prezent cugetãtorul nu-si opreste a sã minte, Ci-ntr-o clipã gîndu-l duce mii de veacuri înainte; Soarele, ce azi e mîndru, el al vede trist si ros Cum se-nchide cã o ranã printre nori întunecosi, Cum planetii toti îngheatã si s-azvîrl cu toti în spat Ei, din frînele luminii si ai soarelui scãpati; Iar catapetesma lumii în adînc s-au înnegrit, Ca si frunzele de toamnã toate stelele-au pierit; Timpul mort si-ntinde trupul si devine vecinicie, Cãci nimic nu se întîmplã în întinderea pustie, Si în noaptea nefiintii totul cade, totul tace, Cãci in sine împãcatã reîncep eternã pace... începînd cu talpa însãsi a multimii omenesti Si suind în susul scãrii pîn' la fruntile crãiesti, De a vietii LOR enigmã ai vedem pe toti munciti, Fãr-a sti sã spunem care ar fi mai nenorociti... UNUL e în toti, tot astfel precum UNA e în toate, De asupra tuturora se ridicã cine poate, Pe cînd altii stînd în umbrã si cu inima smeritã Nestiuti se pierd în tainã ca si spuma nezãritã -- Ce-o sã-i pese soarte-i oarbe ce vor EI sãu ce gîndesc?... Ca si vîntu-n valuri trece peste traiul omenesc. Fericeascã-l scriitorul, toatã lumea recunoascã-l... Ce-o sã aibã din acestea pentru el bãtrînul dascãl? Nemurire, se vã zice. Este drept ca viata-ntreagã, Ca si iedera de-un arbor, de-o idee i se leagã. "De-oi muri -- îsi zice-n sine -- al meu nume o sã-l poarte Secolii din gurã-n gurã si l-or duce mai departe, De a pururi, pretutindeni, în ungherul unor crieri Si-or gãsi, cu al meu nume, adãpost a mele scrieri!" O, sãrmane! tii tu minte cîte-n lume-ai auzit, Ce-ti trecu pe dinainte, cîte singur ai vorbit? Prea putin. De ici, de colo de imagine-o fãsie, Vreo o umbrã de gîndire, ori un petec de hîrtie; Si cînd propria ta viatã singur n-o stii pe de rost, O sã-si batã altii capul s-o pãtrunzã cum a fost? Poate vreun pedant cu ochii cei verzui, peste un veac, Printre tomuri brãcuite, asezat si el, un brac, Aticismul limbii tale o sã-l punã la cîntãri, Colbul ridicat din carte-ti l-o suflã din ochelari Si te-o strînge-n douã siruri, asezîndu-te la coadã, în vro notã prizãritã sub o paginã neroadã. Poti zidi o lume-ntreagã, poti s-o sfar&atile;mi... orice-ai spune, Peste toate o lopatã de tãrînã se depune. Mîna care-au dorit sceptrul universului si gînduri Ce-au cuprins tot universul, încap bine-n patru scînduri... Or sã vie pe-a ta urmã în convoi de-nmormîntare, Splendid ca o ironie cu priviri nepãsãtoare... Iar de-asupra tuturora va vorbi vrun mititel, Nu slãvindu-te pe tine... lustruindu-se pe el Sub a numelui tãu umbrã. Iatã tot ce te asteaptã. Ba sã vezi... posteritatea este încã si mai dreaptã. Neputînd sã te ajungã, crezi c-or vrea sã te admire? Ei vor aplaudã desigur biografia subtire Care s-o-ncercã s-arate cã n-ai fost vrun lucru mare, C-ai fost om cum sunt si dînsii... Mãgulit e fiecare Cã n-ai fost mai mult ca dînsul. Si prostatecele nãri Si le umflã orisicine în savante adunãri Cînd de tine se vorbeste. S-a-nteles de mai nainte C-o ironicã grimasã sã te laude-n cuvinte. Astfel încãput pe mîna a oricãrui, te va drege, Rele-or zice cã sunt toate cîte nu vor întelege... Dar afarã de acestea vor cãta vietii tale Sã-i gãseascã pete multe, rãutãti si mici scandale -- Astea toate te-apropie de dînsii... Nu lumina Ce în lume-ai revãrsat-o, ci pãcatele si vina, Oboseala, slãbiciunea, toate relele ce sunt într-un mod fatal legate de o mînã de pãmînt; Toate micile mizerii unui suflet chinuit Mult mai mult ai vor atrage decît tot ce ai gîndit. între ziduri, printre arbori ce se scuturã de floare, Cum revarsã luna plinã linistita ei splendoare! Si în noaptea amintirii mii de doruri ea ne scoate; Amortitã li-i durerea, le simtim ca-n vis pe toate, Cãci în propria-ne lume ea deschide poarta-ntrãrii Si ridicã mii de umbre dupã stilul lumînãrii... Mii pustiuri scînteiazã sub lumina ta fecioarã, Si cîti codri-ascund în umbrã strãlucire de izvoarã! Peste cîte mii de valuri stãpînirea ta strãbate, Cînd plutesti pe miscãtoarea mãrilor singurãtate, Si pe toti ce-n astã lume sunt supusi puterii sortii Deopotrivã-i stãpîneste raza ta si geniul mortii! ("Convorbiri literare", XIV, 1881, 1 februarie, nr. 11.) |
