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

Tender Farewell (Thomas Cooper)

But why reproach you! You were true, And simple, like the breast who wore Your tatters, unassuming, plain,

And never wanting to seem more.

Adornment, pomp you never craved!

A tassel for embellishment

more than sufficed, but now it’s frayed,

and you’ve outlived your ornament.

Your threads unravel, like your days, You’re not long for this world, that’s plain. You’ll lie discarded, but no loss,

The world but held you in disdain.

And strangers come and strangers go,

But no one will disturb your rest.

No beggar deign to don the rags With which I warmed my ragged chest.

I give you leave, your service done,

Good veteran! And who knows when,

If fate should choose to stretch my days, Our dust may someday mix again?

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