Translation:Little epigram

Little epigram (1872)
by Władysław Tarnowski, translated from Polish by Wikisource

„Epigrammacik” in: „Nowe Poezye Ernesta Buławy”, Seyferth i Czajkowski, Lvov, 1872, p. 51.

2347556Little epigram1872Władysław Tarnowski

All crimes of the world,
Of which plica of vipers interlocks,
Murders, betrayals and corruptions
Turn pale in comparison to selfishness –
Selfishness [is] their seed
Ideal – and inspiration!

Egoists – are criminals
Who with impunity through this earth
Walks – poisoning! On altars
Spitting, which are holiest!..

You gave thugs a prisons
And bars of gallows, together,
And them, vaults of golden rooms
In which you bow humbly before them!