Zlata Seljak and Marta Mrhar presented information about Slovenia at The Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Queenscliff (Geelong), stressing the importance of of Slovenian writers in poets for the survival of Slovenian language.
The letter from the booklets were read, and Zlata concluded with a Wreath of Sonnets by France Prešeren translated in English language and the original poem in Slovenian language.
Sonnet 14 of the Wreath of Sonnets
English:
Fresh flowers will spread fragrance far and near,
Like roses when the winter’s passed away,
And spring displays its marvelous array,
While through the trees white scattered blossoms peer.
The bees hum in the air sun-drenched and clear,
The shepherd’s up by golden break of day,
Loud trills the nightingale on many a spray –
All nature is aglow with joyful cheer.
I know I scarce deserve such bliss; my mind
Is full of dread that you may still disdain
These poems or be vexed by them again.
Let them at least some little favour find
With you; to ease by it his bitter pain,
A Slovene wreath your poet has entwined.
Slovenian:
In gnale bodo nov cvet bolj veselo,
ko rože, kadar mine zima huda
in spet pomlad razklada svoja čuda,
razsipa po drevesih cvetje belo.
In toplo sonce vabi ven čebelo,
pastir rumene zarje ne zamúda,
v grmovju slavček poje spet brez truda,
veselje preleti naturo celo.
O, vem, da niso vredne take sreče,
od straha, da nadležne poezije
bi ne bilé ti, mi srce trepeče.
Naj pesmi milost tvoja vsaj obsije,
ki iz njih, hladiti rane si skeleče,
poet tvoj nov Slovencem venec vije.
