The midnight hour of sorrow...

Mihai Eminescu (1850–1889)

Translated by Petre Grimm

Poems

THE MIDNIGHT HOUR OF SORROW…

The midnight hour of sorrow on brazen bell doth toll, And sleep, life’s toll-collector, comes not to take the toll. On roads so often trodden Death wants to lead for aye, And Life and Death comparing, which is the best to weigh; But now my reason’s balance unchangèd still doth stand, For ’tween them both is fixèd, unmoved the pointing hand.