Edgar Allan Poe
The Raven
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore--
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door--
Only this and nothing more."
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;--vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow--sorrow for the lost Lenore--
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore--
Nameless here for evermore.
And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me--filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
"'Tis some visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door--
Some late visiter entreating entrance at my chamber door;
This it is and nothing more."
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"--here I opened wide the
door--
Darkness there and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering,
fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream
before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word,
"Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word,
"Lenore!"--
Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the chamber turning, all my sour within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping something louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see, then, what thereat is and this mystery explore--
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;--
'Tis the wind and nothing more.
Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately Raven of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed
he,
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber
door--
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door--
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.
Then the ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no
craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly
shore--
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning--little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blessed with seeing bird above his chamber door--
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."
But the Raven, sitting lonely on that placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if its soul in that one word he did outpour
Nothing farther then he uttered; not a feather then he fluttered--
Till I scarcely more than muttered: "Other friends have flown
before--
On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown
before."
Then the bird said "Nevermore."
Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden
bore--
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never--nevermore.'"
But the Raven still beguiling all my sad soul into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird and bust and
door;
Then, upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore--
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of
yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamp-light gloating o'er
She shall press, ah, nevermore!
Then, methought, the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen
censer
Swung by Seraphim whose foot-falls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee--by these angels he
hath sent thee
Respite--respite and nepenthe from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!--prophet still, if bird or devil!--
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here
ashore,
Desolate, yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted--
On this home by Horror haunted--tell me truly, I implore--
Is there--is there balm in Gilead?--tell me--tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!--prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us--by that God we both
adore--
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore--
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
"Be that our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked,
upstarting--
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul has spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!--quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my
door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadows on the
floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted--nevermore!
Edgar Allan Poe
Havran
U polnon zlietli tne, myse v akej dume tonie,
hlavu klonm ponad listy dvnych spisov starch vier,
sen u temer sadnul v riase, v prer plnom nonom ase,
zrazu uchot, klepot, v hlase udnom znie od mojich dvier.
Pozdn hos, sn myslm stajme tpe hen u mojich dvier.
Toko len a ni viac, ver.
December bol prve chmrny, arodejne divo-brny,
uho z krbu odblesk chmrny vrhal vkol v tni zbor.
Til som za rna svitom, za srdcom od mieru stom,
nie od smtku, bu spitom, myse dvhal k raju hor,
kde Lenorou mtvu mil menuje anjelov chr;
v kruhu hviezdnom iadon spor!
Tu zhyb kortyny sa zvln, steskom, asom duu pln,
Zvln, pln hodvb umn srdce desom, ako mor,
divo, divie srdce bi, dua temn sudbu tu.
Pozdn hos sn tim strachy tpe hen u mojich dvier,
iste, iste hos to pozdn vstpi chce do mojich dvier,
toko len a ni viac, ver.
Vzmum duu, zvldam asy, nebude v tom hrzy asi:
Pn i pani diem odpuste, myse pomlila smer,
v snch som trmal duu dumne a predo mnou zvzky umn,
vy, ach, siahali ste jemne po zvore mojich dvier,
neslyal som temer umu... vtom otvorm zvor dvier;
vonku tma a ni viac, ver.
V hust temno prel som zraky, akal divy a zzraky,
trpiac, v pochb hnal sa spory, v snoch som strcal due mier,
ale ticho vldlo kolom, chyou, vkol domom dvorom,
slovo Lenora! len znelo, ako vlna vzdunch hier,
ja ho eptnul, uchlo echom, ani vlna vzdunch hier,
Toko len a ni viac, ver.
Tu ke v chyu krom zasi, v dui planie vatra ksi,
znova ujem, dakto mtra o da ivie, ako driev.
Iste reiem u obloka nieo tpe dovysoka,
neche zlietne bemo z oka, strhne zvoj z erch vier,
na kmit st sa srdce, zvoj odhrniem hne erch vier;
van to vetra, ni viac, ver.
