Charles Baudelaire

The Sunset of Romanticism

How beautiful the Sun is when newly risen He hurls his morning greetings like an explosion! - Fortunate the one who can lovingly salute His setting, more glorious than a dream! I remember!... I have seen all, flower, stream, furrow, Swoon under his gaze like a palpitating heart... - Let us run to the horizon, it's late, Let us run fast, to catch at least a slanting ray! But I pursue in vain the sinking god; Irresistible Night, black, damp, deadly, Full of shudders, establishes his reign; The odor of the tomb swims in the shadows And at the marsh's edge my timid foot Treads upon slimy snails and unexpected toads. Translated by - William Aggeler The Romantic Sunset How beautiful is the sun when it rises, fresh Like an explosion sending us its greeting! - Grateful is the one who can salute with love Its setting, more glorious than a dream! I remember!... I have seen all, flower, spring, furrow, Faint under its watch like a palpitating heart. - Let us run toward the horizon, it is late, let us run fast, So we can at least catch an oblique ray! But in vain I pursued a retreating God The irresistible night cast its empire, Dark, humid, morbid and full of shudders; An odor of a tomb lurks, tenebrous, And my anguished, frightened, and cold foot, At a marsh's edge, treads unpredictable toads along the way. Translated by - Said Leghlid The Romantic Sunset How beauteous the sun as it rises supreme, Like an explosion that greets us from above, Oh, happy is he that can hail with love, Its decline, more glorious far, than a dream. I saw flower, furrow, and brook... I recall How they swooned like a tremulous heart 'neath the sun, Let us haste to the sky-line, 'tis late, let us run, At least to catch one slanting ray ere it fall. But the god, who eludes me, I chase all in vain, The night, irresistible, plants its domain, Black mists and vague shivers of death it forbodes; While an odour of graves through the darkness spreads, And on the swamp's margin, my timid foot treads Upon slimy snails, and on unseen toads. Translated by - Cyril Scott Sundown of Romanticism How beautiful the sun when his new-risen beams Hurl forth his morning greetings as huge guns might shoot, - Thrice-happy he whose loving heart can still salute His setting glow which is more beautiful than dreams. I remember. I have seen all - flower, stream, furrow — sway Under his gaze like swooning hearts that palpitate. Let us run to the sky-rim, it is all too late, Lot us run fast to catch at least one slanting ray! But I pursue this sinking deity in vain, Night irresistibly resumes her baleful reign, Black, humid, full of shudderings as sharp as flails. The stench of tombs swims over shadows thick as soot, And at the marsh's edge my apprehensive foot Treads upon slimy toads and unexpected snails. Translated by - Jacques LeClercq Romantic Sunset How lovely is the sun, when, freshly soaring, Like an explosion, first he bids "Good-Day." Happy the man, on gorgeous sunsets poring, Who can salute with love its parting ray. I've seen all things, flower, furrow, pond, and rill, Swoon in his gaze like a poor heart that dies. Run to the skyline. It is late. We still May catch one parting ray before it flies. But it's in vain I chase my God receding. Night irresistible, damp, black, unheeding Establishes her empire, full of fear. Amongst the shades a grave-like odour trails. My naked feet walk into chilly snails And bullfrogs unforeseen along the mere. Translated by - Roy Campbell

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