Lermontov - The Demon

8/13/2019 Lermontov - The Demon

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Lermontov

The demon

An Eastern Legend

Part I

I

His way above the sinful earthThe melancholy Demon wingedAnd memories of happier daysAbout his exiled spirit thronged!f days when in the halls of lightHe shone among the angels bright"hen comets in their headlong flight"ould #oy to pay respect to himAs$ chaste among the cherubim$Among th% eternal nebulae"ith eager mind and &uic' surmiseHe%d trace their caravanseraiThrough the far spaces of the s'ies"hen he had 'nown both faith and love$The happy firstling of creation("hen neither doubt nor dar' damnationHad whelmed him with the bitterness!f fruitless exile year by year$And when so much$ so much)))but this"as more than memory could bear)

II

!utcast long since$ he wandered lone$Having no place to call his own$Through the dull desert of the world"hile age on age about him swirled$

*inute on minute + all the same)Prince of this world + which he held cheap +He scattered tares among the wheat))))A #oyless tas' without remission$,oid of excitement$ opposition +Evil itself to him seemed tame)

III

And so + exiled from Paradise +He soared above the pea's of ice

And saw the everlasting snows!f -a.be' and the /aucasus$


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And$ serpentine$ the winding deeps!f that blac'$ dragon+haunted passThe Daryal gorge then the wild leaps!f Tere' li'e a lion bounding"ith mane of tangled spray that blows

0ehind him$ and a great roar soundingThrough all the hills$ where beast and bird!n mountain scree and a.ure steepsThe river%s mighty voice had heardAnd$ as he flew$ the golden clouds1trea'ed from the 1outh in tattered shrouds)))/ompanions on his 2orthbound courseAnd the great cliffs came crowding inAnd brooded dar'ly over himExuding some compelling force!f somnolence above the stream)))And on the cliff+tops castles rearedTheir towered heads and baleful stared!ut through the mists + wardens who wait/olossal at the mighty gate!f /aucasus + and all about3od%s world lay wonderful and wild)))0ut the proud 1pirit loo'ed with doubtAnd cool contempt on 3od%s creation$His brow unruffled and sereneAdmitting no participation)

I,

0efore him now another sceneIn vivid beauty blooms)The patterned vales% luxuriant green1pread li'e a carpet on the looms!f 3eorgia$ rich and blessed ground(These poplars li'e great pillars tower$And sounding streams trip over pebbles!f many colours in their courses)

And$ ember+bright$ the rose trees flower "here nightingales forever warbleTo marble beauties fond discourses4orever deaf to their sweet sound)!n sultry days the timid deer 1ee' out an ivy+curtained caveTo hide them from the midday heatHow bright$ how live the leaves are here(A hundred voices soft conclaveA thousand flower+hearts that beat(The sensuous warmth of afternoon$

The scented dew which falls to strewThe grateful foliage %neath the moon$


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The stars that shine as full and brightAs 3eorgian beauties% eyes by night()))5et in the outcast%s barren breastAbundant nature wo'e no new6psurge of forces long at rest$

Touched off no other sentimentThan envy$ hatred$ cold contempt)

,

7ight high the house$ right wide the court3rey+haired 3udaal has builded him)))In tears and labour dearly bought0y slaves submissive to his whim)Across the neighbouring cliffs its shade4rom sunrise dar' and cool is laidA steep stair in the cliff+face hewnLeads from the corner+tower downTo the Aragva) Down this stair Princess Tamara$ young and fair$3oes gleaming$ snow white veils a+flutter$To fetch her #ars of river water)

,I

In austere silence heretoforeThe house has loo'ed across the valleys0ut now wide open stands the door 3udaal holds feast to mar' the marriage!f his Tamara8 now the wine4lows freely and the .urna s'irtsThe clan is gathered round to dineAnd on the roof+top$ richly spread"ith orient rugs) the promised bride1its all amongst her laughing girls8In games and songs their time is spedAnd merriment) 0eyond the hills

The semicircle of the sunHas sun' already) 2ow the fun/rows fast and furious) 2ow the steady7hythmic clapping and the singingThe bride brings to her feet$ poised ready$Her tambourine above her headIs circling$ she herself goes winging0ird+light above rug$ then stops$Loo's round$ and lets her lashes dropThat envious hide her shining glanceAnd now she raises raven brows$

