A record of my pain

"A record of my pain" is the second sonnet in the Sonetni venec cycle written by France Prešeren in 1833 and published on 22 February 1834.

English translation
A record of my pain and of your praise Will this be to Slovenes as yet unborn, When moss shall grow upon my tomb forlorn, And over all that grieves me and dismays;

And haughty maids with beauty to amaze Like yours, on hearing these my strains, will scorn To lock their hearts in armour; they'll adorn Their love with faithful thoughts and faithful ways.

For all Slovenes will then dawn brighter days And kindlier stars upon their land will gaze, More brilliant songs will come with better times.

Yet my songs, too, with sweetly flowing rhymes May still survive the future's changing phase, Since from my heart's deep roots have sprung these lays.