I like you well, O trusty dagger mine, <br />My comrade wrought of cool Damascus steel! <br />Forged were you by the Georgian with revenge in the mind, <br />By the Circassian free - for war were you made keen. <br /> <br />A lily-white hand it was gave you to me - <br />You were affection's keepsake, its last gift... <br />Not blood, but pearl-like tears born of the agony <br />Of bitter parting down your blade ran swift. <br /> <br />Her dark eyes rested, full of secret pain, <br />Of sadness and of mystery, upon <br />My face, and like yourself when lit by flickering flame, <br />Now clouded and turned dull, now glowed and shone. <br /> <br />O dagger, love's mute pledge, you will my true <br />Friend stay, and an example set to me, a wanderer: <br />For faithful, yes, and firm of soul like you <br />I'll be like you that tempered was by fire.<br /><br />Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-dagger-4/
