Poetry | Many years ago, from heaven’s quiet shelter

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by Semyon Yakovlevich Nadson (1862 - 1887)

Translation © by Sergey Rybin

Поэзия

Language: Russian (Русский)

Our translations: ENG

За много лет назад, из тихой сени рая,
В венке душистых роз, с улыбкой молодой,
Она сошла в наш мир, прелестная, нагая
И гордая своей невинной красотой.
Она несла с собой неведомые чувства,
Гармонию небес и преданность мечте, -
И был закон её - искусство для искусства,
И был завет её - служенье красоте.

Но с первых же шагов с чела её сорвали
И растоптали в прах роскошные цветы,
И темным облаком сомнений и печали
Покрылись девственно-прекрасные черты.
И прежних гимнов нет!.. Ликующие звуки
Дыханием грозы бесследно унесло, -
И дышит песнь её огнем душевной муки,
И тернии язвят небесное чело! ...

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Text Authorship:

by Semyon Yakovlevich Nadson (1862 - 1887), "Поэзия", first published 1880 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by Anton Stepanovich Arensky (1861 - 1906), "Поэзия", 1898 [ voice and piano ], also set in German (Deutsch) [sung text checked 1 time]
by Georgy Eduardovich Konyus (1862 - 1933), "Поэзия", 1894 [ voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by G. Löwenthal ; composed by Anton Stepanovich Arensky.
- Go to the text.

Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Sergey Rybin) , "Poetry", copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2011-02-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 97

Poetry

Language: English after the Russian (Русский)

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Many years ago, from heaven’s quiet shelter,
Crowned with fragrant roses, a youthful smile upon her face,
She came into our world—so lovely, pure, and naked,
And proud of her own innocent beauty.
She carried with her unknown feelings,
The harmony of heavens and devotion to a dream—
Her moto was: “Art for art’s sake,”
Her creed was this: “To serve Beauty.”

But from her very first steps, from her brow were ripped
And trampled in the dust the splendid flowers;
And a dark cloud of doubt and grief
Has covered her virginal features.
No more former hymns!.. The joyful ringing sounds
Were swept away by the storm’s breath without trace,—
Her song now burns with her soul’s torment,
And thorns are piercing her heavenly face!..

Text Authorship:

Translation from Russian (Русский) to English copyright © 2026 by Sergey Rybin, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:

a text in Russian (Русский) by Semyon Yakovlevich Nadson (1862 - 1887), "Поэзия", first published 1880
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2026-03-16
Line count: 16
Word count: 126