Josef Václav Sládek

“ Where arms are strong and hearts are free
Beautiful are the rolling fields,
To them who have learned to forget.
I stood where lands and oceans meet,
Gazing beyond the water’s foam.
And though this were the Eden’s seat
I could not rest away from home,
Because I learned not to forget.
Keep passing westward at your pleasure,
Men and clouds and birds of flight
But for all your wealth and treasure
Our poverty and plight
This I never could forget.
This work is a translation and has a separate copyright status to the applicable copyright protections of the original content. ”

“ When the day ends, and I shall sleep,
Come see my grave, but do not weep,
Nor let your grief be over wild.
⁠Who sleeps, is glad to rest in peace,
And holy is the evening mild,
⁠When the day ends. ”

“ Frowns on their brows—hate lurking in their eyes,
’Neath purple robes are hid hands white and wise.
Two kings upon two hills, their palms spread out,
Four hundred thousand men rush with a shout.
Ten thousand souls shriek out in mortal pain,
The kings applaud the music, “Call again.”
Thousands of dying men at eve lie low,
The kings gaze as at an opera show. ”