(Hungarian-Jewish poet, writer, translator, September 22, 1910 - September 1, 2006)
.
François Villon balladája Faludy György átköltésében
Ott ült a Császár. Dús hajában
hét csillag volt a diadém.
Rabszolganépek térden állva
imádták, barna köldökén
a Göncöl forgott, válla balján
lámpásnak állt a holdkorong:
de a bohóc sírt trónja alján:
"Mit sírsz" – rivallt reá – "bolond,
nincs szív, mit kardom át ne járna,
enyém a föld!" ... S hogy este lett,
egy csontváz tántorgott eléje
s elfújta, mint a porszemet.
– Kényúrként éltünk mindahányan,
s az évek szálltak, mint a percek,
véred kiontott harmatával
irgalmazz nékünk, Jézus Herceg!
Gót ablakában sírt az Orvos:
"Uram, nektárod merre nő,
amely ír minden kínra s melytől
meggyógyul minden szenvedő?"
S az ajtó nyílt: keszeg magiszter
táncolta végig a szobát,
kezében mély ólomkehelyből
kínálva színtelen borát:
"Igyál, e nedv hűs, mint a mámor,
s nincs seb, mit heggel nem takar,
igyál testvér; e mély pohárból,
csupán az első korty fanyar."
– Kontárok voltunk mindahányan,
s az évek szálltak, mint a percek,
véred kiontott harmatával
irgalmazz nékünk, Jézus Herceg!
A kútkávánál állt a Gyermek,
szakadt gyolcsingecskében, s rőt
topánban, s nézte lenn a vízben
képét, mely játszani hívta őt:
... "Ha jössz: a holdleánytól este
a cukrot süvegszám kapod,
s minden pirosló reggelente
békákon ugrálunk bakot."
"Jövök már!" – szólt, s a kútvíz nyálas
siklót dagasztott zöld hasán,
míg a Halál vihogva vitte
anyjához a vörös topánt.
- Balgán játszottunk mindahányan,
s az évek szálltak, mint a percek,
véred kiontott harmatával
irgalmazz nékünk, Jézus Herceg!
Repedt tükrénél ült a Céda:
"Hajamnak árja még veres,
miért, hogy már a régi léha
seregből senki sem keres?
Ölem még izzó csókra éhes,
mellem rózsája még kemény..."
S az ablakon röhögve lépett
be az utolsó vőlegény:
"Hopp, Sára, hopp, gyerünk a táncra,
ma: holt szerelmeid torán
hadd üljön nászlakomát a lárva
ágyékod hervadt bíborán!"
– Buján fetrengtünk mindahányan,
s az évek szálltak, mint a percek,
véred kiontott harmatával
irgalmazz nékünk, Jézus Herceg!
Éjjel borult a háztetőkre,
s kuvikhang szólt a berken át,
midőn a Bankár útnak indult,
elásni véres aranyát.
Az útkereszten vasdoronggal
hét ördög várta s a Halál;
s mikor kardot rántott, a csontváz
fülébe súgta: "Mondd, szamár,
szamár, mit véded még a pénzed?
Meghalsz s a kincset elviszem,
s a kincs helyett eláslak téged,
akit nem ás ki senki sem."
– Kufárok voltunk mindahányan,
s az évek szálltak, mint a percek,
véred kiontott harmatával
irgalmazz nékünk, Jézus Herceg!
Aranypárnáin ült a Dáma,
s üvöltve sírt: "ne még, ne még",
de ő már átkarolta drága
csípői karcsú, gót ívét,
"engedj csak még egy lanyha csókot,
még egy gyönggyel kivarrt ruhát,
engedj csak még egy buja bókot,
még egy szerelmes éjszakát" –
de ő, rút foltot festve mellén,
mely, mint a rákseb, egyre nőtt,
fehér testét nyakába vette
és vitte, vitte, vitte őt.
– Tunyán henyéltünk mindahányan,
s az évek szálltak, mint a percek,
véred kiontott harmatával
irgalmazz nékünk, Jézus Herceg!
Tüzénél állt az Alkimista,
s óráját nézte, mely lejárt.
"Isten vagy ördög: egy napot még,
amíg megoldom a talányt,
a végső, nagy talányt, amerre
görebjeimnek ezre vitt,
csak egy napot még, mert megfejtem,
megfejtem holnap alkonyig."
"Nem fejted" – szólt a hang – "nem fejted"
s vállára tette jéghideg
kezét, míg felrobbant a lombik:
"Aludni mégy most, mint a többiek."
– A Titkot űztük mindahányan,
s az évek szálltak, mint a percek,
véred kiontott harmatával
irgalmazz nékünk, Jézus Herceg!
Pestis-csengőkkel jött a dögvész,
s a reimsi szentegyház előtt
húsvét vasárnapján derékon
kapta a hájas Püspököt:
"Néked szereztem ezt a nótát,
gyerünk, nagyúr! Csengőm csörög –
légy pápa, vagy próféta, rózsás
hajnalködökbe öltözött,
légy szent püspök, vagy rút eretnek,
ki ég a máglya kormain,
misézhetsz lenn – én fenn nevetlek
a dómok csonka tornyain!"
– Álszentek voltunk mindahányan,
s az évek szálltak, mint a percek,
véred kiontott harmatával
irgalmazz nékünk, Jézus Herceg!
A vén Paraszt már tudta s várta
alkonytájt kinn az udvaron:
"Görnyedt testünknek nincsen ára,
s úgy halunk meg, mint a barom.
Kaszás testvér! Sovány a földünk!
könyörgöm, egyet tégy nekem:
ha elviszel, szórd szét trágyának
testemet kinn a réteken!"
Ő rábólintott s vitte lassan,
s úgy szórta, szórta, szórta szét,
mint magvető keze a búzát,
vagy pipacsot az őszi szél.
– A földbe térünk mindahányan,
s az évek szállnak, mint a percek,
véred kiontott harmatával
irgalmazz nékünk, Jézus Herceg!
(Budapest, 1936)
*
DANSE MACABRE
After François Villon
The Emperor sat, proud and splendid,
with seven stars upon his brow.
Slave nations worshipped him on bended
knees, on his navel stood the Plough.
Above him gleamed, like alabaster,
the lighted lantern of the moon,
but, turning now towards his master,
the jester wept. "Don't cry, buffoon,
I've conquered every human being,
the world is mine." – But sure enough,
the Reaper whiffed him off, that evening,
as one removes a piece of fluff.
– We lived like despots, one and all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
A Gothic arch reveals the Doctor.
"Oh Lord, before I reach my term,
please, help me find the holy nectar
that heals the hopeless, the infirm."
A shape appears, a gaunt professor,
to hawk his magic anodyne,
and pours out of a pewter vessel
a cupful of some hueless wine.
"Drink up, you learned nectar-seeker,
a drop will cool the fever's heat,
heal every wound. Now take this beaker,
the first sip, mind you, won't be sweet."
– We were just charlatans, we all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
The Child stood by the well, in fraying
red sandals, staring in the deep.
Down there he saw his likeness, playing.
"Come, join the game, it's just a leap!
At nights the Moon Maids give us plenty
of gingerbread and fairy cakes,
and we can leapfrog five and twenty
young froglets when the morning breaks."
"I'm coming." – Soon a serpent wriggled
upon him in the slimy ooze.
The mother wept, but Death just giggled
and gave her two red sandal-shoes.
– We played like children, one and all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
Her looking glass was cracked and faded.
"My hair's still auburn" said the Whore,
"my famous charms are still un-jaded
but no one wants me any more.
My sex is still a red-hot fire,
my breasts are firm, as in the past..."
And then, guffawing, an admirer
knocked on the door, the very last.
"Come, dance again, be gay and ribald,
unleash once more your scarlet arts,
a ghost shall feast upon your shrivelled,
pallidly purple private parts."
– We raped and rutted, one and all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
As darkness shrouded roof and gable,
and waking owls began to hoot,
the Banker left his counting table
to bury his ill-gotten loot.
But at the cross-roads Death stood waiting,
with seven devils at the rear.
"Don't draw your sword, that useless plaything."
The skull was breathing in his ear:
"Your gold is mine, isn't it funny?
For you, my friend, will have to die,
yes, you'll be buried, not your money.
And who will bother, where you lie?"
– We were all usurers, we all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
"Not yet! Not yet!" the Lady pleaded
upon her couch of gold and lace,
but willy-nilly He succeeded
and held her in a tight embrace.
"Allow a few more languid kisses,
another pearl-embroidered dress,
a few more gallant artifices,
another night of lustfulness."
But He befouled her breasts, to smoulder,
to burn like cancer, deep inside,
then slung the white corpse on his shoulder
and took her to a ghostly ride.
- We lounged in luxury, we all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
The Alchimist stood by his fire,
his hour-glass was running low.
"Devil or God, grant my desire:
give one more day before I go.
I need one more conclusive trial
to save mankind from Adam's curse,
and solve, inside my crystal vial,
the secret of the universe."
"No more delay, and no more testing."
An icy voice came from the deep.
The vial blew up. "Time for resting.
Go, sleep where all the others sleep."
– We sought the secret, one and all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
In Rheims, before the Easter service
the plague arrived, bells and the rest.
The flabby Bishop in his surplice
was first to meet the deadly guest.
"I wrote this tune for you, my father,
let's dance to it, great Monsignor.
Be pope, or be a prophet rather,
wrapped in the mists of mystic lore,
be heretic or join the friars,
burn on the stake or go to mass:
from high above, from lofty spires,
I laugh at you, self-righteous ass."
