France Prešeren - Velika Togenburg

Great, Toggenburg, was the suffering
Of yours; yet mine does overcome it:
For at last your darling soften'd;
She daily opens the window of her cell.

From the dawn till the evening you are happy
Hoping that her gentle image you will see,
And even when the deadly drop of sweat comes
Your trustful gaze turns to her.

In the heaven I mean to see her eyes
- When I dare to look in them -
As two angry cherubs with a fiery sword.
To not offend her in perpetual trembling,
I, poor soul, flee from her sight;
no ray is shining into the night of my life.

France Prešeren - A Farewell to My Youth

O happier half of days decreed to me,
My early years, so soon you passed away:
Few were the flowers that blossomed on that tree,
And they, scarce budded, fell into decay.
Few were the rays of hope that I could see,
And storms would often rage in wild array;
Still, for my youth, dark though thy dawn may be,
My heart will ever cry, God be with thee!

Too soon the fruits of knowledge did I eat!
Where dripped their poison, faded all delight:
I saw how honesty and truth could meet
Among the human kind with scorn and spite.
I sought true love - an empty dream and fleet,
Which disappeared as dawn broke into light!
And wisdom, justice and the learned mind
Were dowerless maids - no suitors could they find.

I saw how those who are not loved by fate
Their ship in vain against the wind may steer;
The one who is not born to high estate
Shall see no Fortune at his cradle appear;
I saw how fame is purchased at the rate
Of current cash - no price too high, too dear;
I saw in glory's and in honour's seat
All that beguiles men's minds with lies, deceit.

These sights and others uglier by far
Burned in my heart till cruelly it bled;
Yet thoughts like these the joys of youth will bar
And quickly drive them out of heart and head;
Fair cloud-born castles glimmer from afar,
Green lawns arise where desert places spread,
Hope kindles many a wanton, beckoning light,
To lure the young and tempt them in the night.

They know not of the sudden storm that blows,
Dispelling phantom shapes that cannot last,
And all too soon forget misfortune's woes,
Forget the wounds once they are healed and past -
Until the changing years show how life flows
Into a vessel that is leaking fast.
Still, O my youth, dark though thy dawn may be,
My heart will ever cry, God be with thee!

France Prešeren - The Unmarried Mother

What was the need of you, little one,
My baby dear, my darling son,
To me - a girl, a foolish young thing,
A mother without a wedding ring?

My father cursed and beat me,
My mother in tears would entreat me;
My friends would blush and pass me by,
Strangers pointed at me on the sly.

And he who was my own true love -
Your father by the will above -
He wanders God knows how far from here.
Shamed because of us, poor dear.

What was the need of you, little one,
My baby dear, my darling son?
But whether there was need or no,
With all my heart I love you so.

There seem to open azure skies
Whene'er I look into your eyes;
And when on me you sweetly smile,
All I've suffered is gone for a while.

May He, by whom the birds are fed,
Joy and blessings on you shed!
Whether there was need or no,
With all my heart I love you so.

France Prešeren - Brindis

La vendimia, amigos
para animar nuestras venas
nos trae un dulce vino
que pecho y ojos alegra
que apaga
las penas
y enciende la esperanza!

Vivan todos los pueblos
que ver el día anhelan,
brille el brillante sol,
que ponga fin a las guerras,
sean libres
los hombres,
con el prójimo apacibles!

France Prešeren - A Toast

The vintage, friends, is over,
And here sweet wine makes, once again,
Sad eyes and hearts recover,
Puts fire in every vein,
Drowns dull care
Everywhere
And summons hope out of despair.

To whom with acclamation
And song shall we our first toast give?
God save our land and nation
And all Slovenes where'er they live,
Who own the same
Blood and name,
And who one glorious Mother claim.

Let thunder out of heaven
Strike down and smite our wanton foe!
Now, as it once had thriven,
May our dear realm in freedom grow.
Let fall the last
Chains of the past
Which bind us still and hold us fast!

Let peace, glad conciliation,
Come back to us throughout the land!
Towards their destination
Let Slavs henceforth go hand-in-hand!
Thus again
Will honour reign
To justice pledged in our domain.

To you, our pride past measure,
Our girls! Your beauty, charm and grace!
here surely is no treasure
To equal maidens of such race.
Sons you'll bear,
Who will dare
Defy our foe no matter where.

Our hope now, our to-morrow -
Our youth - we toast and toast with joy.
No poisonous blight or sorrow
Your love of homeland shall destroy.
With us indeed
You're called to heed
Its summons in this hour of need.

God's blessing on all nations,
Who long and work for that bright day,
When o'er earth's habitations
No war, no strife shall hold its sway;
Who long to see
That all men free
No more shall foes, but neighbours be.

At last to our reunion -
To us the toast! Let it resound,
Since in this gay communion
By thoughts of brotherhood we're bound.
May joyful cheer
Ne'er disappear
From all good hearts now gathered here.

France Prešeren - Desechos de África

Entre desechos de África un errante se apresuraba:
No encontró ningún camino; la noche estaba lejana.
A través de las nubes ningún titileo sigiloso se reflejó;
Anhelando a la luna, hizo de la hierba su cama.

Los cielos se abrieron, los rayos de luna se derramaron;
Ve donde las serpientes venenosas se ocultan,
y donde los tigres guarecen a sus cachorros;
Ve al león alzar su cabeza encolerizada.