N. N.
"A lily of as tender beauty "
("Taka, yak ty, kolys lileia")
A lily of as tender beauty
As yours once bloomed on Jordan’s shore
And over the earth the Holy Word
She spread defiantly.... If duty
You too should bid — No, no, O Dniester’s
Sweet bloom! They'll crucify you, they
Will lead you, their defenceless prey,
Off to Siberia in fetters.
1 can’t go on....
O God, have mercy
And make, for this thou canst, her lot
A happy one; let her on earth here
Know paradise, I pray.... Do not
Remove her to thy Heaven.... Better
That she stay here, God.... In the sight
Of all thy earthly wonders let her
Take endless relish and delight!
Taras Shevchenko
"Taka, yak ty, kolys lileia"
("Така, як ти, колись лілея")
1859, S.- Petersburg (С.- Петербург)
Translated by Irina Zheleznova
Original publication:
Taras Shevchenko. Zibrannia tvoriv: U 6 t. — K., 2003. — T. 2: Poeziia 1847-1861. — S. 285; 711
Source: Taras Shevchenko. Selected poetry. Kiev, Dnipro, 1977, p.273