Arany János - Győrei Zsolt (szerk.): The trill of the nightingale (Budapest, 2019)
III - „His voice, once fine and heady, still a grumble deep” - Mistress Agnes (William N. Loew, Ádám Makkai)
From the early dawn till evening, sitting here, she scrubs the sheet; water sways her trembling shadow, winds her grizzled tressed greet. Lord, Father of Mercy, protect us! When the streamlet in the moonlight shimmers, and her mallet gleams, by the streamlet’s bank she washes, slowly beating, a sin dreams. Lord, Father of Mercy, protect us! Thus from year’s end unto year’s end winter, summer, all year through, heat withers her dew-soft cheek, and frosts her feeble knees make blue. Lord, Father of Mercy, protect us! And her grizzled hair turns snowy, raven, ebon tis no more; while her fair, soft face of wrinkles —sorry sight—augments its store. Lord, Father of Mercy, protect us! Mistress Agnes in the stramlet keeps washing her ragged sheet; downward are the cover’s remnants carried by the current fleet. Lord, Father of Mercy, protect us! 46 47
