Pale spirits, and dusty shadows you

Pale spirits, and you shadowy powder,

That enjoy the brightness of the light of day

Bring out this old selfish journey,

The ashes of which the ruins we wonder:

Say, old spirits (those from the dark plain,

The banks of the Styx with no return,

Embracing us with a thrice triple turn,

Do not imprison your shadowy remain),

So do tell me (because some of you

Possibly still lie here below in vain)

Don't you feel your ever growing pain,

When from these Roman hilly slopes

You contemplate the work of your hopes

To be nothing more than a powdery remain?

Du Bellay (16th century)....

Translation by Jules Letambour

READ FROM TOP.

FREE JULIAN ASSANGE NOW....

As we cross the torrent without danger in summer

As we cross the torrent without danger in summer,

that is like a drunken king through the plain by winter,

delighting the fields with a haughty flight

Being the plowman’s hope and the shepherd’s delight:

As we observe the coward beasts enrage

The lion in the arena, dying, loosing vivacity,

Bloodying their teeth, and with vain audacity

Provoke an enemy that cannot take revenge:

As in front of Troy we saw Greeks once more

Brave the less valiant around Hector’s dead body:

So those who, once defeated, with pain and shame,

Gloriously followed the Roman triumph fore,

On these dusty tombs to exercise their audacity,

And dared the vanquished with the victors disdain.

Du Bellay (16th century)....

Translation by Jules Letambour

READ FROM TOP.

FREE JULIAN ASSANGE NOW....