2ow suddenly sways forward slightlyHer slender foot peeps out$ and lightly


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It slides and swims into the danceAnd see she smiles + a #oyous gleamAglow with childish merriment)And yet))) the white moon%s sportive beamIn rippling water li&uid bent

"ith such a smile could scarce compare*ore live than life) than youth more fair)

,II

1o by the midnight star I swear 0y bla.ing East and beaming "est

2o 1hah of Persia 'new her peer 2o -ing on earth was ever blessedTo 'iss an eye so full and fine)The harem%s spar'ling fountain never 1howered such a form with dewy pearls(

2or had mortal fingers ever /aressed a forehead so divineTo loose such splendid curlsIndeed$ since Eve was first undoneAnd man from Eden forth must fare

2o beauty such as this$ I swear$Had bloomed beneath the 1outhern sun)

,III

1o now for the last time she dancedAtasi Tomorrow$ she$ the heir !f old 3udaal$ the daughter fair !f liberty must bow her headTo a slave%s fate li'e one entranced$Adopt a country not her own$A family she%d never 'nown 9!ften a secret doubt would shedA shadow on her radiant face5et all her movements were so free

Appealing$ redolent of grace1o full of sweet simplicityThat$ had the Demon soaring highAbove loo'ed down and chanced to see)))Then$ mindful of his former race$He had turned from her 9 with a sigh))))

I:

The Demon did see)))) 4or one secondIt seemed to him that heaven bec'oned

To ma'e his arid soul resound"ith glorious$ grace+bestowing sound +


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That crests the rapids% leaping waves)How perilous the path they follow$The cliff o%erhangs the way so narrow$The deep ravine the torrent paves)The hour is late) + The sunset glow

Is fading on the pea's of snow)The caravan ma'es haste for home)

:I

0ut see + a chapel by the way))))Here now has rested many a day1ome prince$ now canoni.ed$ but then0y vengeful hand untimely slain)+And here the traveller must stay"hether he haste to fight$ or whether To #oin the feast$ here he must ever 7ein in his horse and humbly prayThe good saint to protect his lifeAgainst the lur'ing *oslem%s 'nife)0ut now the bridegroom$ overbold$4orgot his forefathers of oldAnd$ by perfidious dreams misled!f how$ beneath the cloa' of night$He would embrace his bride$ instead!f holding by their pious riteHe yielded to the Demon%s will1educed by turbid thoughts + untilTwo figures + then a shot + ahead"hat was it; 7ising in his stirrups/ramming his high hat on his browThe gallant lover$ at the gallop$Plunged li'e a haw' upon his foe(

2o word he spo'e$ his whip crac'ed onceAnd once bla.ed forth his Tur'ish gun))))Another shot) "ild cries) The Prince3oes thundering on) The groans behind

Long echoes in the valley find)))) 2ot long the fight) !f timorous mind$The 3eorgians turn and run(

:II

2ow all is silence sadly huddledThe camels stand and stare befuddled6pon their erstwhile master 9 man$Lying dead amongst these silent fells)The only sound their harness bells$

7avaged and robbed their caravanAnd see$ the owl flies softly round


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The /hristian bodies on the ground( 2o peaceful tomb beneath the stones!f some old church will ta'e these bonesLi'e those in which their fathers lie*others nor sisters will not come

In their long floating veils to cry!ver these graves so far from home(Instead$ by .ealous hands$ a cross"as raised to mar' the dreadful loss


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!n coat and weapons they could see4resh bloodstains$ and a wiry strand!f mane was twisted in his hand$

2ot long you waited$ youthful bride$And loo'ed to see your bridegroom come8

Alas$ though he has gained your sideTo #oin the feasting at your homeHis princely word he 'eeps in vain)))

2ever will he mount horse again)

:,

Li'e thunder$ the Lord%s #udgement bro'eAbout this unsuspecting house(Tamara$ sobbing on her couch$3ives free rein to the heavy tearsTill$ sha'en$ she on them must cho'e))))Then$ suddenly$ it seems she hearsAbove her words of wonder spo'e8="eep not$ my child( "eep not in vain(Those tears are no life+giving rainTo call an unresponsive corpse0ac' to the living world again)They only serve to dull their sourceIn those clear eyes$ those chee's to burn))))And he is far and will not learn!f all your bitter sorrow nowThe winds of heaven now caressHis high$ angelic browAnd heavenly music$ heavenly light))))"hat are the dreams and dar' duress$The little hopes and stifled sighs!f earthly maidens in the sight!f one who dwells in paradise;Ah no$ the lot of mortal man$0elieve$ my earthly angel dear$It merits not one second%s span