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First EpistleWhen, at night, with drooping eyelids, I blow out the candles flare,Time's unending path is followed only by the old clock there; For just draw aside the curtains and the moon will flood the room With a fire of passions summoned by the ardours of her gloom; From the night of recollection she will resurrect an eon Of distress - which we, however, sense as in a dreamlike paean. Moon, arch-mistress of the ocean, you glide o'er the planet's sphere, You give light to thoughts unthought -of and eclipse sorrow and fear; Oh, how many derserts glimmer under your soft virgin light And how many woods o'ershadow brooks and rivers burning bright! Legion is the name of billows you dispose of as you please, When you sail upon the ever restless solitude of seas; Of resplendent climes, of gardens, palaces and castles old, Which you impregnate with magic and to your own view unfold; of the dwellings that you enter tiptoe by the window-pane To gaze thoughtfully at foreheads that so many thoughts enchain! A king's plans enmesh the planet for a century or more, While the pauper hardly thinks of what his morrow has in store. Though the dice of Fate have to them meted different rungs and ways, Both submit to the same biddings of Death's genius and her rays; Be they weak or be they mighty, unintelligent or clever. All do minister to passions and their bondsmen are forever. One is looking for the mirror, purposing to curl his mane, One - for truth, hoping to find it in the space and time mundane. From the yellow leaves he gathers relics of forgotten lore Whose short-living Latin labels he will tally on the score. One divides up the whole Terra at the counter of his stall, Checking how much gold the oceans bear in their ships black and tall. Over there an aged teacher, with his elbows jutting out Through the threadbare jacket, reckons and the sums cause him to pout. Shivering with cold he buttons his old dressing-gown austere, Thrusts his neck into the collar and the cotton in his ear. Skinny as he is and hunch-backed, a most wretched ne'er-do-well, He has in his little finger all the world, heaven and hell; For behind his brow are looming both the future and the past, And eternity's thick darkness hell' unravel at long last. As, of old, mythical Atlas propped the skies upon his shoulder, He props universe and Chronos in a number - which is bolder... While the moon is shining over mouldy books-stacks penned by sages Thinking takes him back through thousands upon thousands of hoar ages To the very first, when being and non-being were nought still, When there was but utter absence of both life-impulse and will, When unopen there was nothing, although everything was hidden,' When, by His own self pervaded, resting lay the Allforbidden. Was it an abyss? a chasm? wat'ry plains without an end? There was no estate of wisdom, nor a mind to comprehend. For the darkness was as solid as is still the shadows' ocean, And no eyes, had there been any, could have formed of it a notion. Of the unmade things the shadows had not yet begun to gleam And, with its own self-contented, peace eternal reigned supreme. Suddenly, a dot starts moving - the primeval, lonely Other... It becomes the father potent, of the void it makes the mother. Weaker than a drop of water, this small dot that moves and bounds Is the unrestricted ruler of the world's unbounded bounds. Ever since the vasty dimness has been splitting slice by slice, Ever since come into being earth, sun, moon, light, heat, and ice. Ever since up to the present gallaxies of planets lost Follow up mysterious courses, chaos-bred and chaos-tossed, And in endlessness begotten, endless swarms of light are thronging Towards life, for ever driven by an infinite of longing; And in this great world, we, children of a world grotesquely small, Raise upon our tiny planet anthills to o'ertop the All, Lilliputian kings and peoples, soldiers, unread, erudite, We engender generations, reckoning ourselves full bright! One-day moths upon a mudball measeurable with the chip, We rotate in the great vastness and forget 'twixt cup and lip That this world is really nothing but a moment caught in light, That behind, or else before it, all that one can see is night. Just like whirls of dust and powder thousands of live granules play In a glorious ray's dominion and pass over with the ray. Thus against the never-failing night of time without a bound, The spontaneous ray, the moment, still fails not to go the round; When it dies, all dies - like shadows melting in the murky distance For the universe chimeric is a dream of non-existence. Nowadays a thinker's judgement is restricted by no tether; He projects it in a moment over centuries together. To his eye the sun all-glorious is a red orb wrapt in shrouds, Closing like a bleeding ulcer among all-darkening clouds, He sees how the heavenly bodies in vast spaces freeze and run, Rebels that have torn the fetters of the dazzling light and sun; And, behold, the world's foundation is now blackened to the core, And