Β.

-Μάνα μου, ξύπνα, δὲν ἀκοῦς; στὴ θύρα μας χτυπᾶνε. Αγέρας δέρνει τὰ κλαριὰ τοῦ λόγκου καὶ βογκᾶνε. —Σκιάζομαι, μάνα, σὰν πουλὶ φεύγει, πετά ̓ ἡ καρδιά μου —Εἶναι σκυλιὰ ποῦ ῥυάζονται· πέσε στὴν ἀγκαλιά μου· -Ακουσα κλάψαις καὶ φωναῖς.

—Θὰ τάεἶδες στὄνειρό σου,

Κοιμήσου γύρισ ̓ ἀπ ̓ ἐδῶ, καὶ κάμε το σταυρό σου.

Γ.

̓Ακούω στὴ θύρα μας σὰ βογκητό,
Σὰν ψυχομάχημα· θὰ πάω νὰ ἰδῶ.
Σκόνεται ἡ δύστυχη καὶ πάει νὰ ἰδῇ
Στὸ χῶμα κοίτεται ἕνα κορμί.
̓Αχνὸ τὸ πρόσωπο καὶ τὰ μαλλιὰ
Ξήπλεγα σέρνονται στὴν τραχηλιὰ,
Τὰ χέρια κρούσταλλο, σιδερωμένα
Μέσα στον κόρφο της τάχει χωμένα.

—Παιδί μου, πρόφθασε, δός μου βοήθεια
Ἐκεῖνα πάκουσες ἦταν ἀλήθεια.

Στὰ χέρια γλήγορα τὴν ξένη πέρνουν
Καὶ στὸ κρεββάτι τους τὴν συνεφέρνουν.

-Σύρτε παιδάκια μου ν' ἀναπαυθῆτε.
Εἶναι μεσάνυχτα, θὰ κοιμηθῆτε.
—Καλό ξημέρωμα, καλὴ αὐγή·
Κοιμήσου ἥσυχη μαύρη φτωχή !
Αντάμα ἐπέσανε μάνα, παιδί,
Τὰ μάτια ἐκλείσανε 'ς ὕπνο βαθύ •

Ἡ ξένη ἡ δύστυχη δὲν κλεῖ τὸ μάτι·
Τί νὰ τὴν ηὕρηκε μὲς τὸ κρεββάτι;

II.

"Awake, mamma! Dost thou not hear They're knocking at our cottage door?" -"No! 'tis the wind that loves to stir The rustling branches o'er the moor." -"I'm frightened, mother, and my heart Is fluttering like a timid bird."

“Come to my arms, nor stay apart; "Twas but the bark of dogs we heard."

"No! 'twas a cry of wild unrest And pain I heard, oh mother mine!" -""Twas but a dream; lie on my breast, And sign thee with the holy sign."

-" Methinks, I hear the sound of moaning Right at our door. I go to see. Methinks, it is the awful groaning Of one in death's last agony."

III.

They hurried to the door, and found
A woman lying helpless there;
Her face was pale, and all around
Her neck fell long dishevelled hair.

Her hands like crystal, and as cold
As steel, lay buried in her dress;
""Twas true," she cries, "the tale I told;
Oh! help me in my sore distress.

Then quickly in their arms they take
And bear to bed their weary guest ;-
"For me no more my children wake!"
She says, “'tis midnight hour of rest.”

"God grant thee," they reply, "a morrow
More happy! May a good day dawn
To bring an end to all thy sorrow.
Here rest in peace, poor soul forlorn!"

And now once more in slumber deep
Together child and mother lie.
Why to the poor wanderer comes no sleep?
What phantom haunts her wakeful eye?

IV.

THE VAMPIRE.

"Tell me, Thanasi, why thou standest here
Mute as a corpse just risen from the bier?
Why dost thou come at midnight hour to me?
Can yon dead world have no repose for thee?
In long succession have the years rolled by
Since deep down in the earth's dark cemetery
They buried thee. Have mercy now and fly;
Thou see'st what I'm become. Thy guilty deed
Weighs me too down; and in my utmost need
I'm shunned by all; nor is there one to give
Thy poor abandoned widow means to live.
Stand further off. Why dost thou me affright?
What have I done to tremble at thy sight?
How green thou art! Thou hast an earthy smel.
Why art thou not dissolved? What is the spel

Μέσα στοῦ τάφου μου τὴ σκοτεινιὰ
Κλεισμένος ἤμουνα τέτοια νυχτιὰ,
Κ ̓ ἐκεῖ ποῦ ἔστεκα σαβανωμένος
Βαθειὰ στὸ μνῆμά μου συμμαζωμένος,
Εξαφνα ἐπάνω μου μιὰ κουκουβάγια
Ακούω που φώναζε— Θανάση Βάγια
Σήκου κ ̓ ἐπλάκωσαν χίλιοι νεκροὶ
Καὶ θὰ σὲ πάρουνε νὰ πᾶτ ̓ ἐκεῖ.”