Zrazu oblok otvor sa a velebne voval sa
havran zrutn, ruchom, umom, sa ke brkou sten bor,
tuibu a bleskorchle, povedome, nebrs stchle,
usad sa pnskym kynom ponad elo mojich dvier,
a na sochu Palladinu, okrasu to mojich dvier,
sadne si, a ni viac, ver.
Zasmial som sa, zhora-zdola ke som skmal ierne stvora,
ke som zbadal vnos vek naechranch bk a pier.
- Brs si brkou okmsan, smels, brs aj nie si zvan,
Tvore bludnch duchov druhu, oarpan ani ker,
Riekni, jak a zv tam dolu, podsvetia kde krli mier?
Havran reie: Nikdy ver.
Zzrak ksi, vrav divne, vtkom je, preds vrav plynne,
v slove sce zmyslu mlo poda mysle jasnch mier,
ale udno, hos ten ierny vrav i bez udskej perny,
a do chye vteper sa, sadne ponad tem dvier,
vtk i tvor to betilny, sadne ponad sochu dvier,
menuje sa: Nikdy ver.
A na soche havran v tichu sed, nevyd ani dychu,
jedno slovo riekol len, sa v om by duch vrel th a vier,
ani hlasu viac, ni uchu neu, ani chvenie ruchu
nezalet k tvojmu sluchu: zmizne, mniem, i tto zber,
ndej zhynula u vea, sa blesk rna z pvch pier,
let riekne: Nikdy ver.
Odpove t striasla duchom prer ksi v slove suchom.
Iste dumm bjou rou je, o vatle tto zver,
majstra jeho sudba krut, v put bezndejne skut,
sthala na stezkch bludnch olpila due mier,
on ho zuil v zvukoch nudnch kokta vlastnej biedy er,
tajnm slovom: Nikdy ver.
Zasmial som sa, zhora-zdola ke som skmal ierne stvora,
kreslo mkk potisol som voi soche mojich dvier,
klesol tam na barn, snami, prepodivnmi dumami;
chtiac rozuzli zdania, mamy ominznych slov a sfr
k v nich obsah, oe checht hrozne chud, star zver,
kvuc: Nikdy, nikdy ver.
Onemel som v mysli zmesi, bldiac v rke-diake kdesi,
km on ohom o ravch, saby upr-netopier,
vtal v hru; ja sklonil hlavu na barna riasu smav,
na nej le lampy mvu, v zhyboch hr si tieov er.
Ona tie raz divom zrela chye fialkov er,
nevzhliadne viac nikdy ver.
Tu kadidiel nevdanch tymian sla, neslchanch
zvukov zvonia zvonky zvune z serafnskych boskch hier.
uj, to anjelov s zbory, Boh ich zoslal, aby chor,
komu srdce iaom hor, naiel vyten mier!
Rozpomienku na Lenoru bnu zhladil jeho mier!
Havran reie: Nikdy ver.
Vetcu! riekni, duchu zlosti! a i vtku nemilosti!
posle sudby, hoc orknom vyrvan hne z pekla dier,
musm tedy strda? kdesi vene liapa pust lesy,
hrzy kzla, samt desy ska v stne iernych vier?
Nieto lieku v Gileade pre ma? riekni zhyniem ver!
Havran reie: Nikdy ver!
Vetcu! riekni duchu zlosti! a i vtku nemilosti!
Pre Boha a nebies slvu, prosm, taje pootvor
srdcu stiesnenmu riekni, tam kde chvie sa Eden pekn,
m tam k hrudi mil, riekni, privin, kde svtch zbor
u Lenorou menuje i jasnch duchov spevn chr?
Nikdy v odve havran-tvor.
Ta sa v besy brok zase, vtku-diablu, v pozdnom ase
skrknem hrzou k brehom Noci Venej, stranej, ta sa ber!
o si vravel, klam je phy. Samota cie mojej thy!
