Silentium!*
Молчи, скрывайся и таи
И чувства и мечты свои –
Пускай в душевной глубине
Встают и заходят оне
Безмолвно, как звезды в ночи, –
Любуйся ими – и молчи.
Как сердцу высказать себя?
Другому как понять тебя?
Поймет ли он, чем ты живешь?
Мысль изреченная есть ложь.
Взрывая, возмутишь ключи, –
Питайся ими – и молчи.
Лишь жить в себе самом умей –
Есть целый мир в душе твоей
Таинственно-волшебных дум;
Их оглушит наружный шум,
Дневные разгонят лучи, –
Внимай их пенью – и молчи!..
1829, начало 1830-х годов
Фёдор Тютчев (1803-1873)
Silentium!
Speak not, lie hidden, and conceal
the way you dream, the things you feel.
Deep in your spirit let them rise
akin to stars in crystal skies
that set before the night is blurred:
delight in them and speak no word.
How can a heart expression find?
How should another know your mind?
Will he discern what quickens you?
A thought once uttered is untrue.
Dimmed is the fountainhead when stirred:
drink at the source and speak no word.
Live in your inner self alone
within your soul a world has grown,
the magic of veiled thoughts that might
be blinded by the outer light,
drowned in the noise of day, unheard…
take in their song and speak no word.
Fyodor Tyutchev
translated by Vladimir Nabokov
Silentium!
Seal thou thy lips, to none impart
The secret dreams that fill thy heart.
Within it let them blaze and die
As do the silent stars on high
When o’er the earth night’s shadows stray –
Delight in them – and silent stay.
Thy sentiments to none confide;
From those about thee thy thoughts hide,
For when voiced what are they but lies!..
Churn up a stream, and silt will rise
And darken it… Drink, drink thou deep
Of waters clear – and silent keep.
Live in the world of self — thy soul
Of magic thoughts contains a whole
Bright universe… Let not the noise
And light of day dispel the joys
That meditation gives to thee…
Hear thy heart’s song – and silent be!
Fyodor Tyutchev
translated by Irina Zheleznova
Stay silent!
Stay silent, out of sight and hide
your feelings and your dreams inside.
Within your soul’s deep centre let
them silently rise, let them set
like stars in the night. Don’t be heard.
Admire them, Don’t say a word.
How can your heart itself express?
Can others understand or guess
exactly what life means to you?
A thought you’ve spoken is untrue.
You only cloud the streams you’ve stirred.
Be fed by them. Don’t say a word.
Making living in yourself your goal.
There is a world within your soul
where mystery-magic thoughts abound.
By outer noise they will be drowned.
They’ll scatter as day is bestirred.
Just heed their song. Don’t say a word!
Fyodor Tyutchev
translated by Frank Jude
* Silentium! — Молчание (лат.)
