Джеймс Генри Ли Хант. Доктору Роберту Бэтти...

Доктору Роберту Бэтти*, подарившему мне прядь волос Мильтона

Дыханье движит волоски так,.будто
сам Мильтон в гордой славе предо мной
качая убелённой головой
толкует о победе ночи утром.

Быть может, он  на вздохе полной грудью
торкал его и мысленной молвой
черкал Адама кудри или свой
венец дельфийский, лавровый и трудный.

Любовь живая в мёртвых волосах
духотворит творца великий прах–
приережённый высохший цветок

пережив клён , бессмертием пропах
одолевая времени поток
терпеньем нежным, кротости мосток.

перевод с английского Терджимана Кырымлы
* BATTY, ROBERT, M.D. (1763?–1849), was born at Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmoreland. He graduated M.D. at the university of St. Andrews on 30 Aug. 1797, shortly after which he settled in London as obstetric physician. On 30 Sept. 1800 he was admitted by the College of Physicians a licentiate in midwifery, and on 22 Dec. 1806 a licentiate of the college. He was physician to the Lying-in Hospital, Brownlow Street, and for some years acted as editor of the ‘Medical and Physical Journal.’ Like his son, Colonel Robert Batty [q. v.], he was long known as an amateur artist (Gent. Mag. new ser. xxxiii. pt. i. 110). He spent his last years at Fairlight Lodge, Hastings, where he died on 16 Nov. 1849 at the age of eighty-six. His portrait by Dance was engraved by Daniell.





To Robert Batty*, M.D., on His Giving Me a Lock of Milton's Hair

It lies before me there, and my own breath
Stirs its thin outer threads, as though beside
The living head I stood in honoured pride,
Talking of lovely things that conquer death.

Perhaps he pressed it once, or underneath
Ran his fine fingers when he leant, blank-eyed,
And saw in fancy Adam and his bride
With their heaped locks, or his own Delphic wreath.

There seems a love in hair, though it be dead.
It is the gentlest, yet the strongest thread
Of our frail plant,--a blossom from the tree

Surviving the proud trunk; as if it said,
Patience and gentleness in power. In me
Behold affectionate eternity.

James Henry Leigh Hunt
1784-1859