Τὰ λόγια τἄκουσα καὶ τὤνομά μου.
Σκᾶνε καὶ τρίβονται τὰ κόκκαλά μου.
Κρύβομαι, χώνομαι ὅσο μπορῷ
Βαθειὰ στὸ λάκο μου, μὴ τοὺς ἰδῶ.
—Εβγα καὶ πρόβαλε, Θανάση Βάγια,
Ἔλα νὰ τρέξωμε πέρα στὰ πλάγια.
Εβγα, μὴ σκιάζεσαι, δὲν εἶναι λύκοι.
Το δρόμο δεῖξέ μας διὰ τὸ Γαρδίκι.

Ετζι φωνάζοντας σὰ λυσσασμένοι
Πέφτουν ἐπάνω μου οἱ πεθαμμένοι.
Καὶ μὲ τὰ νύχια τους καὶ μὲ τὸ στόμα
Πετάνε, σκάφτουνε τὸ μαῦρο χώμα.

Καὶ σὰν μ' εὑρήκανε ὅλοι μὲ μιὰ
Ἔξω ἀπ ̓ τοῦ τάφου μου τὴν ἐρημιά,
Γελῶντας, σκούζοντας, ἄγρια μὲ σέρνουν,
Κ ̓ ἐκεῖ ποὺ μοῦ εἴπανε μὲ συνεπέρνουν.

Πετάμε, τρέχομε· φυσσομανάει,
Τὸ πέρασμά μας κόσμο χαλάει.
Τὸ μαῦρο σύγνεφο, ὅθε διαβῇ,
Οἱ βράχοι τρέμουνε, ἀνάφτ ̓ ἡ γῆ.

μας.

Φουσκόνει ὁ ἄνεμος τὰ σάβανά μας
Σὰν ν ̓ ἁρμενίζαμε μὲ τὰ πανιά
Πέφτουν στο δρόμο μας, καὶ ξεκολλᾶνε
Τὰ κούφια κόκκαλα στὴ γῆ σκορπᾶνε.
Ἐμπρὸς μᾶς ἔσερνε ἡ κουκουβάγια
Πάντα φωνάζοντας—“ Θανάση Βάγια
Ἔτζι ἐφθάσαμε 'ς ἐκειὰ τὰ μέρη
Ποῦ τόσους ἔσφαξα μ' αὐτὸ τὸ χέρι.
Ω τί μαρτύρια! Ω τί τρομάραις !
Πόσαις μοῦ ῥίξανε σκληραῖς κατάρας!
Μοῦ δῶκαν κ ̓ ἔπια αἷμα πημένο.
Γιὰ ἰδὲς τὸ στόμα μου τὤχω βαμμένο.

Κ ̓ ἐν ᾧ με σέρνουνε καὶ μὲ πατοῦνε

Κάποιος ἐφώναξε . . . στέκουν κι' ἀκοῦνε . . .

Καλῶς σ' εὑρήκαμε, Βιζίρη Αλή

Ἐδῶθε μπένουνε μὲς τὴν Αὐλή.

Πέφτουν ἐπάνω του οἱ πεθαμμένοι, Μὲ παραιτήσανε, κανεὶς δὲν μένει, Κρυφὰ τοὺς ἔφυγα, καὶ τρέχω ἐδῶ Μὲ σὲ γυναῖκά μου νὰ κοιμηθῶ.

"List, while I tell thee how this very night,
Deprived alike of liberty and light,

I stood in my dark tomb, deep undergound,
With grave-clothes round my body tightly wound;
When suddenly I heard a screech-owl's cries
Shouting above, Thanasi Vaya, rise !