Vyrvi z hrudi klov svoj such, nechcem vidie tvojich pier!
Ni pperia nenechaj tu, zmizni z sochy mojich dvier!
Havran reie: Nikdy ver.
Havran nepohne sa ani, havm okom na ma gni
z Palladinej bielej sochy, sponad ela mojich dvier,
zraky ani dmon sniv, kold sa, o vid divy,
nad nm pablesk lampy iv jeho tu vrh z dvier,
a mj duch viac nesprost sa nikdy tne jeho pier, nikdy, nikdy
nikdy ver!
Preloil Vladimr Roy (1918)
Edgar Allan Poe
Havran
Bola polnoc - as zl, krut - a ja slab, pochudnut
tudoval som star spisy v hrubch zvzkoch zviazan.
Sadal na ma opar driemot, odo dvier vak zaznel klepot,
tich klepot z nonch temnt, tajupln ukanie.
"Nejak hos," snail som sa vysvetli to ukanie,
"iba hos, a ni viac nie."
December bol, viem to presne - noci chmrne, bezten,
z kozubu li tiene duchov, vznali sa po stene,
vykval som rann zoru, v knihch utpal som chor
duu, ktor na Lenoru - na jej kroky straten,
na jej vzcne, drah kroky v rajskch vkach straten -
myslela, na in nie.
Tajomn um arltovch zclon ma vak obral o dych, Moja hlava zahka klesla nazad k operadlu kresla,
srdce bilo ako nikdy, zkostne a zdesene.
"To ni nie je, iba ktosi zaklopal mi v prostred noci
na dvere," - tak vravel som si, tiac svoje vzruenie.
"Niekto klope vprostred noci, nao tok vzruenie!"
Nejak hos - in nie."
Pozbieral som odhodlanie - o sa m sta, nech sa stane!
"Pn i dma, ctivo vs prosm o prepenie," tko siahne do pamti, tvoja myse zabudne,
prevravel som, "ale iste zdriemol som a klepali ste
a tak jemne, e len hmliste poul som to, vzdialene."
Otvoril som - za dverami boli hviezdy vzdialen,
vkol tma, a in nie.
Dlho som sa do tmy dval, v sluchch burcal mi prval
prapodivnch pochb, predstv - stl som ako v polosne.
Neprjemn ticho bolo vade, vade naokolo.
"Lenora?" - len moje slo ponad przdnu polnoc znie.
"Lenora!" - to od skl echo ponad przdnu polnoc znie.
Iba to, a in nie.
Vrtil som sa. oraz prud ohe horel v mojej dui.
Zrazu - o to? Ako ke d v hustch dvkach dopadne. prezra dui, ktor muia smtky, i raz do nruia
"U viem, sluch ma sotva klame - je to na oblonom rme.
A tak sa ta podvame - nie je to ni zhadn.
U sa srdce, ut, iste nie je to ni zhadn.
Je to vietor, in nie."
Otvoril som prudko oblok, a len o som cvol o krok,
starobyl havran vkroil do izby sa zjavenie,
neobzrel sa vavo, vpravo, obiiel ma nevmavo,
iba mdro kval hlavou, vzlietol k buste pri stene,
k bielej Palladinovej buste nad dverami pri stene,
sadol si, a in nie.
Ubolen predstavivos teila t ierna bytos,
sprvala sa vemi vne, dstojne a honosne.
Vravm: "Hoci rozuchan, no ste bez bzne hany,
pochmren a starodvny ako v tajuplnom sne.
Prezrate mi, velienstvo, ako vae meno znie!"
Havran krka: "Veru nie."
Prekvapen poval som operenca s udskm hlasom,
hoci slov odpovede boli hmlist, nepresn.
Komu sa vak stala tak vec, e mal es vidie vtka,
ktor nad dverami krka, usaden noblesne,
tam na buste nad dverami usaden noblesne,
a m meno "Veru nie"?
