Alexander Pushkin
* * *
I loved you and my love may still be there,
Deep in my soul remains to stay aglow.
That should not cause you any more despair –
I do not want to hurt you any more.
I loved you unrequited in still wonder
Through bouts of jealousy and diffidence.
I loved you so sincerely and tender –
God bless you with such love of someone else.
Bonus tracks for those who cannot get enough:
Low tea version
* * *
I loved thee and though I have sworn to forfeit
My love is as a fever longing still;
Despair thee not for I hence scarcely covet;
Precluding my torn heart from serving thee.
I loved thee lost in rapture hushed and moving,
Tormented by self-doubt and jealousy;
Thou shall not find it merit not reproving,
While blessed be thy love as I loved thee.
High tea version (no, it's not for those who are at the top
of a social hierarchy, but rather may be suited for those
who prefer to get high at tea time)
* * *
I dug you, babe, and reckon that sick feeling
Has not dissolved, still lingers in my gut.
And that's none of your business. I'm chilling.
Not that I wanna bug you, my sweetheart.
I dug you to a point of being useless,
Like frigging dummy steeped in jealousy.
I dug you, but you're obviously clueless.
I trust some other dude will go at it.
And something more temperate
* * *
I loved you then, and possibly my dear
This feeling hasn't vanished from my heart;
With my intentions pure and sincere
Fear not, there's no sorrow to impart.
I loved you ardently in hopeless passion,
Distressed by jealousy and reticence;
I loved you with such fervor, such compassion,
God bless you being loved by someone else.
* * *
I loved you, and quite possibly this passion
Has not extinguished fully from my soul;
But you should not take gravely my confession;
My wish is not to sadden, but console.
I loved you hopelessly and in silent anguish,
Distressed by jealousy and timid plight
I loved you with such candor, such affection,
God bless you find love as true as mine.
Who knows, I may come up with more versions, but eventually I will
run out of interesting rhyming combos and start repeating myself...
* * *
Я вас любил: любовь еще, быть может,
В душе моей угасла не совсем;
Но пусть она вас больше не тревожит;
Я не хочу печалить вас ничем.
Я вас любил безмолвно, безнадежно,
То робостью, то ревностью томим;
Я вас любил так искренно, так нежно,
Как дай вам бог любимой быть другим.
1829