Words and Verse
The Prophet (Translation-Russian)
This poem by Alexander Pushkin is one of the few that displays an especially violent side of his personality.
My soul, athirst for grace of God,
Through barren deserts, weary, bore me.
Till as I to the forked road trod
A six-wing'd seraph shone before me,
Mine eyes he touched with fingers light
As reveries of dreamy night:
And my prophetic eyes then brightened
And shone as of an eagle frightened.
He touched mine ears and poured therein
The crashing of a thunderous din:
And then I heard the heavens quaking
A host of angels over me
And beasts beneath the sunless sea
And vine in yonder valley snaking.
And he bent to my lips and wrung
Thereout my base and sinful tongue
From evil prattle did he save me
And then, between my lips unstrung,
A wise and ancient serpent's tongue
He with his bloody right hand gave me.
And with his sword he cleft my chest,
Reft out my quivering heart dire
And in my throbbing chest he pressed
A coal aglow with living fire.
And then a corpse I lay there dead
Till God spake unto me and said:
“Arise, O Prophet! harken, gazing-
My will be done on earth of thee!
Cross land and sea and in words blazing
Burn hearts of men with prophecy.”
Note:
In the manuscript (uncensored) version, the last four lines are said to have run something like this
Arise! Arise! O prophet of Russia!
Clad in the clothing of shame
With a noose around your neck
Appear before the foul murderer.
The exact wording is uncertain and has given rise to ehated debate
My soul, athirst for grace of God,
Through barren deserts, weary, bore me.
Till as I to the forked road trod
A six-wing'd seraph shone before me,
Mine eyes he touched with fingers light
As reveries of dreamy night:
And my prophetic eyes then brightened
And shone as of an eagle frightened.
He touched mine ears and poured therein
The crashing of a thunderous din:
And then I heard the heavens quaking
A host of angels over me
And beasts beneath the sunless sea
And vine in yonder valley snaking.
And he bent to my lips and wrung
Thereout my base and sinful tongue
From evil prattle did he save me
And then, between my lips unstrung,
A wise and ancient serpent's tongue
He with his bloody right hand gave me.
And with his sword he cleft my chest,
Reft out my quivering heart dire
And in my throbbing chest he pressed
A coal aglow with living fire.
And then a corpse I lay there dead
Till God spake unto me and said:
“Arise, O Prophet! harken, gazing-
My will be done on earth of thee!
Cross land and sea and in words blazing
Burn hearts of men with prophecy.”
Note:
In the manuscript (uncensored) version, the last four lines are said to have run something like this
Arise! Arise! O prophet of Russia!
Clad in the clothing of shame
With a noose around your neck
Appear before the foul murderer.
The exact wording is uncertain and has given rise to ehated debate
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The Prophet (Translation-Russian)
The Prophet (Translation-Russian)
