THE TALE OF THE FOREST

Mighty emperor is the forest, 
High dominion does he wield, 
And a thousand races prosper 
'Neath the shelter of his shield.
 

The moon, the sun and Lucifer 
Do round his kingdom ever sphere;  
While lords and ladies of his court 
Are of the noble race of deer.
 

Hares, his heralds and his postmen, 
Carry rapidly his mails; 
Birds his orchestra composing, 
Springs that tell him thousand tales.
 

Midst the flowers that grow in shadow 
By the streams and in the grass, 
Bees in golden clouds are swarming, 
Ants in mighty armies pass .
.
.
 

Come, let us again be children 
In the woods we loved of yore 
So that life, and luck, and loving 
Seem a game and nothing more.
 

For I feel that mother nature 
All her wisdom did employ 
But to raise you over living 
And of life to make your toy.
 

You and I away shall wander 
Quite alone where no one goes, 
And we'll lie beside the water 
Where the flowering lime-tree grows.
 

As we slumber, on our bodies 
Will the lime its petals lay, 
While in sleep, sweet distant bagpipes 
We will hear some shepherd play.
 

Hear so much, and closer clinging, 
Heart to heart in lover's wise, 
Hear the emperor call his council 
And his ministers advise.
 

Through the silver spreading branches 
Will the moon the stream enlace, 
And around us slowly gather 
Courtiers of many a race.
 

Horses proud, as white as wave crests, 
Many-branching horned stags, 
Bulls with stars upon their fore heads, 
Chamois from the mountain crags.
 

And the lime-tree they will question 
Who we are; and stand and wonder, 
While our host will softly answer 
Parting wide his boughs asunder: 

"Look, o look how they are dreaming 
Dreams that in the forest grow; 
Like the children of some legend 
Do they love each other so".


English version by Corneliu M.
 Popescu
*
Transcribed by Cristina Mihu
School No.
 10, Focsani, Romania
*

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