'Twas the Night before Christmas

Báseň 'Twas the Night Before Christmas napsal americký spisovatel a profesor Clement Clarke Moore (1779 – 1863) již v roce 1823. Báseň i její autor jsou jedním z faktorů, které daly Santovi, jeho sobům, a celé americké vánoční tradici jejich dnešní podobu. V mnoha rodinách patří předčítání této básně k vánočním zvykům a na našich stránkách samozřejmě nemůže chybět.

Báseň zde najdete i se zvukovou nahrávkou a českým překladem. Překlad není básnický, slouží spíše jen jako pomůcka, kdybyste některým veršům nerozuměli.

Při čtení si můžete dvojklikem na anglická slovíčka otevřít jejich význam v našem slovníku.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

by Clement C. Moore

(read by Laurie Bram)

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house ^*1
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. ^*2
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, ^*3
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.  ^*4

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, ^*5
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. ^*6
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, ^*7
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.  ^*8

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, ^*9
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. ^*10
Away to the window I flew like a flash, ^*11
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.  ^*12

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow ^*13
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. ^*14
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, ^*15
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.  ^*16

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, ^*17
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick. ^*18
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, ^*19
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!  ^*20

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! ^*21
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen! ^*22
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! ^*23
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”  ^*24

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, ^*25
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. ^*26
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, ^*27
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.  ^*28

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof ^*29
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. ^*30
As I drew in my head, and was turning around, ^*31
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.  ^*32

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, ^*33
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. ^*34
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, ^*35
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.  ^*36

His eyes – how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! ^*37
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! ^*38
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, ^*39
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.  ^*40

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, ^*41
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. ^*42
He had a broad face and a little round belly, ^*43
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!  ^*44

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, ^*45
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! ^*46
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, ^*47
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.  ^*48

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, ^*49
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. ^*50
And laying his finger aside of his nose, ^*51
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!  ^*52

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, ^*53
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. ^*54
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight, ^*55
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”  ^*56

O Santovi se můžete dočíst také v článku St. Nicholas vs. Santa Claus.