Rise quick; for thousands of the dead below
Have come to take thee there-there must thou go.'
And as I heard these words and heard my name,
My bones did crack and rattle through my frame;
I strove to hide myself, in hope I might
Deep in the tomb escape that awful sight.
"Twas vain. I heard them shout in accents shrill-
'Thanasi Vaya, lead us to the hill!

Go on; fear not; no wolves our course impede ;
Lead thou the way;-on to Gardiki lead!'
With maniac shouts upon me fell the dead,
Tearing away the black earth o'er my head
With nails and teeth; and as by inspiration
Of some wild fury, from the desolation

Of my lone tomb, with shrieks and laughter, bore
Me toward that place of which they spoke before.
As through the air in rapid flight we went,
By furious tempest's blast the earth was rent,
And trembling rocks and burning fields could
show

The track our black cloud followed from below.
Our grave-clothes, all inflated by the breeze,
Bore us along like ships across the seas;
And as we flew, down fell our hollow bones,
Scattered to earth and rattled 'gainst the stones.
And as she led us on the screech-owl's cry,
'Thanasi Vaya,' rang unceasingly,

Till of that fatal spot we came in view
Where I with mine own hand so many slew.
Oh! what a moment that of fear and pain !
On me were showered the curses of the slain;
They gave me curdled blood; I drank it too;-
Still on my lips thou see'st its dreadful hue.
While thus on me they wrought their ruthless will,
A voice cried out-all listened and were still-
'Tis well, Ali, that we have found thee here!
This is the entrance to thy court, Vizier.'
On him then rushed the dead; and I alone
Was left, for in an instant all were gone;
Then stealing off, I hurried to thy side
To rest awhile with thee, my own dear bride."

ΣΤ.

Θανάση, σ' ἄκουσα, τραβήξου τώρα.
Μέσα στὸ μνῆμά σου νὰ πᾶς εἶν ̓ ὥρα.
—Μέσα στὸ μνῆμά μου γιὰ συντροφιὰ
Θέλω ἀπ' τὸ στόμα σου τρία φιλιά.
—Όταν σου ρίξανε λάδι καὶ χῶμα
Ἦλθα σ' ἐφίλησα κρυφὰ στὸ στόμα.
-Τώρα περάσανε χρόνοι πολλοί ...
Μοῦ πῆρε ἡ κόλασι κειὸ τὸ φιλί.

Φεύγα καὶ σκιάζομαι τ' ἄγριά σου μάτια,
Το σάπιο κρέας σου πέφτει κομμάτια,
Τραβήξου. κρύψε τα, κεῖνα τὰ χέρια,
Απ' τὴν ἀχάμια τους λὲς κ ̓ εἶν ̓ μαχαίρια.
-Έλα γυναικά μου, δὲν εἶμ' ἐγὼ
Κεῖνος ποὺ ἀγάπησες ένα καιρό;
Μὴ μὲ σιχαίνεσαι, εἶμ ̓ ὁ Θανάσης.
—Φεῦγ ̓ ἀπ' τὰ μάτια μου, θὰ μὲ κολάσῃς.
Ρίχνετ ̓ ἐπάνω της καὶ τήνε πιάνει
Μέσα στὸ στόμα της τὰ χείλη βάνει.
Στὰ ἔρμα στήθια της τὰ ῥοῦχ ̓ ἀρχίζει
Ποῦ τὴ σκεπάζουνε νὰ τὰ ξεσχίζῃ.

Ξύπνα παιδί μου, κ' ἡ αὐγὴ ἀπ' τὸ βουνὶ προβαίνει.
Ξύπνα ν' ἀνάψωμε φωτιὰ κ' ἡ ξένη μᾶς προσμένει.
-Καλή σου μέρα, μάνα μας· ἡσύχασες κομμάτι ;

- Λίγο κοιμῶμαι ἡ δύστυχη, δὲν ἔκλεισα τὸ μάτι.
Εχετε γειά, ἔχετε γειὰ, πρέπει νὰ σᾶς ἀφήσω,
Εἶναι μακρὺς ὁ δρόμος μου, καὶ πότε θὰ κινήσω;
—Γιατί δὲν μᾶς ἐξύπνησες κ ̓ ἔμεινες μοναχή σου;
Σύρε, μανούλα, στὸ καλὸ καὶ δός μας τὴν εὐχή σου.
—Γιὰ τὸ καλὸ ποῦ κάμετε, γιὰ τὴν ἐλεημοσύνη,
Ὕπνο γλυκὸν ὁ Κύριος κ' ἥσυχο νὰ σᾶς δίνῃ·
*Αλλο καλὸ νὰ σᾶς φχηθῶ στὸν κόσμο μας δὲν ξεύρω,
Νύχτα καὶ μέρα τὸ ζητῶ καὶ δὲν μπορῶ νὰ τὸ εὕρω.
—Μάνα κ' ἡ φτώχια είναι κακὴ γιατ ̓ ἔχει κατηφρόνια.
—Τὰ πλούτη τὰ ἐδοκίμασα, περᾶσαν μὲ τὰ χρόνια.
—Μέσα στὸ λόγκο οἱ δύστυχοι ζοῦμε κ ̓ ἡμεῖς σὰν λύκοι,
̓Απ' τὸν καιρὸ ποῦ χάλασε τὸ ἔρμο τὸ Γαρδίκι.
—"Ω δυστυχιά μου! ὤ δυστυχιά! Ὁ κόσμος θὰ χαλάσῃ!
Καὶ ποιὸν ἐμελετήσανε; Τὸ Βάγια τὸ Θανάση.
Κ' ἐγὼ εἶμ' ἡ γυναῖκά του. Κάμετε το σταυρό σας.
Πάρτε λιβάνι, κάψετε, νὰ διῶξτε τὸν ἐχθρό σας.
Ἐψὲς τὴ νύχτα ἐμπῆκ ̓ ἐδῶ, ἐστάθηκε σιμά μου ...
Σχωρέστε τόνε, Χριστιανοὶ, κλᾶψτε τὴ συμφορά μου.
Πέρνει τὸ λόγκο. Τὸ παιδὶ κ' ἡ μάν' ἀνατριχιάζουν,
Καὶ τὸ σταυρό τους κάμνοντας τρέμουν ποῦ τὴν κυττάζουν.

VI.

“Enough! I've heard thee, now, Thanasi, go; Thy grave awaits thee; 'tis thy hour below."

"But with me to my tomb for friendship's sake Three kisses, dear one, from thy lips I'll

take."

-"No! when they threw the oil and dust on thee I came and kissed thy dead mouth secretly." -"But many years have rolled by since that day ;

The fire of hell has scorched that kiss away." "I fear the wildness of thy eyes. Begone! Thy rotten flesh falls crumbling from the bone. Those hands! Go hide them, hide them from thy wife,

So thin they are and sharp as blades of knife." "Not so, my friend, bethink thee, am not I The man thou lovedst in the days gone by? Loathe not thine own Thanasi."

166

"Go, I pray, Thou art my curse! Go, from my sight, away!" Then with one bound he has her in his grip, His mouth on hers he fastens, lip on lip; Rending her dress in passionate despair, His hand he buries in her bosom bare;— But now his chattering jaws in terror quake, Like marble stands he fixed; cold as a snakeWolf-like he howls, as aspen leaf he quivers; His hand has met the Holy Cross-and shivers. Thus is she saved by her prized relic's grace: There seems to rise a mist before her face; And now she hears the screech-owl's angry shout Calling Thanasi Vaya from without.

-“ I know no rest; my eyes I have not closed. Peace, peace be with you. Now 'tis time we part ; Long lies the road before me-let me start."

"Why didst thou choose all night alone to bide? Oh, why not wake and call us to thy side ? Go, mother, may all good attend thy way! Go! But for us from heaven a blessing pray." -"Yes! For your pity shown to the distressed May God accord to you sweet sleep and rest: I know no good on earth save rest from pain; And day and night I seek it; but in vain.” -"Yet poverty's an evil fraught with scorn." -"Ah! wealth I've known. By time 'twas

from me torn."

"We live in misery here like wolves in a wood, Since fell Gardiki in her people's blood."

“Oh, sorrow! Endless woe's for me decreed. Can none forget Thanasi Vaya's deed? And I'm his widow. Cross yourselves, and go. Seek incense, burn it, to drive out your foe. He stood beside me here but yester eve: Forgive him, Christians. For my misery grieve."

Then hastes she to the forest; while the child
And mother stand aghast in terror wild;
And as they watch her passing on her way,
They cross themselves in trembling and dismay.
EDWARD HERBERT.

ATHENS, 1st October, 1869.