Volum publicat cu sprijinul acordat deBRD Groupe Socit Gnrale

Foto autor Angus McBean Photograph (MS Thr 581) Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard University

Traduceri de erban Foar, Mircea Ivnescu, Sorin Mrculescui erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi

Prefa de tefan StoenescuCronologie de Ioana Zirra

Note de Mircea Ivnescu, Sorin Mrculescui tefan Stoenescu

T. S. ELIOTCOLLECTED POEMS 19091962Copyright This edition by T. S. Eliot 1963 First published in this edition 1974 by Faber and Faber Limited

HU MA NI TAS FICTION, 2011, pen tru pre zen ta ver siu ne ro m neasc

EDITURA HUMANITAS FICTION Piaa Presei Libere 1, 013701 Bucureti, Romnia tel. 021/408 83 50, fax 021/408 83 51www.humanitas.ro

Comenzi online: www.libhumanitas.roComenzi prin e-mail: vanzari@libhumanitas.roComenzi telefonice: 021 311 23 30 / 0372 189 509

ISBN 978-973-689-443-5Descrierea CIP este disponibilla Biblioteca Naional a Romniei

Volum coordonat deDENISA COMNESCU

Coperta ANGELA ROTARU

Redactor DENISA COMNESCU

PRUFROCK

and Other Observations

1917

For Jean Verdenal, 1889-1915mort aux Dardanelles

Or puoi la quantitatecomprender dell amor ch a te mi scalda,

quando dismento nostra vanitate,trattando l ombre come cosa salda.

PRUFROCK

i alte observaii

1917

Lui Jean Verdenal, 1889-1915mort aux Dardanelles

Or puoi la quantitatecomprender dell amor ch a te mi scalda,

quando dismento nostra vanitate,trattando l ombre come cosa salda.1

THE LOVE SONG OF J. ALFRED PRUFROCK

S io credessi che mia risposta fossea persona che mai tornasse al mondo,questa fiamma staria senza pi scosse.Ma per ci che giammai di questo fondonon torn vivo alcun, s i odo il vero,senza tema d infamia ti rispondo.

Let us go then, you and I,When the evening is spread out against the skyLike a patient etherised upon a table;Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,The muttering retreatsOf restless nights in one-night cheap hotelsAnd sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:Streets that follow like a tedious argumentOf insidious intentTo lead you to an overwhelming questionOh, do not ask, What is it?Let us go and make our visit.

In the room the women come and goTalking of Michelangelo.

The yellow fog that rubs its back upon the window-panes,The yellow smoke that rubs its muzzle on the window-panes,Licked its tongue into the corners of the evening,

46

CNTECUL DE DRAGOSTE AL LUI J. ALFRED PRUFROCK

S io credessi che mia risposta fossea persona che mai tornasse al mondo,questa fiamma staria senza pi scosse.Ma per ci che giammai di questo fondonon torn vivo alcun, s i odo il vero,senza tema d infamia ti rispondo.2

S mergem deci, tu i cu mine,Cnd seara s-a ntins pe cer n fineAsemenea unui bolnav cloroformizat pe mas;S mergem, prin anume strzi pe jumtate moartei prin alei bolborositoareDe nopile fr somn n hoteluri ieftine de-o noaptei birturi cu rumegu i cu goci de stridii:Strzi care se urmeaz una-ntr-alta ca o ceart rea, scitoarei cu subnelesuri ce sunt nite insidiiCare te-mping spre o aceeai mare ntrebareO, s nu-ntrebi i ce mai e i asta?,S mergem s ne facem vizita.

Prin camer femeile se nvrtesc de colo pn coloPlvrgind despre Michelangelo.3

Ceaa glbuie care-i freac spinarea de ferestre,Fumul glbui care i freac nasul de ferestre,S-a lins pe bot prin ungherele nserrii,

47

Lingered upon the pools that stand in drains,Let fall upon its back the soot that falls from chimneys,Slipped by the terrace, made a sudden leap,And seeing that it was a soft October night,Curled once about the house, and fell asleep.

And indeed there will be timeFor the yellow smoke that slides along the streetRubbing its back upon the window-panes;There will be time, there will be timeTo prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;There will be time to murder and create,And time for all the works and days of handsThat lift and drop a question on your plate;Time for you and time for me,And time yet for a hundred indecisions,And for a hundred visions and revisions,Before the taking of a toast and tea.

