Auden, W. H.: Ha én tudnám (If I Could Tell You Magyar nyelven)

Time will say nothing but I told you so,

Time only knows the price we have to pay;

If I could tell you I would let you know.

If we should weep when clowns put on their show,

If we should stumble when musicians play,

Time will say nothing but I told you so.

There are no fortunes to be told, although,

Because I love you more than I can say,

If I could tell you I would let you know.

The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,

There must be reasons why the leaves decay;

Time will say nothing but I told you so.

Perhaps the roses really want to grow,

The vision seriously intends to stay;

If I could tell you I would let you know.

Suppose all the lions get up and go,

And all the brooks and soldiers run away;

Will Time say nothing but I told you so?

If I could tell you I would let you know.

Az idő hallgat, én mondom neked,

az idő tudja, minek mi az ára;

ha én tudnám, tudatnám is veled.

Ha sírunk, mikor a bohóc nevet,

ha balul fülelünk a zongorára,

az idő hallgat, én mondom neked.

Bár nem tudom, mi jót mondjak neked,

mert több a vágyam, mint szavam a vágyra,

ha én tudnám, tudatnám is veled.

Valahonnét csak fújnak a szelek,

valamiért csak hull a lomb a sárba;

az idő hallgat, én mondom neked.

A rózsatő talán még megered,

a látomás valamit mintha várna;

ha én tudnám, tudatnám is veled.

Ha majd oroszlánt ont a zöld berek

s tavasz ragyog patakra, katonára;

hallgat az idő, mondom majd neked?

Ha én tudnám, tudatnám is veled.