XXXVIII

 

Gauaren sakonean, gauerdi ta goiz-aldetartean,

   Adirazten dun egun-sentian, ixiltasun eta illunpean,

Nere biotzaren taupada deadarraren oina zan,

   Belarriak erne ta arnasa geldi-erazoa.

 

Gauaren sakonean, etxe zaarra lo zegoela,

   Bakarrik nere oe soilean,

Geldi-geldi zijoan oin-otsa eskillaran oartu nun —

   Bizidunen entzumena —ildakoen oin-otsa.

 

Gauaren sakonean, gauerdi ta goiz-alde tartean,

   Arizki oltz zaar gañean, urbiltzen dan oin-otsa —

Eskillaran —berinpean —nere atean,

   Izugarrizko antsi orrekin, eriotza aztiatzen dun mamua.

 

 

 

XXXVIII

In the depth of the night betwixt midnight and morning, / In the darkness and silence forerunning the dawn, / The throb of my heart was a drum-beat of warning, / My ears were a-strain and my breath was undrawn. // In the depth of the night, when the old house was sleeping, / I lying alone in a desolate bed, / Heard soft on the staircase a slow footstep creeping— / The ear of the living—the step of the dead. // In the depth of the night betwixt midnight and morning, / A step drawing near on the old oaken floor / On the stair—in the gallery—the ghost that gives warning / Of death, by that heartbreaking sigh at my door.