– We were all hypocrites, we all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
The Peasant was prepared and willing,
as dusk descended from the east.
"Our life is cheap, the work is killing,
we toil and end up like a beast.
But brother Reaper, grant a favour:
you know, our soil is very poor,
so, when you take my spent cadaver,
please spread it here, it's good manure."
Death nodded: "Yes." And walked much slower,
to scatter him with gentle care,
as seed is scattered by the sower,
or poppies by the autumn air.
– We all return to earth, we all,
and Time just flies, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
After François Villon
The Emperor sat, proud and splendid,
with seven stars upon his brow.
Slave nations worshipped him on bended
knees, on his navel stood the Plough.
Above him gleamed, like alabaster,
the lighted lantern of the moon,
but, turning now towards his master,
the jester wept. "Don't cry, buffoon,
I've conquered every human being,
the world is mine." – But sure enough,
the Reaper whiffed him off, that evening,
as one removes a piece of fluff.
– We lived like despots, one and all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
A Gothic arch reveals the Doctor.
"Oh Lord, before I reach my term,
please, help me find the holy nectar
that heals the hopeless, the infirm."
A shape appears, a gaunt professor,
to hawk his magic anodyne,
and pours out of a pewter vessel
a cupful of some hueless wine.
"Drink up, you learned nectar-seeker,
a drop will cool the fever's heat,
heal every wound. Now take this beaker,
the first sip, mind you, won't be sweet."
– We were just charlatans, we all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
The Child stood by the well, in fraying
red sandals, staring in the deep.
Down there he saw his likeness, playing.
"Come, join the game, it's just a leap!
At nights the Moon Maids give us plenty
of gingerbread and fairy cakes,
and we can leapfrog five and twenty
young froglets when the morning breaks."
"I'm coming." – Soon a serpent wriggled
upon him in the slimy ooze.
The mother wept, but Death just giggled
and gave her two red sandal-shoes.
– We played like children, one and all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
Her looking glass was cracked and faded.
"My hair's still auburn" said the Whore,
"my famous charms are still un-jaded
but no one wants me any more.
My sex is still a red-hot fire,
my breasts are firm, as in the past..."
And then, guffawing, an admirer
knocked on the door, the very last.
"Come, dance again, be gay and ribald,
unleash once more your scarlet arts,
a ghost shall feast upon your shrivelled,
pallidly purple private parts."
– We raped and rutted, one and all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
As darkness shrouded roof and gable,
and waking owls began to hoot,
the Banker left his counting table
to bury his ill-gotten loot.
But at the cross-roads Death stood waiting,
with seven devils at the rear.
"Don't draw your sword, that useless plaything."
The skull was breathing in his ear:
"Your gold is mine, isn't it funny?
For you, my friend, will have to die,
yes, you'll be buried, not your money.
And who will bother, where you lie?"
– We were all usurers, we all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
"Not yet! Not yet!" the Lady pleaded
upon her couch of gold and lace,
but willy-nilly He succeeded
and held her in a tight embrace.
"Allow a few more languid kisses,
another pearl-embroidered dress,
a few more gallant artifices,
another night of lustfulness."
But He befouled her breasts, to smoulder,
to burn like cancer, deep inside,
then slung the white corpse on his shoulder
and took her to a ghostly ride.
- We lounged in luxury, we all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
The Alchimist stood by his fire,
his hour-glass was running low.
"Devil or God, grant my desire:
give one more day before I go.
I need one more conclusive trial
to save mankind from Adam's curse,
and solve, inside my crystal vial,
the secret of the universe."
"No more delay, and no more testing."
An icy voice came from the deep.
The vial blew up. "Time for resting.
Go, sleep where all the others sleep."
– We sought the secret, one and all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
In Rheims, before the Easter service
the plague arrived, bells and the rest.
The flabby Bishop in his surplice
was first to meet the deadly guest.
"I wrote this tune for you, my father,
let's dance to it, great Monsignor.
Be pope, or be a prophet rather,
wrapped in the mists of mystic lore,
be heretic or join the friars,
burn on the stake or go to mass:
from high above, from lofty spires,
I laugh at you, self-righteous ass."
– We were all hypocrites, we all,
and Time flew by, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
The Peasant was prepared and willing,
as dusk descended from the east.
"Our life is cheap, the work is killing,
we toil and end up like a beast.
But brother Reaper, grant a favour:
you know, our soil is very poor,
so, when you take my spent cadaver,
please spread it here, it's good manure."
Death nodded: "Yes." And walked much slower,
to scatter him with gentle care,
as seed is scattered by the sower,
or poppies by the autumn air.
– We all return to earth, we all,
and Time just flies, like April breezes.
Upon your precious blood we call:
Have mercy on our souls, Prince Jesus!
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................
