Текст и перевод песни Bittereinder - Die slang & die arend

Die slang & die arend

Ek slink in ′n oogwink, voordat jy kan mooi dink, skaduwee se koning onder elke rots
Skuil in die bodem, verdwyn in 'n oomblik, die gesig van my oë blink met ′n hart van trots
Seil die woestyn in, onder elke heining, die eerste verleiding in my tong se vurk
Elke dier kan ek insluk, die vuur van my gifpik, in die donkerste rigting gaan jy appels pluk
Byt af en sluk, jou lugpyp stik, die indruk van my voorstelle is dodelik
Die blote bewoording van my fluister betower elke oor wat dit hoor soos 'n meesterstuk
Nog geen skepsel ontmoet met 'n bek of ′n snoet wat genoeg moed bymekaar kan skraap
Om die vuur in sy bloed te verander in ′n vraag en sy woorde te spreek om my uit te daag

(2. die arend)

Ek dans met die wind, ek's die kranse se koning, ek maak dan my woning in die berg se sy
Ek sweef deur die hoogtes, daar′s niks wat my oog mis, ek sien elke beweging in elke vallei
Met my vlerke gesprei soos 'n mantel wat wys dat die majesteit in my borskas rus
As enige dier ook kon opvaar tot hier sou hy dadelik kon sien waar die koningskap is
Elke akkedis, elke dier en vis is verskriklik bewus my kloue is dodelik
En my snawel se krag waaroor geen dier kan lag, vir baie bloedige nagte verantwoordelik
My heerskappy strek in my vlerke se skadu en ek merk elke meter as my koninkryk
My hart is in oorvloed, my toekoms vol voorspoed, jy verstaan tog my hoogmoed as jy vir my kyk

(3. die konflik)

Op ′n onvermydelike dag vlieg die arend se gesag oor die presiese tak waar die slang lê en rus
En die arend se hart is geroer en verward oor die slang nie laat spat en oor hoe rustig hy is
"Wie is jy?" roep die roofvoël, "jy lyk nogal hoopvol, dat as ek jou sou aanval, jy 'n kans sou hê!"
"Net ′n kans?" lag die slang, "dink jy regtig ek is bang? ek't al groter voëls gevang wat nou binne in my lê."
"Wel, 'n arend is ek, dit verdien jou respek, al die krag in my nek het jou hele lyf nie!
Ek dring aan op ′n antwoord, jy praat met ′n koning, ek herhaal nooit my woorde vir 'n tydverdryf nie!"
Die slang begin giggel soos die uitdaging hom prikkel en sy eie trots ontwikkel in die boomstam se mik
"Ek is ′n slang!" sê hy kil, "ek het die aarde in my wil, ek besit die hele spul, selfs vir jou ook."
"Wel, wel!" sê die arend, "jy's ewe uitdagend! om jou te roof van jou asem gaan plesierig wees!"
Hy sweef toe al hoe nader, en die diere vergader om hierdie kaskenade aan te kyk sonder vrees
Die slang glimlag breed, met sy giftande gereed, net een byt en hy weet dat die arend sal sterf
Die arend sien die grinnik en hy vlieg toe al hoe vinniger, hy haat daai gesig en hy gaan hom goed bederf
So storm hy wild in, die oomblik van konflik: die geveg begin in sy kloue se greep
Die slang pik onmidellik en laat sy gif diep sink en vir ′n oomblik dink hulle altwee hulle't die ander een gebreek
Want amper presies gelyk het die arend die slang gegryp en hom middeldeur gebyt met ′n blitsige hap
Maar altwee die "konings" kry hul trots se beloning in die volgende oomblik toe hulle spiere verslap
So dink jy maar self wat die sedeles is, in twee skedels wat blink soos die son hulle uitwis
Hulle't groot gepraat soos Ozymandias, en nou lê hulle langs hom in die sand en rus

The Serpent & the Eagle

I shrink in the blink of an eye, before you can even think, king of shadows under every rock
Hiding in the soil, vanishing in a moment, the face of my eyes gleam with a heart of pride
Sailing the desert, under every fence, the first temptation forks in my tongue
Every animal I can devour, the fire of my venom, you'll pick apples in the darkest direction
I bite and swallow, your windpipe breaks, the impact of my suggestions is lethal
The mere utterance of my whisper charms every ear that hears it like a masterpiece
No creature yet met with a beak or a snout that could muster enough courage
To turn the fire in his blood into a question and utter his words to challenge me

(2. the eagle)

I dance with the wind, I'm the king of the cliffs, I make my home on the mountainside
I soar through the heights, there's nothing my eye misses, I see every movement in every valley
With my wings spread like a mantle that shows the majesty resting in my chest
If any animal could ascend to here, he would immediately see where kingship resides
Every lizard, every beast and fish is terribly aware my claws are deadly
And the power of my beak, which no animal can laugh at, responsible for many bloody nights
My dominion stretches in the shadow of my wings and I mark every meter as my kingdom
My heart is abundant, my future full of prosperity, you understand my pride when you look at me

(3. the conflict)

On an inevitable day, the eagle's authority flies over the exact branch where the snake lies and rests
And the eagle's heart is stirred and confused that the serpent does not flinch and how calm he is
"Who are you?" cries the raptor, "you look rather hopeful, that if I attacked you, you would stand a chance!"
"Just a chance?" laughs the snake, "Do you really think I'm scared? I've already caught bigger birds that now lie inside me."
"Well, I'm an eagle, it deserves your respect, all the power in my neck your whole life doesn't have!
I insist on an answer, you're talking to a king, I never repeat my words for a pastime!"
The serpent begins to giggle as the challenge tickles him and his own pride develops in the trunk of the tree
"I am a snake!" he hisses, "I have the earth in my will, I possess the whole game, even for you."
"Well, well!" says the eagle, "you're equally defiant! Robbing you of your breath is going to be fun!"
He then soars closer and closer, and the animals gather to watch this charade without fear
The snake smiles broadly, his fangs at the ready, just one bite and he knows the eagle will die
The eagle sees the grin and then he flies faster and faster, he hates that face and he's going to ruin him well
So he storms wildly in, the moment of conflict: the battle begins in the grip of his claws
The snake strikes instantly and lets his venom sink deep and for a moment they both think they've broken each other
For almost exactly the eagle had grabbed the snake and bitten him through the middle with a lightning snap
But both "kings" get the reward of their pride in the next moment when their muscles relax
So you think for yourself what the morals are, in two skulls that shine like the sun they erase themselves
They talked big like Ozymandias, and now they lie next to him in the sand and rest