In the room the women come and goTalking of Michelangelo.

And indeed there will be timeTo wonder, Do I dare? and, Do I dare?Time to turn back and descend the stair,With a bald spot in the middle of my hair (They will say: How his hair is growing thin!)My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin,My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin (They will say: But how his arms and legs are thin!)Do I dareDisturb the universe?In a minute there is timeFor decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.

48

A mai ntrziat prin blile care s-au strns n rigolele murdare,Lsnd s-i ning lent funinginea din couri pe spinare,i s-a prelins pe sub balcoane, apoi deodat a zvcnit,i apoi, vznd c-i doar o sear blnd de octombrie,S-a ncolcit n jurul casei i a adormit.

i ntr-adevr, are s mai fie vremei pentru fumul glbui erpuind de-a lungul strzilor umeziFrecndu-i iar spinarea de fereti;Mai este vreme, are s mai fie vremeS-i compui faa s faci fa feelor pe care le ntlneti;Mai este vreme s ucizi i s creezi,Vreme pentru lucrrile i zilele acestor miniCare-i ridic i-i arunc n farfurie vreo ntrebare;E vreme pentru tine i vreme pentru mine,i vreme pentru-o sut de indecizii,i vreme pentru o sut de viziuni i revizii,4

Pn s ne lum ceaiul cu pinea prjit bine.

Prin camer femeile se nvrtesc de colo pn coloPlvrgind despre Michelangelo.

i ntr-adevr are s mai fie vremeS m ntreb Am s-ndrznesc? i Am s am curaj?,i vreme s m ntorc i s cobor pe scar,Cu un loc chel n cretet, mai ascuns de franj (i se va spune: Uite cum ncepe s cheleasc!)Jiletca mea, gulerul urcndu-mi sus pe gt, dup moda brbteasc,Cravata nfoiat i modest, pus-n valoare de un ac simplu, mare (i se va spune: Uite, ce brae i picioare, ca nite scobitoare!)Am s-ndrznescS tulbur un ntreg univers?i-ntr-un minut e vreme ntreagPentru decizii i revizii pe care-o alt clip le reneag.

49

For I have known them all already, known them all Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;I know the voices dying with a dying fallBeneath the music from a farther room.

So how should I presume?

And I have known the eyes already, known them all The eyes that fix you in a formulated phrase,And when I am formulated, sprawling on a pin,When I am pinned and wriggling on the wall,Then how should I beginTo spit out all the butt-ends of my days and ways?

And how should I presume?

And I have known the arms already, known them all Arms that are braceleted and white and bare(But in the lamplight, downed with light brown hair!)Is it perfume from a dressThat makes me so digress?Arms that lie along a table, or wrap about a shawl.

And should I then presume?And how should I begin?

. . . . .

Shall I say, I have gone at dusk through narrow streetsAnd watched the smoke that rises from the pipesOf lonely men in shirt-sleeves, leaning out of windows?

I should have been a pair of ragged clawsScuttling across the floors of silent seas.

. . . . .

And the afternoon, the evening, sleeps so peacefully!Smoothed by long fingers,Asleep tired or it malingers,

50

Cci eu le-am cunoscut toate acestea, le-am trit pe toate tiu serile, i dimineile, i dup-amiezile incerte,Mi-am drmuit viaa cu linguria de cafea;Le tiu, glasurile care se sting i mor inerte5

Prin muzica abia rzbtnd din odi deprtate.i ce pretenie a mai putea avea?

i-am ntlnit i ochii, i tiu de fiecare dat Ochii fixndu-se ntr-o fraz bine formulat,i cnd i eu sunt pus n formul, prins cu un ac,Cnd sunt nfipt cu acul i m zbat pe perete,Acum cum a mai putea ncepeS-mi scuip mucurile moarte ale zilelor stinse?

i ce pretenie a mai putea avea?

i-am cunoscut i mbririle, le tiu Braele prinse n brri, albe i dezgolite(ns n btaia lmpii suflate cu puf castaniu!)i s mai fie din rochii ridicndu-se cte un parfumCare m face iar s divaghez acum?Braele lsate pe-o tblie, sau n al nfofolite.

i ce pretenie a mai putea avea?i cum ar trebui s ncep?