5our precious sorrow here)

!n the wastes of airy ocean 7udderless and stripped of sail Through the mists in listless motion 1tars in courses never fail Through the boundless fields of heaven Traceless pass the fluffy sheep + /louds dissolving in the even 7eaches of the a.ure steppe) Hour of parting$ hour of meeting$

0rings them neither #oy nor sorrow 2or regrets for past fast fleeting


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2or desires for any morrow) Let remembrance day be only !ne long sorrow+laden day 4or the rest$ be strong and lonely 4ree of earthly cares as they(=

=As soon as night has spread her veilTo cover the /aucasian heightsAs soon as nature >neath the spell!f magic words falls silent &uiteAs soon as on the cliffs the wind7uns rustling through the fading grass$And the small bird that hides behindThe brittle blades flies up at lastAnd$ drin'ing in the evening dew0eneath the vine+leaves in the gloom$

2ight flowering blossoms come to bloomAs soon as the great$ golden moonAbove the mountain &uietly peepsTo steal a stealthy glance at youI shall come flying to watch your sleepAnd on your sil'en lashes layEnchanted dreams of golden day))))=

:,I

And softly as a strange delusionThe voice fell silent$ sound on sound)The maid sprang up and ga.ed around$An inexpressible confusion"ithin her breast + sorrow nor fear

2or ecstasy could now compare"ith this great upsurge of emotion)The soul from its fast fetters bro'eAnd burning fire coursed through her veinsIt seemed as though the voice still spo'e6n'nown and wonderful + and then

The sleep she craved came down to blessHer weary eyes with heaviness0ut now he troubled even her thought"ith dreams prophetic and unsought8A stranger$ mist+enshrouded$ stood0eside her bed and spo'e no word0ut$ glimmering with unearthly beauty$He loo'ed at her with &uiet devotionAnd sadly$ as it were in pity)0ut this was not her guardian angel$

2o visitant from realms divine8

About his head no radiant halo6pon the shadowy curls did shine


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2or was it some tormented sprite1ome vicious spirit of hell + ah no(

2either of dar'ness nor of light()))*ore li'e the gentle afterglowAs evening deepens into night()))

Part II

I

=Ah$ father$ father$ leave your threats1cold not your daughter yet again)4or see these tears( I%m weeping yet5ou 'now full well since whenThe suitors come to see' my hand4rom all the corners of the land))))As though in 3eorgia only one5oung maid there were they%d have as bride))))0ut I + I can be wife to none()))!h$ father$ father$ do not chide$5ou see yourself + a poison slowEnvenoms all my wa'ing thoughtThe evil one won%t let me go0y overwhelming dreams distraughtI fade and perish utterly(Have pity$ let your foolish girl1ee' refuge In a monasteryThere$ if I can but ta'e the veilThe saviour will ta'e care of meAnd I shall tell Him all my woe)The world$ I 'now it all too well$Holds nothing for me8 let a cellIn twilit shadow shelter me)))As in a grave + precociously)))=

II

And so Tamara%s family

To a far convent brought their child$And there in all humilityIn hair+shirt rough the maiden mildEnrobed her youthful breast)5et in this harsh$ monastic garbHer troubled heart found no more rest4rom dreams forbidden and debarredThan clad in velvet or brocade)0efore the altar at the hour$!f shining candles$ solemn prayer$Through the sweet chanting of the choir

4amiliar speech would reach her ear And there$ beneath the cupola$


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A well+'nown figure would appear To glide by as the incense rose))))1oundless$ he leaves no trace$ but goes3leaming before her li'e a star /alling and bec'oning afar

0ut whither; Ah$ that no one 'nows)

III

The holy convent was secludedIn a cool glen between two hills0y poplars and acacias ringed))))And$ when the night san' weary+wingedTo rest in the ravine$ the grills!f the young sister%s cell would gleam!ut through their foliage fitfully)"ithout$ beneath the almond treeIn whose thin shade dar' crosses broodedLi'e silent watchers on the graves$The merry birds made sweet conclaves!f melody) The spring+cold streamsLeapt down from roc' to roc'$ and sang$Then merged beneath the overhangTo foam away in rapid rushes0eneath the frosty+flowering bushes))))