Na belostnom alabastri chmrne sed, zrakom jastr,
zd sa, e m mylienky len do dvoch sloviek vtelen,
neprehovor ni in, ani pierkom nepokynie.
Zamrmlal som: "Nepochybne zmizne ako straten
ndeje a blzki udia, vetko drah, straten."
On vak na to: "Veru nie."
Zmten tm, ako jeho krekot zaal do ivho,
vravel som si: "Celkom iste nezme sa na in.
Tie dve slov m z st pna, o ho zrejme bez prestania
sthala vdy alia rana, a km len to jedin
vravel zveera i zrna, len to trpk, jedin
srdcervce: "Veru nie!"
Ubolen predstavivos ete teila t bytos.
Postavil som mkk kreslo k dverm pred to stvorenie,
a vhben do vankov pustil som sa s oraz prudou
brkou, o mi znela duou, duma, o to zlovestn
vyciven hnusn zviera mieni, ke tak zlovestne
opakuje: "Veru nie."
Sedel som tam zaduman, driac jazyk za zubami,
do hrude mi z o tvora prenikali plamene.
na hodvb, kde lampy kreslia tiene ladne stlmen,
ona vak, ach, hodvb kresla, tiene ladne stlmen
neuzrie viac, veru nie.
A v tej chvli zdalo sa mi, e vzduch vonia kadidlami
a nad perzskm kobercom tn anjelskho spevu znie.
Vravm si: "Boh pome ti, jeho anjel k tebe let,
o stratenej Lenore ti nepovie viac, zabudne."
Havran krka: "Veru nie."
"Prorok," vravm, "tvoj hlas des! - hovor vak, nech ktokovek
si,
nech a za mnou zoslal diabol, i len lejak, ktor tne,
mne, o znam nezlomene toto stran osamenie
v dome, kde ma muia tiene - prezra teraz primne,
i raz njdem pokoj due? Prosm a, vrav primne!"
Havran krka: "Veru nie."
"Prorok," vravm, "tvoj hlas des! - pokrauj, nech ktokovek si!
Pre Boha, o obidvaja ctme v hviezdnej vine,
v raji, v ktorom harfy zvuia, Lenoru si privinie,
i Lenoru vzosn, vzcnu op k sebe privinie."
Havran krka: "Veru nie."
"Dmon, ktor duu trzni, bu u ticho, us a zmizni,
cho ta, kde sa bria besy a kde chmrny vietor znie!
Hovor len bohapust lo, tak zmizni, nevytrs tu
ani pierko, opus bustu, stra sa rchlo, neujne!
Vyber zobk z mjho srdca, stra sa rchlo, neujne!"
Havran krka: "Veru nie!"
Ako usadil sa vtedy, stle sed, stle sed
nad dverami ierny havran diabolsky a ukrutne.
V jeho vnom, zamraenom zraku sdli temn dmon,
obrys premietnut tieom na koberci mohutnie,
duu privalil mi tie, o na koberci mohutnie,
nevzchop sa, veru nie.
Preloila Jana Kantorov-Blikov (1979)
Edgar Allan Poe
Havran Plam ticho z tmavch ktov vetou saka vyrieknutou:
Vae slovo, hovorm mu, neoplva humorom,
majstre noci, ktor ran, majstre dlhch umieran.
Noc u zhasla tyri steny, ke som sedel unaven
Slovo ndej nezachrni. o mi bude oporou?
nad starmi mdrosami zabudnutch autorov.
Povedzte, ke vbec viete: o mi bude oporou?
Hlava kles, svet sa er, polnoc vhodn pre chimry...
Vae nudn: neskoro?
Ktosi klope na rm dver, dver s pevnou zvorou.
Podivn hos, uvaujem, hbe mojou zvorou.
Hadm na havrana v nesni. Hrzostran je a smieny,
Otvra je neskoro.
ke tak sed na Pallade nad zapretou zvorou.