. . . . .

S spun, m-am plimbat n amurg pe strzi ngustei-am urmrit fumul urcndu-se din pipele unor brbaiDoar n cma, oprii la ferestre, nsingurai?

Eu ar fi trebuit s fiu o pereche de cngi hirsuteGrbindu-m pe fundul mrilor tcute.6

. . . . .

i dup-amiaza, seara, doarme att de linitit!Alene mngiat de o mn obosit,i adormit languroas sau se d mbolnvit,

51

Stretched on the floor, here beside you and me.Should I, after tea and cakes and ices,Have the strength to force the moment to its crisis?But though I have wept and fasted, wept and prayed,Though I have seen my head (grown slightly bald) brought

in upon a platter,I am no prophet and heres no great matter;I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker,And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker,And in short, I was afraid.

And would it have been worth it, after all,After the cups, the marmalade, the tea,Among the porcelain, among some talk of you and me,Would it have been worth while,To have bitten off the matter with a smile,To have squeezed the universe into a ballTo roll it towards some overwhelming question,To say: I am Lazarus, come from the dead,Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all If one, settling a pillow by her head,

Should say: That is not what I meant at all.That is not it, at all.

And would it have been worth it, after all,Would it have been worth while,After the sunsets and the dooryards and the sprinkled streets,After the novels, after the teacups, after the skirts that trail along the floor And this, and so much more? It is impossible to say just what I mean!But as if a magic lantern threw the nerves in patterns on a screen:Would it have been worth whileIf one, settling a pillow or throwing off a shawl,

52

Sau rsturnat pe podea, aici alturea de tine i de mine.i-ar trebui, cnd mi-am but ceaiul cu prjiturele fine,S am puterea s mping lucrurile pn la ncheierea lor fireasc?Dar chiar dac am plns i am inut postul, am plns i m-am rugat,Chiar dac mi-am vzut capul (care ncepe s cheleasc) adus

pe-un taler i purtat7,Eu nu sunt un profet i nici nu e vreun lucru mai de seam;Eu mi-am vzut clipa de mreie plpind,Valetul etern m-a ateptat cu pardesiu-n mn s-l mbrac, pufnind,i-ntr-un cuvnt, i mie mi s-a fcut team.

i dac s-ar mai spune c-a fcut osteneala,Dup ce s-a servit ceaiul, n ceti de porelan,i dup vreo conversaie, despre mine, despre tine, puin mai personal,S-ar mai spune c-a fcut osteneala,S-nchizi totul ntr-un surs deodat,S strngi tot universul ntr-un gogolo, n mn,8

i s-l rostogoleti spre aceeai ntrebare colosal,S spui: Sunt Lazr, iat, vin dintre mori,i m-am ntors s v spun totul, tot am s v spun Dac, potrivindu-i o pern la-ndemn,

I-ai spune ei: Dar nu asta am vrut s spun.Nu era deloc asta.

i-ar fi fcut, adic, osteneala, s te asculte,Ar nsemna atunci c-a fcut osteneala,Dup amurgurile prin portaluri, i pe strzile stropite,Dup romanele, i cetile de ceai, i rochiile care atrn pe podea i dup astea, i nc altele, mai multe? i nu mai poi s spui exact ce-ai vrut s spui!Dar ca o lantern magic iscnd reeaua nervilor pe un perete:Ar mai fi nsemnat c-a fcut ostenealaDac atunci cnd aezi o pern sau dai la o parte un al,

53

54

And turning toward the window, should say:That is not it at all,That is not what I meant at all.

. . . . .

No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be;Am an attendant lord, one that will doTo swell a progress, start a scene or two,Advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,Deferential, glad to be of use,Politic, cautious, and meticulous;Full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;At times, indeed, almost ridiculous Almost, at times, the Fool.

I grow old I grow oldI shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.

I have seen them riding seaward on the wavesCombing the white hair of the waves blown backWhen the wind blows the water white and black.

We have lingered in the chambers of the seaBy sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brownTill human voices wake us, and we drown.

55

i, ntorcndu-te ctre fereastr, deodat spui:Dar nu-i asta deloc, nu aa,Nu asta am vrut s spun.

