Tyutchev: Silentium (From Russian)

Silentium

By Fyodor Tyutchev

Translated by A.Z. Foreman

Say not a thing. Be hidden. Keep

your every thought and feeling deep
within your soul. There let them rise
and set like stars across the skies

of night where sound can never ring.
Delight in them. Say not a thing.

How can a heart say what is true?
How can another fathom you
Or know what quickens you or why?
Uttered ideas are a lie.
Delving defiles a flowing spring.
Drink well of it. Say not a thing.

Learn to live in yourself. A whole
world is engendered in your soul
where veiled and magic thoughts abound.

They will be dumbed by outer sound,

dispersed by beams the day will bring.

Attend their song. Say not a thing.

The Original:

Silentium

Ѳедоръ Тютчевъ

Молчи, скрывайся и таи

И чувства и мечты свои –

Пускай въ душевной глубинѣ

Встаютъ и заходятъ онѣ

Безмолвно, какъ звѣзды въ ночи, –

Любуйся ими – и молчи.

Какъ сердцу высказать себя?

Другому какъ понять тебя?

Пойметъ ли онъ, чѣмъ ты живешь?

Мысль изреченная есть ложь.

Взрывая, возмутишь ключи, –

Питайся ими – и молчи.

Лишь жить въ себѣ самомъ умѣй –

Есть цѣлый міръ въ душѣ твоей

Таинственно-волшебныхъ думъ;

Ихъ оглушитъ наружный шумъ,

Дневные разгонятъ лучи, –

Внимай ихъ пѣнью – и молчи!..