V temnch hbkach fantzie skladm zem, kde kad hnije.
December bol pnom sveta, hadal som sa v mdrych vetch,
Ani svetlo nepreije v zemi jeho obzorov.
biely odblesk svetla lietal nad Palladou z mramorov.
Star ierny havran priiel zo vzdialench obzorov
V starch knihch na mintku topm lsku, vek, prudk.
a vie iba: Neskoro.
Chcem sa zbavi svojho smtku, smtku za ou, Lenorou.
Za dievaom s krsnym menom, za anjelskou Lenorou.
Len sa kne, len sa kne. iadne slovo neope
Zabda je neskoro.
jeho spaujci pohad, silu jeho nporov.
Biely vank svetla zvol. Melancholicky a divo.
Smtok farby iernych kon ticho umel na zclony.
Dnen noc je pre mj ivot Sodomou a Gomorou.
Roztriasli sa v mojich rukch spisy dvnych nestorov.
Tto noc je pre mj ivot Sodomou a Gomorou.
akaj ma zvuky noci, akaj ma non chodci,
Bri sa je neskoro.
ak ma ten stran pocit, e mm pohn zvorou,
prenikav stran pocit, e mm pohn zvorou,
ierny hlupk vrh tiene. Podobn s krsnej ene.
ke je u tak neskoro.
Presta, lotor! skrknem nato s nevslovnm odporom.
Neprehlbuj moju ranu, nezjavuj mi milovan.
Opatrne, bez dvery podiiel som blzko dver.
Neverm, e z mtvych vstan chvle s krsnou Lenorou.
Pn i pani, vravm ticho, s pokornosou pastorov,
Neuchotaj svojm perm nad anjelskou Lenorou!
odpuste mi, to sa stane, nepoul som zaklopanie,
Havran vrav: Neskoro.
tuhie spvam, nie som anjel, zatvram sa zvorou.
Otvoril som ak dvere. Za bezmocnou zvorou
Prorok, vravm, sed a neklam, i si vtk a i si z pekla,
ml len tma. Neskoro.
i si brka z Plutnie, z nepozemskch priestorov.
Radej povedz, posol smrti, hroziv a vyziabnut,
Oami som po tme bldil, poctil som strach a div
ako sa strach, o ma krt? o mi bude oporou?
z neoakvanch zvukov, z chimrickch nporov.
Hadm balzam na trpenie, o mi bude oporou.
A do modravho ticha epkm, hoci sotva dcham,
Havran vrav: Neskoro.
meno, ktor nevysych: Chcem byt iba s Lenorou...
Ozvena mi vracia meno. Znovu epkm: S Lenorou...
Prorok, vravm, sed a neklam, i si vtk a i si z pekla,
a viem, e je neskoro.
i a poslal Vemohci z nadoblanch obzorov.
Povedz, ke si poslom rna, povedz, kde je milovan!
Vrtil som sa medzi steny v horke a rozruen.
Zavrela sa rajsk brna za anjelskou Lenorou?
Hrza z otvorench okien bldi mojou komorou.
Povedz, i s svt stopy za anjelskou Lenorou.
Stokrt preo, iadne preto, pokoja u nikde nieto.
Havran vrav: Neskoro.
V oblokoch mi pska vietor z nekonench priestorov.
Pozdn hos je vietor z nekonench priestorov,
Presta, presta, diabol slova, o ma ni stle znova!
vravm si, no neskoro.
Zmizni do tmy Plutnie, zeme mtvych priestorov!
Moju ndej si u zrcal. Vyber zobk z mjho srdca!
Ako oblak brky v lete otvorenm oknom vletel
Zmizni oknom, kat i sudca, nehb mojou zvorou.
majesttny ierny havran s dmonickm vzorom.
Chcem by sm, tak zmizni oknom, netras mojou zvorou!
Ni ho nevyviedlo z miery, posadil sa na rm dver,
Havran vrav: Neskoro.
uchotal tam iernym perm nad zapretou zvorou.
