On the Debut of Amina Boschetti
At the Theatre de la Monnaie, Brussels
Amina leaps and flies - then flutters smilingly;
The boorish Belgian says: 'All that is Greek to me;
Of wood-nymphs I know nothing other than affairs
Of those on the
Montagne-aux-Herbes-Potageres.'
From toe of her slim foot, and from her laughing eye,
Amina pours in waves spirit and ecstasy;
Says the barbarian: 'Be gone, you false delights!
My wife does not observe these trifling ways at night.'
You do not know, 0 sylph of the triumphant stance,
Who wants to teach the clumsy elephant to dance,
The sober stork to laugh, the owl to be gay,
How to a fiery grace the Belgian says: 'Away!'
And how, if Bacchus were to pour a vintage wine,
The monster would respond: 'Some Belgian beer for mine!'
Přeložil James McGowan