OPUS CONTRA NATURAM Major Gyöngyi

Az emberélet útjának felén egy nagy sötétlő erdőbe jutottam, mivel az igaz útat nem lelém. Ó, szörnyü elbeszélni mi van ottan, s milyen e sűrü, kúsza, vad vadon: már rágondolva reszketek legottan. A halál sem sokkal rosszabb, tudom. De hogy megértsd a Jót, mit ott találtam, hallanod kell, mit láttam az uton. Akkortájt olyan álmodozva jártam: Az emberélet útjának felén egy nagy sötétlő erdőbe jutottam, mivel az igaz útat nem lelém. Ó, szörnyü elbeszélni mi van ottan, s milyen e sűrü, kúsza, vad vadon: már rágondolva reszketek legottan. A halál sem sokkal rosszabb, tudom. De hogy megértsd a Jót, mit ott találtam, hallanod kell, mit láttam az uton. Akkortájt olyan álmodozva jártam: nem is tudom, hogyan kerültem arra, csak a jó útról valahogy leszálltam. nem is tudom, hogyan kerültem arra, csak a jó útról valahogy leszálltam. Halfway through the journey we are living Halfway through the journey we are living I found myself deep in a darkened forest, I found myself deep in a darkened forest, For I had lost all trace of the straight path. For I had lost all trace of the straight path. Ah how hard it is to tell what it was like, Ah how hard it is to tell what it was like, How wild the forest was, how dense and rugged! How wild the forest was, how dense and rugged! To think of it still fills my mind with panic. To think of it still fills my mind with panic. So bitter it is that death is hardly worse! So bitter it is that death is hardly worse! But to describe the good discovered there But to describe the good discovered there I here will tell the other things I saw. I here will tell the other things I saw. I cannot say clearly how I entered there, I cannot say clearly how I entered there, So drowsy with sleep had I grown at that hour So drowsy with sleep had I grown at that hour When first I wandered off from the true way. When first I wandered off from the true way.

"Ó, minden költők dicsősége, dísze, ki könyved oly buzgón szereti régen, legyen mostan kegyedben némi része. Mesterem, mintaképem vagy te nékem, te vagy csupán, kitől örökbe kaptam a zengzetes szót, mely ma büszkeségem. Látod előttem milyen szörnyü vad van, védj tőle híres bölcs, mert szembeszállni... vérem remeg a puszta gondolatban!" "O glory and light of all other poets, "O glory and light of all other poets, May the long study and the profound love May the long study and the profound love That made me search your work come to my aid! That made me search your work come to my aid! "You are my mentor and my chosen author: "You are my mentor and my chosen author: Alone you are the one from whom I have taken Alone you are the one from whom I have taken The beautiful style that has brought me honor. The beautiful style that has brought me honor. "Look at the beast that drove me to turn back! "Look at the beast that drove me to turn back! Rescue me from her, celebrated sage, Rescue me from her, celebrated sage, For she causes my veins and pulse to tremble." For she causes my veins and pulse to tremble."

"Tenéked másik úton kell ma járni," felelt midőn meglátta, hogy sirok, "ha nem akarsz e vad helyen megállni: mert ez a szörny, kitől könnyed csorog, útjába állna, bárki közelednék, úgy hogy halála lenne e birok. És oly gonosz, hogy sohse csöndesednék, rossz vágyának sohsem elég a kár s evés után csak annál éhesebb még…. Ez nem kiván földet, sem ércet enni, hanem erényt, bölcsességet, szerelmet "You are destined to take another route," He answered, seeing me reduced to tears, He answered, seeing me reduced to tears, "If you want to be clear of this wilderness, "If you want to be clear of this wilderness, "Because this beast that forces you to cry out "Because this beast that forces you to cry out Will not let anyone pass by her way Will not let anyone pass by her way But harries him until she finally kills him. But harries him until she finally kills him. "By nature she is so depraved and vicious "By nature she is so depraved and vicious That her greedy appetite is never filled: That her greedy appetite is never filled: The more she feeds, the hungrier she grows…. The more she feeds, the hungrier she grows…. He shall not feast on property or pelf He shall not feast on property or pelf But on wisdom, love, and manliness, But on wisdom, love, and manliness,

» Erénynek hölgye, kinek egy erényed teszi, hogy fajunk fölülmulja minden tartalmát az ég legszükebb körének, parancsod olyan gyönyörnek tekintem, hogy itt későnek tetszenék a kész; szükség arról többet beszélni nincsen. "O lady of virtue, through whom alone The human race surpasses all contained The human race surpasses all contained Within the heavens to the smallest sphere, Within the heavens to the smallest sphere, "Your command pleases me so thoroughly "Your command pleases me so thoroughly That already to have done it would seem tardy: That already to have done it would seem tardy: Only let me know what it is you want. Only let me know what it is you want.

