Václav Hanka

“ THE rose it sweetly bloometh,
⁠But whose then shall it be?
Ah! long long time I watch’d it,
⁠Alas! unhappy me!
As long as undevelop’d,
⁠And in the bud it grows,
There’s no one looks upon it,
⁠Nor marks the coming rose. ”

“ Leaving in my bosom
⁠Never-ending smart.
Wheresoe’er I turn me,
⁠Where my footsteps go,
Ev’ry where I see you,
⁠Eyes so clear and blue.
O ye eyes, ye eyes,
⁠Eyes so blue and clear,
Cease not to torment me,
⁠Long as I live here! ”

“ Then I at length arising
⁠Accompanied her home,
And still I gave her kisses—
⁠What’s that to any one?
⁂ This song is extremely popular with the “lower orders” in Bohemia, I have therefore employed extremely popular language in the translation. ”