Posadil sa na Palladu, ke som mykal zvorou.
Vyham ho chor, bled. Len si sed, len si sed
Vyhna ho je neskoro.
na Pallade, o sa ti nad zapretou zvorou.
Tie sa plh na zclonch, podob sa na dmona.
Odpudivou starou tvrou vysmieva sa z mojich iaov.
Ml, e raz kad skon. Pre, pre s tmto netvorom!
Akoby aj mramor stenal pod pekelnou potvorou.
Mj duch nezbav sa tiea vrhanho netvorom.
Straideln, neznmy je. Odkia priiel? A kde ije?
Asi v diakach Plutnie, zeme iernych obzorov.
Preloil Jozef Urban (1982)
Povedz svoje cten meno, posol iernych obzorov!
Havran vrav: Neskoro.

Nezmysel, no hos je tak nestvoren pre zzraky.

Iba sed ako herold najstranejch nzorov:
e my, udia, neijeme, e ns ak nru zeme...
Iba drieme, iba drieme nad zapretou zvorou.
Ako me mlky driema nad zapretou zvorou
s takm menom: Neskoro.

ak, aie nad olovo je to dmonick slovo.

Vanie dychom chladnch vetrov, zeme mtvych priestorov.
Nemm sl a nemm cieov, zostal som sm, bez priateov.
Odpudil som spasiteov svojou udnou letorou.
Neskoro je zvdza boje s vlastnou udnou letorou?
Havran vrav: Neskoro.
Edgar Allan Poe
Havran
Jednou o plnoci, maje horeku a rozjmaje
nad divnmi svazky vdy prastar a zslun -
kdy jsem klmal v polospan, ozvalo se znenadn
velmi jemn zaukn na dve - a pak u ne.
"Je to nvtva, i zdn, bylo to tak nezvun -
jednou je a pak u ne."
Ach, ji pi vzpomnce blednu! Myslm, e to bylo v lednu,
kad uhlk vrhal stn jen pede mne a dl u ne.
Touil jsem po kuropn; - marn hledaje v svm ten
ulehen od hoe nad Lenorou - ji poslun
svtice zvou Lenora - nad jmnem dvky nadvzdun,
je byla mou a te u ne.
Smutn elest zclon vlaje z hedvb a ohb je
s hrzou - ji jsem do t doby neznal ani piblin;
abych skryl sv polekn, kal jsem si bez ustn:
"Je to host, jen z nenadn zaklepal tak neslyn -
pozdn host, jen z nenadn zaklepal tak neslyn -
jednou jen a pak ji ne."
Tu m due vzmuila se; ek jsem bez rozpak v hlase;
"Prosm, pane, nebo pan, odpuste mi velmon;
avak byl jsem v polospan, kdy jste piel znenadn,
peslechl jsem zaklepn - je to skoro nemon,
e jste klepal vy" - a pot otevel jsem slun -
venku tma a vc u ne.
Hled dlouho do tmy z prahu, stoje v pochybch a v strachu,
dlouho snil jsem, jak si nikdo netroufal snt mimo mne;
ale ticho bez ruen, ani slvka na znamen,
jenom plach osloven "Lenoro!" zn zimnin,
to j eptm "Lenoro!" - a ozvna zn zimnin
jenom to a vc u ne.
Vrtil jsem se do pokoje, velmi div se a boje,
kdy jsem zaslech trochu silnj nov ramot pobl mne.
"Jist cos za chumelice padlo mi na okenice;
podvm se ze svtnice, co jsi za, kdo bud mne -
ztlumm na okamik srdce, najdu t, kdo bud mne;" -
vtr a nic jinho u ne.
Vyrazil jsem okenici, kdy tu s velkou motanic
vstoupil starodvn havran z dob, je jsou tak zslun;
bez poklony, bez vhn, vzneen jak pn i pan
usadil se znenadn v pze velmi vhrun
na poprs Pallady - a v pze velmi vhrun
si sedl jen a vc u ne.
