Читать книгу Nirvana Days - Rice Cale Young - Страница 4

The seven fleets of Venice

Set sail across the sea

For Cyprus and for Trebizond

Ayoub and Araby.

Their gonfalons are floating far,

St. Mark's has heard the mass,

And to the noon the salt lagoon

Lies white, like burning glass.

The seven fleets of Venice —

And each its way to go,

Led by a Falier or Tron,

Zorzi or Dandalo.

The Patriarch has blessed them all,

The Doge has waved the word,

And in their wings the murmurings

Of waiting winds are heard.

The seven fleets of Venice —

And what shall be their fate?

One shall return with porphyry

And pearl and fair agàte.

One shall return with spice and spoil

And silk of Samarcand.

But nevermore shall one win o'er

The sea, to any land.

Oh, they shall bring the East back,

And they shall bring the West,

The seven fleets our Venice sets

A-sail upon her quest.

But some shall bring despair back

And some shall leave their keels

Deeper than wind or wave frets,

Or sun ever steals.