the stars, like leaves in autumn, flicker out and are no more, Lifeless Time distends his body and becomes endless duration, Because nothing ever happens in the boundless desolation; In the night of non-existence all is crumbled, all are slain, And, in keeping with its nature, peace eternal reigns again. Starting with the very bottom of the busy human hive And ascending on the ladder to the mightiest kings alive, Everybody by the riddle of his being is obsessed, But, alas, there is no telling which of them is more unblest. In each one there is a woman, in each one there is a man, And above all other people only risses he who can, While the rest, in darkness keeping, every one a fearful gnome, Lose themselves in utter secret, like the never-sighted foam. Much, indeed, will blind Fate notice what they do, or think or know! Over human life it passes like the wind, blow after blow. Let the writers laud his merits, let the world cry out "Allhail!" To the aged teacher, really, is all this of much avail? He will be - perhaps - immortal. His life clung, we must agree, To a single great idea, like the ivy to a tree. "If I die", he says pro sibi, "centuries may come and go, For my name shall be remembered and to time shall ever grow. Everywhere and in all ages, with my name on titles signed, Shall my writings find a shelter in the corners of some mind." Oh, poor soul! Can you remember what you've heard the million say? What has come around you, what yourself have talked away? Much too little. Here you've noted of some imagery a strip, There the shred of an idea, there the scribble on a scrip; Well then, if your own existence was a mystery to you, Why should others rack their five wits and its secrecy undo? After centuries a green-eyed pedant, squeezed by shelf on shelf Of dilapidated volumes, stooping - an old crock himself - , Will appraise the atticism of your language and your style, Blow from his worn-out eye-glasses the dust raised by your wise pile, And compress you to a sentence, carrying you off the stage By some ignominious footnote that winds up a silly page. You may build a world, or wreck it, but, whatever you would say, Everything at last is buried under shovelfuls of clay. Hands that coveted the sceptre of the universe, ideals That would scan the whole creation, find their size in four fir-deals. The procession queues behind you in the old funeral wise, Splendid as a walking sarcasm gazing with indifferent eyes. High above the rest, a pygmy will then set out to discourse, Not to emphasize your merits but to praise his own, of course; For your name is just a pretext. That is all you can expect. The succeeding generations are, well, even more "correct". Failing to attain your compass, will they show their admiration? Sure, they will applaud the slender biographical narration Which attempts to prove that never have you been a man that mattered, That you were just like the others. Everybody is much flattered If you are not his superior. Everybody will be able To dilate his stupid nostrils at a scholars' council-table When your person is his topic. He projected long ago With ironical grimaces to extol you high and low. In this way you will be playing into everybody's hands; He will say that all is wicked who but little understands... Furthermore, they will endeavour to anatomize your morals, To find blemishes and mischiefs, petty scandals, petty quarrels, - All of which will surely draw you nearer to them. Not the light You have to the world imparted, but your sins, your guilt, your spite, Tiredness, ill-health, or weakness, anything that is unworth And is fatally inherent in a mortal lump of earth. All the pretty smarts and worries of a much tormented mind Will attract them more than any plans you have ever designed. Among walls, and trees, and blossoms that are falling white and tender, How the full moon is diffusing her own calm and radiant splendour! From the night of recollection myriads of longings beam And their pain is mitigated' we feel them as in a dream, For she opens wide the entrance to our inner world of doubt, Conjuring a host of shadows when the candlelight is out. Oh, how many deserts glimmer under your soft virgin light, And how many woods o'ershadow brooks and rivers burning bright! Legion is the name of billows you dispose of as you please, When you sail over the ever restless solitude of seas; And all those who in their lifetime are subjected to Fate's ways Must submit to the same biddings of Death's genius and your rays! (Translated by Leon Levitchi) |
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