Poetic-Verses from ATHANASE
The Roman Villa At Carthage (English)
'Love conquers all: let us surrender to love.'
Virgil, Eclogues X, 69
The immense cryptoportico, the square peristyle,
the countless flowers, the octagonal garden,
I remember too, O my soul, the young patrician
playing with song thrushes near the blue-tinted pond.
And I remember the altar, my immortal princess,
where, lighter than air, you inclined your head
to honour the gods and bring joy back
to these places where our earthly ancestors still lived.
Then, running towards me, your eyes full of azure,
you clasped me to you like a climbing scented jasmine
clasps in its frail embrace the folds of white marble
and makes the architecture of the Ancients even more magnificent!
In what year was that? O wonderful mosaic,
remind me of her name and her artless smile!
translated from the French of Athanase Vantchev de Thracy by Norton Hodges
Comment On This Poem ---
The Roman Villa At Carthage (English)
The Roman Villa At Carthage (English)
