(Translation of Paul Verlaine’s « Claire de lune » by T. Wignesan. Again I try to keep to the original syntactic patterns and visible layout, but I must admit I could produce other renderings which could equally do justice to the probable « intention » of the poet.) <br /> <br />None may ask for better landscape than where souls lie <br />Wherein might rove charmingly masked bergamaskers <br />Strumming their luths while dancing but who well nigh <br />Look stricken under their outlandish disguises. <br /> <br />Verily singing in a murmurous tone <br />Love that triumphs and life’s seizable worthiness <br />Yet hardly seem to believe in their own good fortune <br />And their song dissipates into moonlight’s pallidness, <br /> <br />Into that sad yet pleasing stillness the moon engenders <br />Which must surely induce birds in trees to dream <br />And to gush ecstatic through sturdy water spurts, <br />Tall chiselled water columns against marble gleam.<br /><br />T (no first name) Wignesan<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/basking-in-moonshine-translation-of-paul-verlaine-s-clare-de-lune/
