Читать книгу The Demon / Демон. Книга для чтения на английском языке - Михаил Лермонтов, Михаил Юрьевич Лермонтов, M. Y. Lermontov - Страница 18

And softly as a strange delusion

The voice fell silent, sound on sound.

The maid sprang up and gazed around,

An inexpressible confusion

Within her breast; – sorrow nor fear

Nor ecstasy could now compare

With this great upsurge of emotion.

The soul from its fast fetters broke

And burning fire coursed through her veins

It seemed as though the voice still spoke

Unknown and wonderful – and then

The sleep she craved came down to bless

Her weary eyes with heaviness;

But now he troubled even her thought

With dreams prophetic and unsought:

A stranger, mist-enshrouded, stood

Beside her bed and spoke no word

But, glimmering with unearthly beauty,

He looked at her with quiet devotion

And sadly, as it were in pity.

But this was not her guardian angel,

No visitant from realms divine:

About his head no radiant halo

Upon the shadowy curls did shine

Nor was it some tormented sprite

Some vicious spirit of hell – ah no!

Neither of darkness nor of light!..

More like the gentle afterglow

As evening deepens into night!..