Arany János - Győrei Zsolt (szerk.): The trill of the nightingale (Budapest, 2019)

II - „dead bark burning in a hole” - Looking Back (Thomas Cooper)

And I had dreams, yes, dreams I had... The cherished dreams of youthful days, Long frayed, long faded, scattered now, Like mists that winds have chased away. The hopes I had but vanity,

The aspirations come to naught,

The palaces but puffs of smoke,

Mirage the very world I sought.

I didn’t have the strength to die When die I might have, now too weak To bear another inch the life Which fate has made my burden bleak. Will someone lift it from my back?

But wait, not yet, not yet, not quite!

The weight, it crushes, but ahead I see a feeble flare of light.

A moonlight glimmer, lustrous light, Love’s tender shimmer, warm if pale, Yes love, a lantern in the night,

The only solace in this vale.

Escort me, stay here at my side.

It’s not much further now, the grave, and veil in cheerful night the man who soon will dream in its embrace.