Monday, December 4, 2017

Владислав Ходасевич
Vladislav Khodasevich
1886-1939

from Heavy Lyre

To a Guest

Coming to see me, bring a dream,
Or beauty with the Devil’s gleam,
Or God, if you yourself are godly.
But your small kindnesses, do please,
Just like your hat, leave by the entry.
Here, on earth the size of a pea,
An angel be, or else a demon.
But mere man – could  his use be
For us to be able to forget him?

Berlin 1921

Гостю
Входя ко мне, неси мечту,
Иль дьявольскую красоту,
Иль Бога, если сам ты Божий.
А маленькую доброту,
Как шляпу, оставляй в прихожей.
Здесь, на горошине земли,
Будь или ангел, или демон.


Translation by Ellen Orner



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