Love

Sonnet 37

by Jan Kollár 1793–1852

Translated by John Bowring (1832) · From Cheskian Anthology (1832)

Love

'Tis not alone that of Slavonia's stem,
She is a simple and a smiling flower;
Tho' the obdurate frank and saxon's power
Have sought to rose the impress of the gem.
Oh! many erring sons of Slawa know
Too little of her glories—they conspire,
Her language—their sire's fame—to overthrow,
Nor heed the frownings of celestial ire.
A heart as pure as are the pearls of dew—
An english spirit in a child-like guise—
A magic on the lips and in the eyes,
And friendship's strength, and beauty's sparkling hue.
Ye fame-full tribes and tongues! since heaven has given
All this, what more would ye expect from heaven?

MLA

Kollár, Jan. “Sonnet 37.” Translated by John Bowring. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/kollar/11/.

Chicago

Kollár, Jan. “Sonnet 37.” Translated by John Bowring. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/kollar/11/.

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