Стихи сестер Бронте   ::   Бронте Шарлотта

О, знал бы ты, как жду я

Тебя день ото дня;

Не отнимай, желанный

Надежду у меня !

SELF-CONGRATULATIONS

Ellen, you were thoughtless once

Of beauty or of grace,

Simple and homely in attire,

Careless of form and face;

Then whence this change ? and wherefore now

So often smooth your hair ?

And wherefore deck your youthful form

With such unwearied care ?

Tell us - and cease to fire our ears

With that familiar strain

Why will you play those simple tunes

So often, o'er again ?

'Indeed, dear friends, I can by say

That childhood's thoughts are gone;

Each year its own new feelings brings,

And years move swiftly on:

'And for these little simple airs

I love to play them o'er

So much - I dare notpromise, now,

To play them never more !

I answered - and it was enough;

They turned them to depart;

They could not read my secret thoughts,

Nor see my trobbing heart.

I'w noticed many a youtful form,

Upon whose changeful face

The inmost workings of the soul

The gaser well might trace;

The speaking eye, the changing lip,

The ready blushing cheek,

The smiling, or beclouded brow,

Their different feelings speak.

But, thank God ! you might gaze on mine

For hours, and never know

The secret changes of my soul

From joy to keenest woe.

Last night, as we sat round the fire

Conversing merrily,

We heard, without, approaching steps

Of on well known to me !

There was no trembling in my vois,

No blush upon my check,

No lustrous sparkle in my eyes,

Of hope, or joy, to speak;

But, oh ! my spirit burned within,

My heart beat full and fast !

He came not nigh - he went away

And then my joy was past.

And yet my comrades marked it not:

My vois was still the same;

They saw me smile, and o'er my face

No signs of sadness came.

They little know my hidden thoughts;

And they will never know

The aching anguish of my heart,

The bitter burning woe !

ПОЗДРАВЛЕНИЕ СЕБЕ

- Елена, милая - во всем

Другой была ты прежде:

Простушка ты была лицом,

Фигурой и в одежде;

А нынче что ? Елены той

Уж нету и следа:

Ты распрощалась с простотой,

Ты - новая звезда !

С чего ж в тебе произошла

Такая перемена ?

Ужель сердечные дела ?

Скажи-ка нам, Елена !

- Что я скажу, мои друзья ?

Да, в быстром беге лет

Вкус новых чувств узнала я,

И детских мыслей нет.