European Elegies/Summer/Broken pines
88.BROKEN PINES
The wind has rent the soaring pines
That towered by the ocean-side,
Reaching strong arms towards far sea-lines,
Cleft but unconquered in their pride.
That towered by the ocean-side,
Reaching strong arms towards far sea-lines,
Cleft but unconquered in their pride.
"Thou breakest us, unpitying foe!
Yet hast not had the victory:
Horizon-yearning still, we throw
Hissed hate from every branch to thee!"
Yet hast not had the victory:
Horizon-yearning still, we throw
Hissed hate from every branch to thee!"
The shattered pines lie spent no more;
Wrought into ships they sail the sea;
Proud -breasted o'er the waves they soar,
Scorning the wind's dark perfidy:
Wrought into ships they sail the sea;
Proud -breasted o'er the waves they soar,
Scorning the wind's dark perfidy:
"Fling howling billows, hateful foe!—
The terrors of thy tumult cease:
Thy strength could break us, yet we know
Through death a far, still dawn of peace."
The terrors of thy tumult cease:
Thy strength could break us, yet we know
Through death a far, still dawn of peace."
From the Lettish of Janis Rainis.