. . . . .

Nu! eu nu sunt Prinul Hamlet, nici n-am vrut s fiu;Sunt doar un gentilom din suit, pot s fiuBun s-i sporesc suita, sau la nceputul vreunei scene,S-i dau sfaturi prinului; unealt bun, nendoios,Un om atent, i gata s se dovedeasc de folos,Cu sim politic, precaut i meticulos;i mnuind vorbe alese, doar puin cam opac;Parc alunecnd ctre ridicul chiar, din vreme n vreme Cam cum ar fi Nebunul.9

mbtrnesc mbtrnescAm s port pantalonul suflecat, tineresc.

S-mi fac crare la spate? S ndrznesc s mnnc piersici crude?Am s port pantaloni sport, s m plimb pe plaj, printre pietre ude.i-am ascultat sirenele cntndu-i, una alteia.

Mie nu cred c-mi vor cnta.

i le-am vzut purtate nspre larg de valurii netezind prul crunt al valurilor spulberateCnd vntu-mpinge valurile albe i ntunecate.

i-am adstat n iatacurile mrii adnciLng sirenele cu cretetul de ierburile mrii ncununatPn cnd glasurile omeneti ne-au trezit i atunci ne-am necat.10

Traducere de Mircea Ivnescu

Contents

PRUFROCK AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS 1917 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Portrait of a Lady. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Preludes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Rhapsody on a Windy Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72Morning at the Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78The Boston Evening Transcript . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80Aunt Helen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82Cousin Nancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84Mr. Apollinax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86Hysteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88Conversation Galante . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90La Figlia Che Piange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

POEMS 1920 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Gerontion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96Burbank with a Baedeker: Bleistein with a Cigar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102Sweeney Erect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106A Cooking Egg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Le Directeur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114Mlange Adultre de Toute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116Lune de Miel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118The Hippopotamus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120Dans le Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124Whispers of Immortality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128Mr. Eliots Sunday Morning Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132Sweeney Among the Nightingales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

THE WASTE LAND 1922 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

I. The Burial of the Dead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142II. A Game of Chess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

422

Cuprins

Prefa de tefan Stoenescu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Cronologie de Ioana Zirra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Not asupra ediiei de Denisa Comnescu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

PRUFROCK I ALTE OBSERVAII 1917. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Cntecul de dragoste al lui J. Alfred Prufrock (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Portretul unei doamne (trad. Mircea Ivnescu). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Preludii (trad. Mircea Ivnescu). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Rapsodie ntr-o noapte cu vnt (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73Devreme, la fereastr (trad. erban Foar) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79Bostonianul de sear (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . . . . . . 81Mtua Helen (trad. erban Foar). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83Verioara Nancy (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85Domnul Apollinax (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Isterie (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89Conversation Galante (trad. Mircea Ivnescu). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91La Figlia Che Piange (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

POEME 1920 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Gerontion (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Burbank cu un Baedeker... (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . . . 103Sweeney Erect (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107Un ou sttut (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111Le Directeur (trad. erban Foar) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115Mlange adultre de tout (trad. erban Foar). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117Lune de Miel (trad. erban Foar) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119Hipopotamul (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121n restaurant (trad. erban Foar). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125oapte despre nemurire (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129Slujba de duminic a dlui Eliot (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . 133Sweeney printre privighetori (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

TRMUL PUSTIIT 1922 (trad. Mircea Ivnescu). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

I. ngroparea morilor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143II. O partid de ah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

423

III. The Fire Sermon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156IV. Death by Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166V. What the Thunder said . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

THE HOLLOW MEN 1925 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

ASH-WEDNESDAY 1930 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206I. Because I do not hope to turn again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

II. Lady, three white leopards sat under a juniper-tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212III. At the first turning of the second stair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216IV. Who walked between the violet and the violet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218

V. If the lost word is lost, if the spent word is spent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222VI. Although I do not hope to turn again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226

ARIEL POEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230Journey of the Magi 1927. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232A Song for Simeon 1928. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236Animula 1929 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240Marina 1930 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244The Cultivation of Christmas Trees 1954 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248

UNFINISHED POEMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252Coriolan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252I. Triumphal March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254