I,

"ay to the north there was a view$A glimpse of mountains) At day%s dawning$"hen curling mists of smo'y blue7ose from the hollows of the hills$And from his minaret the priest$His face towards the brightening East$/alled all his floc' to prayer at morning$Then$ too$ the trembling resonance!f chapel bells awo'e the cloister

The solemn hour did but enhanceThe stillness of the place$ the calm))))Tamara at this hour came forth0earing a pitcher on one armAnd$ treading where the mists grew lighter Down the steep hillside stepped for water)The snowy summits to the 2orth1howed violet against the s'yAnd flung a cloa' of rosier dyeAbout their shoulders in the eveningAnd there between them$ upheaving

His head between the clouds$ their Tsar$-a.be'$ in robes of silver weaving$


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Towered up towards the polar star)

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5et$ full of tainted thoughts$ her mind

Is shuttered to such pure delights$And all her heart is filled with nightThe whole world shadowed and un'ind)And morning ray and evening dar' 1erve only to ignite the spar' !f further torment in her soul)And$ as the sweet$ nocturnal cool!ver the thirsty earth came seeping$Almost demented$ she would fall0efore the sacred icon weepingAnd in the silence of the nightHer heavy sobbing would affrightThe traveller upon his course=A mountain spirit=$ he%d surmise=0ound in some cavern moaning lies(=And hustle on his weary horse)))

,I

1o$ filled with longing and unease$Tamara would sit long and ga.eEngrossed in lonely meditationAll day$ and sigh with expectation0eside her window$ staring out))))That he would come she had no doubt$"hy else then were her dreams so clear;"hy else then used he to appear "ith eyes so infinitely sadAnd speech so marvellously tender;4or many days on end she had0een strangely moved + she 'new not why))))1he called the good saints to defend her

0ut in her heart she called on himAnd always$ when the day grew dim$"eary with staring she would lieDown on her bed and try to sleep8The pillow burnt her flaming chee' 4ear stifled her$ she gasped for breath$Then$ from her pallet she would leap"ith heaving shoulders$ fevered breastTrembling$ a mist before her sight$Her arms outstretched to clasp the night$The 'isses melting on her lips)))

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )


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,II

The 3eorgian hills were scarcely veiledIn the transparent dus' of evening

0efore the Demon downward sailedThrough the grey twilight wreathing4or long and long$ though powerfullyThe convent seemed to draw him$ he/ould not ma'e up his mind to brea' That hallowed peace)))) !ne moment moreAnd he was ready to forsa'eHis cruel intent) 0eyond the door He paced beneath the circling wallAbsorbed in thought) The shadowy leaves1hoo' at his steps without a bree.eHe raised his eyes8 a &uivering lightThrobbed from her window through the night)1o$ she was waiting + and awa'e(Through the soft silence all aboutThe chingar thrummed harmoniouslyAnd over them a song rang outA song that poured mellifluoustyLi'e tears that fall in measure slow$A song so tender that at timesIt seemed as though in loftier climbesIt had been made for earth below)1ome angel$ maybe$ had descendedTo see' a being he%d once befriendedTo bring him secret consolation$To ease his pain$ past bliss recall)Love%s anguish and love%s exaltation

2ow held the Demon fast in thrall4or the first time he would have flown0ut his great wings were turned to stone(A miracle( His eyes are dimAnd down his chee' there rolls one tear))))

2ow$ to this day$ the stones still bear The fiery traces of its falling)))A tear of flame$ a trace appalling$0ut not a human tear(

,III

And so he came$ prepared to giveHis heart in love$ his soul to light)He thought the time had come to liveA new life on this longed+for night)

As though at a first assignationThe proud soul felt a strange$ shy thrill$


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A shuddering$ timid expectation8It was a sign that boded ill(He entered$ loo'ed around) 0efore himThe lovely sinner%s 3uardian stood$Heaven%s messenger$ bright cherubim$

"ith smiling lips and brow of flame)1o) the fell enemy forestalling$The brilliant spirit of the 3oodHad gathered her beneath his wing)The Demon loo'ed for tender greeting +0ut light divine upon him beatingAnd stern rebu'e upon him came8

I:

=1pirit of idleness and sin$At this dar' hour who called you; say(5ou have no servants here withinThese sacred walls$ nor to this dayHas breath of evil visitedThis charge of mine$ to you forbid))))"ho called you;= + 1ubtly in replyThe Demon smiled but in him wo'eThe ancient hate of hell) His eye4lashed fiery+#ealous as he spo'e6pon the messenger divine8=Leave her(= he said) =4or she is mine(Too late you came$ good guardian + see5ou are no #udge of such as we4or her proud heart belongs to me)

2o charge is she of powers aboveHere I am lord$ and here I love( +=1ad+eyed$ the angel bent his glance6pon the evil spirit%s preyThen slowly flapped his great wings onceAnd through the ether soared away)) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

:

Tamara

"ho are you; 5ou are perilous1ay + are you come from heaven or hell;"hat do you want;The Demon "hat loveliness(Tamara

0ut spea'$ who are you; 5ou must tell)The Demon


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And melt in them) I cannot see))))0ut say8 how came you to love me;

The Demon How$ lovely one; + I do not 'now$

*y life is wondrous full and new$The crown of thorns I proudly cast"ith my own hands from off my brow)All that I have been shattered lies8*y heaven and hell are in your eyes)I love you with a passion vast)5ou cannot love as I love you$"ith all the ecstasy and power !f deathless thought and dreams sublime)1ince the beginning of all time5our image on the eternal air Has gone before me + till this hour)*y soul has long been troubled byThe sweet sounds of the name you bearAnd in my days of blessedness5ou were my only lac') If only5ou could but understand the lonelyEmbittered boredom of existence"hen$ century on century$Alone in suffering and


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And launched myself into the s'y$And flew$ and flew)))) "hither; 4or why;I do not 'now))) 0y friends re#ected$Li'e those from Eden%s gates e#ected$I saw the whole world pale and dim)

Abandoned to the current%s whim$Even so without a sail$ may floatA rudderless and bro'en boat6pon the surface of the sea-nowing nor course nor destiny1o$ in the early morning hour$Abandoned by some passing shower !f thunderous rain$ a lonely cloud0lac' through the a.ure heights of heaven*ay wander lost without a havenLeaving no trace upon the ether 3od only 'nows from whence + or whither(4or a short while myself I vowedTo teaching sin and spreading doubt!f all things noble$ all things fair)0ut not for long ))) man'ind I wrenchedToo easily to my fell will)The flame of faith$ too easy &uenched$Left me triumphant$ but withoutAn ob#ect worthy of my s'ill)To mislead hypocrites and fools)))"hat profit was there for me there;I hid away in mountains far And wandered li'e a displaced star In lonely$ never ending flight8And when some traveller belated"ould follow$ deeming me a lightIn some near dwelling I would leadHim to the cliff+edge ))) hear the hated,oice call up from the abyss)))And leave him + and his horse + to bleed))))5et all too soon I tired of this

And other spiteful$ sombre sports(How often$ raising storms of stones$And$ clad in mists and lightening$I would go hurtling through the cloudTo cow the spirit of the crowd$7ebellious upshoots frightening$Drowning their murmuring in my groans$1ee'ing escape from pursuant thoughts)1ee'ing to expunge from memoryThings that may not forgotten be("hat is the tale of miseries$

The labours and the pains of manThroughout the passing centuries$


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/ompared to but one minute%s span!f my great$ unac'nowledged anguish;"hat of man'ind; + their wor's and sorrow;Here today + and gone tomorrow))))Then + they have hope in #udgement #ust

He may forgive$ although He mustAt first condemn them) I shall languish6nshriven throughout eternity))))*y torment has no end$ li'e me$And$ deathless$ it must ever wa'e$

2ow creeping closer li'e a sna'e$ 2ow caustic$ burning to the bone$ 2ow dull and heavy li'e a stone +To live + the everlasting tomb!f hope and passion is my doom()))

Tamara "hat part have I in all this wildAnd sorry tale; "hy should I ownTo pity; 5ou have sinned))))

Demon *y child$ against you;

Tamara Hush(

Demon "e are alone) Tamara And 3od(

Demon "ill not spare us a thoughtHeaven$ not earth$ is his first care)

Tamara The pains of hell$ as we are taught;

Demon "hat of them; I%ll be with you there(

Tamara "ho e%er you are$ my chance+met friend$5ou$ who have stolen my peace of mind$7eluctantly$ yet deeply moved$I hear how you have suffered$ loved)))