E titkos úton át a mester és én visszaindultunk világos világba; s a pihenésre gondolni se késvén, kusztunk föl, ő elől és én nyomába, míg a sok szépből, melyet az ég hordoz láttam egynémit, egy kis karikába: és így jutottunk ki a csillagokhoz. Along that hidden path my guide and I Started out to return to the bright world. Started out to return to the bright world. And without a thought for any resting-stops, And without a thought for any resting-stops, We bounded up, he first and I second, We bounded up, he first and I second, Until, through a round opening, I saw Until, through a round opening, I saw Some of the lovely things the heavens hold: Some of the lovely things the heavens hold: From there we came out to see once more the stars. From there we came out to see once more the stars.

Immáron jobb vizek fölé evezni emel vitorlát elmém kis hajója, s szörnyü Tengert maga mögé veszti; második Ország kerül íme szóra, ahol kitisztul az emberi szellem s méltóvá lesz, hogy legyen ég lakója. To race for safer waters, the small ship Of my poetic powers now hoists sail, Of my poetic powers now hoists sail, Leaving in her wake that cruel sea. Leaving in her wake that cruel sea. And I shall sing this second kingdom where And I shall sing this second kingdom where The human spirit purifies itself, The human spirit purifies itself, Becoming fit to mount up into heaven. Becoming fit to mount up into heaven.

Elég, hogy e szent habokból kiérve új ember lettem, mintha új galyat hoz az új tavasz az újuló növényre: tiszta, s röpülni kész a csillagokhoz. From out those holiest waves I now returned, Refashioned, just as new trees are renewed Refashioned, just as new trees are renewed With their new foliage, for I came back With their new foliage, for I came back Pure and prepared to leap up to the stars. Pure and prepared to leap up to the stars.

A Mindent Mozgatónak glóriája a Mindenségen áthat, és világol, itt hőbb, ott halkabb fényt hintvén a tájra. Én jártam, hova legtöbb hull a lángból s láttam, mit sem tud, sem bir elbeszélni, ki visszatér e magasabb világból. Mert mikor vágyát közelítve kémli, oly mélységekbe száll az emberelme, hogy az emlék nem képes utolérni. Mégis amennyit kincsekkel betellve a szent országból szellemem megőrzött, azt ma dalomnak előtárni terve. The glory of Him who sets all things in motion Cleaves through the universe, and it flames again Cleaves through the universe, and it flames again In different places with a different force. In different places with a different force. I have been to that heaven where His light I have been to that heaven where His light Beams brightest and seen things that none, returning, Beams brightest and seen things that none, returning, Has the knowledge or the power to repeat, Has the knowledge or the power to repeat, Because, as it draws near to its desire, Because, as it draws near to its desire, Our intellect sinks down to such a depth Our intellect sinks down to such a depth That memory cannot trace its way back there. That memory cannot trace its way back there. Nevertheless, whatever I could treasure Up in my mind about that sacred kingdom Up in my mind about that sacred kingdom Shall now become the subject of my song. Shall now become the subject of my song.

Miként a mérnök, ki a kört szeretné megmérni, töpreng, hogy titkába lásson, de mérő elvét hasztalan keresné: ollyá tett engem ez uj látomásom töprengve tudni, hogyan egyesűle kör a képpel, s hogy árad át egymáson, de szárnyam ahhoz hasztalan feszűle - mig villám fénye tárta szememet fel és égő vágy ekként teljesűle. Csüggedtem volna, lankadt képzelettel, de folyton-gyors kerékként forgatott vágyat és célt bennem a Szeretet, mely mozgat napot és minden csillagot. As the geometer who sets himself To square the circle and who cannot find, To square the circle and who cannot find, For all his thought, the principle he needs, For all his thought, the principle he needs, Just so was I on seeing this new vision Just so was I on seeing this new vision I wanted to see how our image fuses I wanted to see how our image fuses Into the circle and finds its place in it, Into the circle and finds its place in it, Yet my wings were not meant for such a flight — Yet my wings were not meant for such a flight — Except that then my mind was struck by lightning Except that then my mind was struck by lightning Through which my longing was at last fulfilled. Through which my longing was at last fulfilled. Here powers failed my high imagination: Here powers failed my high imagination: But by now my desire and will were turned, But by now my desire and will were turned, Like a balanced wheel rotated evenly, Like a balanced wheel rotated evenly, By the Love that moves the sun and the other stars. By the Love that moves the sun and the other stars.