| À L'ETNA | TO ETNA | ||||
| Tristan Corbière | trans. Peter Dale | ||||
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Sicelides Musa, paulo majora canamus. VIRGILE. Etna - j'ai monte le Vésuve ... Le Vésuve a beaucoup baissé: J'etais plus chaud que son eflluve, Plus que sa crête hérissé ... - Toi que l'on compare à la femme ... - Pourquoi? - Pour ton âge? ou ton âme De caillou cuit? ... - Ça fait rêver ... - Et tu t'en fais rire à crever! - - Tu ris jaune et tousses: sans doute, Crachant un vieil amour malsain; La lave coule sous la croûte De ton vieux cancer au sein. - Couchons ensemble, Camarade! Là - mon flanc sur ton flanc malade: Nous sommes frères, par Vénus, Volcan! ...
Palerme - Août. |
Sicelides Musae, paulo majora canamus. VERGIL. Etna - I've climbed Vesuvius' height ... Vesuvius was a bit of a let-down: Hotter than its effluvium, a sight Me, bristlier than its crater-crown ... - You they compare to womankind ... - Why? - For your age? or soul calcined Of baked flint? ... - Makes you wonder a bit ... - You're a butt for laughter fit to split! - - You force a wry laugh, cough: you must Be retching a sick old flame off the chest; The lava flows beneath the crust Of your old cancer of the breast. - Partner, let's sleep together! There - My side to your sickly side, a pair: By Venus, we are brothers. Yes, Vulcanists! ...
Palermo -August. |
Trans. Copyright © Peter Dale 2005 - publ. Anvil Press
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