5et if you spea' but to mislead5et if you lie + in part or whole +


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*ore worthy of you) *ay the whole"ide world in calm rusticity0loom on$ all unaware of me(0elieve me$ I alone have visionTo love you8 I have understood

5our greatness as no other could85ou are my holy one) This day*y power at your feet I lay)And for your love one moment longI%ll give you all eternity)4or I am changeless$ true and strongIn love as in malignity4ree spirit of the air$ I%ll bear youHigh up above the stars to where you"ill reign in splendour as my &ueen$Tamara$ first love of my dream$And you will come to loo' on earth"ithout regret$ without compassion6nhappy planet$ with its dearth!f lasting beauty$ with its fashion4or petty sentiments$ small minds$"here crime and executions grindTheir everlasting wheel of fear8*en fear to love and fear to hate)!r 'now you not what love is here;The seething of young blood in spate +0ut days go by and blood grows cold("ho can resist the long temptation!f boredom$ change and novelty;"hat love can outlive separation!r rival dream%s variety;

2o( 2ot for my love to grow oldAnd fade in silence in the crude1ociety of #ealous slavesAmidst ungenerous and coldPretended friends and real foes$0urdened by useless wor's and rude

Endeavours$ empty hopes and fears(5our fate is not to wither here$And$ passionless$ your soul to save0ehind these walls$ a scentless rose6nopened by the honey beeAnd dull to the Divinity)Ah no( *y lovely one$ your morrowIs mar'ed by different destiny$A different depth of ecstasy$A different scale of sorrowLeave then your former thoughts$ desires

And leave the poor world to its fate)Then$ in return$ you may aspire


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It seemed he heard a willing 'iss$A sudden cry$ a groan suppressed))))Impious doubts rose in his breastAnd the old man stood listening$ readyTo sound the alarm) 0ut silence fell

All round him) He could hear the steady7ustling of leaves borne by the windAnd$ from the shingle$ clear but faint$The mountain rivers% soft complaint)He hastened to recall to mindThe prayers prescribed against illusionsAnd diabolical delusionsThen crossed himself with trembling fingersThe last$ luxurious dreams to layAnd$ fearing longer there to linger$"ith &uic'ened pace strode on his way)) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )

:III

As lovely as a Peri+sprite$Tamara on her death bed rested)Her brow was purer and more whiteThan the chaste veil in which they vestedTheir novice$ so untimely dead)The lashes were forever lowered5et who$ oh 3od$ would not have saidThe eyes beneath them did but sleep$Awaiting but the 'iss empoweredTo wa'e them from enchanted rest!r but to feel the day+star peep;5et all in vain the sun caressedThem with its golden$ glowing beamsHer fathers% 'iss$ his silent sorrow$/ould not awa'e her from her dreams))))

2o) none can brea' the seal of death 2or give eternal night a morrow(

:I,

2ever$ in days of happiness"as the poor maid so richly clad$1o festive and so bright her dress))))1uch was the custom of her land)4lowers from her native vallev breathedTheir scent around her and she had/lasped them so tight in her dead handAs though yet to this earth she cleaved())

2o hint was there in her still face!f how she met her end + in ardent


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Intoxication$ fatal passion$0ut rather seemed she of a raceApart$ the lovely features carven!f marble$ void of mind or feeling$Expressionless$ all fire concealing$

*ysterious as death itself)About her lips there fro.en dweltA strange smile$ fixed even as it passed)To those who loo'ed in careful fashion6nhappy was the tale it told8A smile contemptuous and coldAs of a soul prepared to wither And silentiv to bid a last4arewell to all things of this hither "orld$ the last reflection!f her last thought$ vain recollection!f all her life before$ more deadThan those eternally closed eyesTo those who stood about her bed1till more conducive to despair)1o$ at the solemn sunset hour "hen$ melting in the golden air$Day%s chariot already fliesInto the "estern seas to plummet$4or a brief instant yet his power Dwells on the mountain tops$ whose snow7eflects a rosy$ living glowThat gleams on through the distant dar')5et wea' and fading is that ray$And from its distant$ ice+bound summitTo guide the traveller on his wayIt can awa'e no answering spar'()))

