An Anthology of Czechoslovak Literature/Moments of Glory...
Moments of Glory . . .
Above centuries uprose in an eddying cyclone of light,
Age-old herbage it flung aside, and the husbandman on time’s field
In July-tide of his gaze let ripen new treasures that corn-ears yield.
Of a palace of dreams, starward plunged, thousandfold spire upon spire;
And when it likewise blazed, and a wind around me mockingly fluttered.
Chanting and muteness I mastered, and never an outcry of anguish I uttered.
Whirling in dimness of space, by bloom of my dreams I was shown,
I beheld arrays of giant-like springtides, suns darkened amid their torches gleam,
Myriads of earthly springtides were spanned to their chariot’s team.
Lulled by tuneful eventides, by strains that from delicate harps arose,
Moonlit nights in pleasances of women, dazing vintages of love,
And enchantment of dying, most blissful, with stars inflamed above.
Like newly enkindled lustres with rainbow dalliance still they swayed;
Like ice-palms on windows of mystery, they were illumined with frosty sheen,
And drawn nigh, set a-sparkle and opened, as though gardens of cosmos they had been.
With bitter smile conversing to man, in the distance was plunged her anguished gaze;
Earth in the universe one of the poorest amid her sisters around,
Isle on an ocean of stillness, that except death no peace has found.
A Cæsar’s beck unto bondsmen, arenas with blood, like roses in flower,
Gaze of man, earth’s pride and will, hardened by strife, by victories rended,
Gaze of woman, earth’s delight, wherein reproaches and yearnings are blended,
Did I forget when I beheld my brethren with their wearied hands,
Bloodstained, clenched in anger, and while a surging ocean laughed
Sundered by buffets of oars, when they clung to an overladen craft.
And in its age-old cadence music of myriad hearts I heard,
Of myriad hearts, like stars one from the other removed, estranged:
One for the other secretly yearning, and deep amid frosty twilight ranged.
And amid distant rumble of waters, amid song of winds and glittering spheres,
Of toil of earth and the world, which in depth of love I saw dimly shine,
For solace of brethren I chanted, gladdened by their smile, and belief was mine.
The Hands (1901)
This work is a translation and has a separate copyright status to the applicable copyright protections of the original content.
| Original: |
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1931. The longest-living author of this work died in 1929, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 96 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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| Translation: |
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1931. The longest-living author of this work died in 1970, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 55 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse |
