William Blake

Lullaby

O for a voice like thunder, and a tongue
To drown the throat of war! – When the senses
Are shaken, and the soul is driven to madness,
Who can stand ?
When the souls of the oppressed
Fight in the troubled air that rages, who can stand ?
When the whirlwind of fury comes from the
Throne of God, when the frowns of his countenance
Drive the nations together,
who can stand ?
When Sin claps his broad wings over the battle,
And sails rejoicing in the flood of Death;
When souls are torn to everlasting fire,
And fiends of Hell rejoice upon the slain,
O who can stand ?
O who hath caused this?
O who can answer at the throne of God ?
The Kings and Nobles of the Land have done it !


lullaby : berceuse
to drown : noyer – to be drown : se noyer (she fell in the water and was drowned)
to shake : secouer, agiter, ébranler – shaken : secoué
Whirlwind : tornade, éclair, tourbillon, trombe
frown : froncement de sourcils – to frown on : désapprouver
sin : péché
to clap : applaudir
broad : large
flood : inondation
torn : partagé, déchiré
everlasting : éternel
fiend : démon
to rejoice : se réjouir
slain : tué
Heaven : ciel, paradis