II. Difficulties of a Statesman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258

MINOR POEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262Eyes that last I saw in tears. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264The wind sprang up at four oclock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266

Five-Finger Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268I. Lines to a Persian Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270

II. Lines to a Yorkshire Terrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272

424

III. Predica focului . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157IV. Moartea pe ape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167V. Ce spune tunetul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Note (T.S. Eliot i Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

OAMENI GUNOI / CEI GOI PE DINUNTRU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189Oameni gunoi 1925 (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191Cei goi pe dinuntru 1925 (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi). . . . . . 199

MIERCUREA CENUII 1930 (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi). . . . . . 207I. Pentru c nu mai am sperana de-a m-ntoarce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

II. Marie, Maic-a Domnului i Doamn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213III. La primul cap de scar de la catul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217IV. i cine trece printre violete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219V. Dac i cuvntul pierdut este pierdut. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

VI. Cu toate c nu sper a mai m-ntoarce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227

POEMELE ARIEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231Drumul magilor 1927 (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233Cnt pentru Simeon 1928 (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . 237Animula 1929 (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241Marina 1930 (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245Pomul de Crciun 1954 (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . . . . 249

POEME NETERMINATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253Coriolan (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253I. Marcia trionfale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255

II. Necazurile unui om de stat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259

POEME MINORE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263Ochii pe care i-am vzut nlcrmai ultima oar (trad. Mircea Ivnescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . 265Vntul porni la ora patru (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . . . . 267

Exerciii pentru cinci degete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269I. Versuri pentru un m persian (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi). . . . . 271II. Versuri pentru un terrier (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . 273

425

III. Lines to a Duck in the Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274IV. Lines to Ralph Hodgson Esqre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276

V. Lines for Cuscuscaraway and Mirza Murad Ali Beg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278

Landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280I. New Hampshire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282

II. Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284III. Usk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286IV. Rannock, by Glencoe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288V. Cape Ann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290

Lines for an Old Man . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292

CHORUSES FROM THE ROCK 1934 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294I. The Eagle soars in the summit of Heaven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296

II. Thus your fathers were made . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306III. The Word of the LORD came unto me, saying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312IV. There are those who would build the Temple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318V. O Lord, deliver me from the man of excellent intention and impure heart . . . . . . 320

VI. It is hard for those who have never known persecution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322VII. In the beginning GOD created the world . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326

VIII. O Father we welcome your words . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332IX. Son of Man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336X. You have seen the house built, you have seen it adorned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340

FOUR QUARTETS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344Burnt Norton 1935. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346East Coker 1940. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360The Dry Salvages 1941 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376Little Gidding 1942 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394

III. Versuri pentru o ruc din parc (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi). . . . 275IV. Versuri pentru Ralph Hodgson Esqre. (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi). . . 277

V. Versuri pentru Cuscuscaraway i Mirza Murad Ali Beg (trad. erban Foar) . . . 279

Priveliti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281I. New Hampshire (trad. erban Foar) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283

II. Virginia (trad. erban Foar) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285III. Usk (trad. erban Foar) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287IV. Rannoch, lng Glencoe (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . 289

V. Cape Ann (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291Versuri pentru un btrn (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . . . . . 293

CORURILE DIN STNCA 1934 (trad. erban Foar & Adriana-Carmen Racovi) . . . . 295I. Hlduie Pajura n slava Cerului . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297

II. ntr-astfel au ajuns strmoii ti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307III. Cuvntul DOMNULUI a pogort asupr-mi, grind astfel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313IV. Sunt unii ce vor ca Templul s fie nlat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319V. O, Doamne, izbvete-m de omul de bine, dar cu inima spurcat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321

VI. E anevoie pentru cine ignor persecuia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323VII. Dumnezeu, la nceput, a fcut lumea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327

VIII. O, Doamne,-n inim cuvintele-i primim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333IX. Fiu al Omului, deschide-i bine ochii, urechile deschide-i-le bine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337X. Vzut-ai casa ridicat, vzut-o-ai mpodobit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341

PATRU CVARTETE (trad. Sorin Mrculescu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345Burnt Norton 1935 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347East Coker 1940 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361The Dry Salvages 1941. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377Little Gidding 1942 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395

Note (tefan Stoenescu; Sorin Mrculescu). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413