Near the Area, Where Reigns Venice of Gold

Near the area, where reigns Venice of gold, One nightly gondolier, directing forth his boat, To light of Vesper-star, sails o’er the quiet sea, And there Erminia, Renaldo, Gottfried sings. He loves his own song, and sings it for his frolic Without far-looking plans; he knows neither glory Nor any fear nor hope; with quiet Muse of his He can sweeten his cruise over the waters’ deeps. So on the sea of life, where tempests so severe Chase, in obscurity, my sail, alone here, - Like him, without response, I sing my own song, And love to contemplate my secret verse for long. Translated by Yevgeny Bonver