Ptk v svm ebenovm zjevu ponoukal mne do smvu
vnm, psnm chovnm, je bylo velmi vybran -
"A ti lys chochol v chzi, jist nejsi havran hrzy,
jen se z podsvtnho era v bludn pouti namane -
ekni mi sv prav jmno, plutonovsk havrane!" -
Havran dl: "U vckrt ne."
as jsem nad nevzhledem ptka, jen tak bez okolk krk
bezobsanou odpov, je prozrazuje bezradn;
velmi dobe vm, e nen skoro ani k uven
ptk i zve, je si len v pze velmi zhadn
na poprs nade dvemi - v pze velmi zhadn
a k si: "U vckrt ne."
Potom, sed na mramoru, ustal havran v rozhovoru
jako due v jedno slovo samotsky zabran -
a jsem si ek v duchu, take nedolo mu to a k sluchu:
"Vm pevn na pedtuchu, osud asto okrad mne -
jak m nadje, i on se k rnu odtud vykradne."
Vak havran d: "U vckrt ne."
Zaraen an na mne hled s pilhavou odpovd,
km si: "To bezpochybypochyt velmi obratn
od pna, jej osud vedl netstm a navdy svedl,
take nic u nedovedlzpvat ne ty bezradn -
pohebn a smutn psn, refrny, tak bezradn,
jako je: U vckrt ne!"
Kdy vak havran bez ustn ponoukal mne k usmvn,
pistril jsem keslo mysle, e mne nco napadne,
kdy se vhroum do sametu ve vzpomnkch na tu vtu,
pemleje, co as je tu, nad m ek sv bezradn,
nad m pern ten ptk zde k svoje bezradn
"u vckrt ne".
Tak jsem sedl nad dohady, mlky, marn, bez nlady
pod ptkem, jen v hloubi prsou nepestval bodat mne,
kles jsem s zamylenou tv do poduky na polti,
na ni pad lampa, v zi matn, mdl a maltn,
ale do n nevbo sv ruce, mdl a maltn,
ona vckrt, vckrt ne.
Zdlo se, e u stnidla houstne svtlo od kadidla,
e bezpochyby andl v zvoncch z nebe propadne.
"Chudku, tvj Bh ti v zpvu posl sem pro levu
balzm na tvou starou nhu, po nm navdy vychladne,
po nm lska k Lenoe v tv mysli navdy zapadne" -
vak havran dl: "U vckrt ne."
"Proroku," dm,"mene tekel, a jsi ptk anebo z pekel,
synu podsvt, a pece proroku, poj hdat mn -
staten, by oputn iji zaklet v tto zemi,
dm mm hrzou obklen, zda tv vtba uhdne,
zdali najdu balzm v smrti, zda tv vtba uhdne" -
havran d: "U vckrt ne."
"Proroku," dm,"mene tekel, a jsi ptk anebo z pekel,
pi nebi, je nad nmi je, pi Bohu, jen lek mne,
rci t dui, je al taj, zdali aspo jednou v rji
tu, ji svat nazvaj Lenora, kdy pivine,
jasnou dvku Lenoru kdy v nru sv pivine" -
havran d: "U vckrt ne."
"Tos ek jist na znamen, e se chyst k rozlouen,
thni zptky do boue a do podvt, satane! -
nenech mi tu, star lhi, ani prka na polti,
neru pokoj mho st, opus sochu, havrane!
Vyndej zobk z mho srdce, opus sochu, havrane!"
Havran d: "U vckrt ne."
Pak se klidn ulebed, stle sed, stle sed
jako bel na blostnch adrech Pallas Athn;
oi v snn pimhoueny na pozad bl stny,
lampa vrh beze zmny jeho stn, jm uhrane -
a m due z toho stnu, jm mne navdy uhrane,
nevzchop se - vckrt ne.
Preloil Vtzslav Nezval