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

V - „'Tis enough if it shines for me” - Corn Husking (Thomas Cooper)

In time, Frank Tubbs comes home. He hears Pale Ester’s footfalls on the meres.

Goes to the graveyard, rain or shine,

And kneels beside her little mound:- The owl is piping baneful tones - “They rest here in unhallowed ground.”

Frank finds no rest, no peace at night,

He stumbles by the moon’s pale light.

He hears a chorus far above,

And Ester sings the melody,- Don’t fall asleep, she’ll haunt your dreams! She pleads, “my lover, come to me!”

Frank climbs the sheaves, up ever higher,

Then sets off for the chapel spire.

He almost makes it to the top,

But falters, as if filled with fright.- The bell has tolled the witching hour, Enough of stories for tonight.

The fire dies down, the lads don coats,

The lasses, trembling, huddle close.

A pall flaps somewhere in the wind,

And music faint falls from the skies,

The distant sound of pipes that play A plaintive tune that fades and dies.