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

V - „'Tis enough if it shines for me” - The Ceremonial Opening of the Bridge (Thomas Cooper)

The air fills with applause. “And now Your turn, you millionaire, do tell!

“My debtors made off with my wealth,

So best I take pohte farewell.”

A splash, a quickly silenced yell.

Then uninvited others come,

A third, a fourth to plead their claim.

“I missed the lottery by one!”

“For decades I enjoyed acclaim,

Then in one stroke besmirched my name!”

The waters swirl in whirlpools dark,

Shapes rise and sink, wave after wave.

A boy: “I’ve learned one lesson well,

My purse soon empty, no one gave,

So let me find my watery grave.”

A man respectful, old and gray

Plods slowly, mumbling a prayer:

“I bore this life as best I could,

But never had a cent to spare,

Wild waters, free me of my cares!”

A gentlelady lifts her head,

Half-painted face and gaze blasé.

“A tiresome bore, this thing called life,

Get dressed and undressed, twice a day!” She sighs and leaps into the waves.

With clatter and commotion comes

A strong man, proud and roughly hewn.

“I fought with armies fierce that crushed Napoleon at Waterloo!”

The others laugh, “the vain buffoon!”

A grimy boy comes in his wake

And snickers with a puckish glee.

“My master wanted a new lash

He won’t get any help from me!”

And with a grin he also leaps.