GIFTS OF TEREK. TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN OF LERMONTOFF. BY T. B. SHAW. TErek [21] bellows, wildly sweeping Past the cliffs, so swift and strong; Like a tempest is his weeping, Flies his spray like tears along. O'er the steppe now slowly veering-- Calm but faithless looketh he-- With a voice of love endearing Murmurs to the Caspian sea: "Give me way, old sea! I greet thee; Give me refuge in thy breast; Far and fast I've rush'd to meet thee-- It is tine for me to rest. Cradled in KazbEk, and cherish'd From the bosom of the cloud, Strong am I, and all have perish'd Who would stop my current proud. For thy sons' delight, O Ocean! I've crush'd the crags of DariAl, Onward my resistless motion, Like a flock, hath swept them all." Still on his smooth shore reclining, Lay the Caspian as in sleep; While the TErek, softly shining, To the old sea murmur'd deep:-- "Lo! a gift upon my water-- Lo! no common offering-- Floating from the field of slaughter, A KabArdinetz [22] I bring. All in shining mail he's shrouded-- Plates of steel his arms enfold; Blood the Koran verse hath clouded, That thereon is writ in gold: His pale brow is sternly bended-- Gory stains his wreathed lip dye-- Valiant blood, and far-descended-- 'Tis the hue of victory! Wild his eyes, yet nought he noteth; With an ancient hate they glare: Backward on the billow floateth, All disorderly, his hair." Still the Caspian, calm reclining, Seems to slumber on his shore; And impetuous TErek, shining, Murmurs in his ear once more:-- "Father, hark! a priceless treasure-- Other gifts are poor to this-- I have hid, to do thee pleasure-- I have hid in my abyss! Lo! a corse my wave doth pillow-- A KazAichka [23] young and fair. Darkly pale upon the billow Gleams her breast and golden hair; Very sad her pale brow gleameth, And her eyes are closed in sleep; From her bosom ever seemeth A thin purple stream to creep. By my water, calm and lonely, For the maid that comes not back, Of the whole Stanilza, [24] only Mourns a GrEbenskoi KazAk. "Swift on his black steed he hieth; To the mountains he is sped. 'Neath TchetchEn's kinjAl [25] now lieth, Low in dust, that youthful head." Silent then was that wild river; And afar, as white as snow, A fair head was seen to quiver In the ripple, to and fro. In his might the ancient ocean, Like a tempest, 'gan arise; And the light of soft emotion Glimmer'd in his dark-blue eyes; And he play'd, with rapture flushing, And in his embraces bright, Clasp'd the stream, to meet him rushing With a murmur of delight. FOOTNOTES:

[21] A river which, rising on the eastern side of the ridge of the Caucasus, falls, after a rapid and impetuous course, into the Caspian, near AnÁpa.