:,

The mourning 'insfol' and the crowd

!f neighbours are foregathered now)Tearing the gray loc's on his brow!ld 3udaal scorns to weep aloud0ut silently mounts his great horseAnd the procession ta'es the road)Three days$ three nights they hold their courseAnd then at last set down their loadAmidst her ancestors% remains)!ld 3udaa4s forefather$ they say$A brigand whose ill+gotten gainsDisturbed his conscience$ when one day

He was struc' down by dread disease$Had thought the memory to ease


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!f his past sins by doing penance1o he had promised in the presence!f witnesses to build a church6pon a lofty$ granite perchHigh in the hills where no sound came

Except the singing of the storm$A fitting nest for 'ites and crows)And soon amidst the -a.be' snowsA solitary temple rose$And there the villain with his bonesDid finally inter his shame)1o was this cloud+capped roc' transformedInto a graveyard for his 'in)As though the nearer to the s'y)The warmer after death we lie;As though the further from the din!f life the sounder we should sleep)));,ain hope( 4or dead men may not 'eep$Even in dreams$ the memory!f #oy or tears in days gone by))))

:,I

"inging through heaven%s spaces blue$A holy angel golden+pinioned0earing her sinful spirit flewTowards the 4ather%s high dominions)And$ cradling her in mighty arms$"ith words of hope dispelled her doubtAnd washed the traces of alarmAnd all transgression with his weeping)The music of the spheres rang out4rom Heaven to meet them as they rose"hen$ from the nether regions sweeping$/ame the infernal spirit hurtling0etween them and their goal divine))))And mighty was he as the whirlwind

1hot through with lightnings) Insolence/onsumed him and mad arrogance"ith certainty he claimed her) =*ine(=

/ircled by the strong arms which bore her$Tamara%s sinful soul shran' closeTo the protecting angel%s side1ee'ing in prayer her fear to hide)

2ow$ once again$ he stood before her 0ut + Heavens( "ho would 'now him now;His ga.e so brooding and morose

1o venomous with hate eternal)))It seemed a death+li'e cold infernal


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Lay on that fro.en face and brow)=1pirit of dar'ness$ get thee gone(=Heaven%s messenger then made reply8=The victory has been yours for longEnough$ and now the end is nigh)


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!f camel+bells from caravansThat #ourney on from distant landsAnd through the mists the waterfall4oams glittering down the roc'y wall$And nature glories laughingly$

As sportive as a carefree child$In life renewed eternally$In sun and shade and springtime wild)

!nly the castle has outlastedIts count of years and sadly endsIts lonely days + a patriarchal!ld man who has outlived his friendsAnd family) Its inmates waitIn hiding for the moon to rise8Then they hold feast$ do as they will8They run and bu.. from gate to gate))))Then the grey spider$ with slow s'ill$1pins out her sil'en hermitage)The li.ards green beneath the s'iesPlay on the slates right merrilyAnd$ cautiously$ the serpent sage/reeps from his cranny dar' to crawlAlong the ancient porch%s wall)

2ow suddenly he twirls and twistsHis body into three bright rings$And now his supple brilliance slingsInto a straight$ a steely rodA lance left lying by the lists$A dead man%s sword + unmar'ed$ unmissed6nwanted now and &uite forgot)All has run wild$ no trace is left!f bygone years the hand of time/autiously$ carefully has sweptThem all away8 The glorious prime!f 3udaal + vanished without to'en)His daughter%s name no longer spo'en(

!nly the /hurch on its sheer height"here the scant earth once too' their bonesPreserved by some sacred mightIs guarded by blac' standing stones!f granite$ sentinels unarmoured1ave for th%eternal ice which glowsLi'e mail upon their fronts$ their shouldersDraped in heavy cloa's of snows)And frowning avalanches brood!n the steep slopes$ each fro.en flood

Li'e some vast$ frosted waterfall)The howling wind 'eeps sentry+go


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0lowing the snow+dust from the wall$ 2ow chec's the watch$ calling the roll$ 2ow singing songs sad$ long and lowAnd far and wide the church is 'nownIn all the lands + a holy wonder8

And yet the orient clouds alone4loc' round to worship at the shrineAnd yet upon the stones$ whereunder Tamara and her 'in still sleep$

2o weeping pilgrims sit and pine!nly the sullen mountain bentAbove them vigilance does 'eep8That man%s eternal discontent*ight not brea' in upon their slumber)

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Lermontov - The Demon

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Transcript of Lermontov - The Demon