Three lines from "Marginalia" by W.H. Auden

[Lewis B. Sckolnick]

  Swords here could mean the pull poles on a stage coach.

LBS
> Hello,
>
> These days I am translating "Marginalia" by W.H. Auden to Russian. The
> entire work (parts I-V) is already done except of three lines form part III:
>
> . . .
> On their stage swords, horses
> were sacred persons, the poor
> farting bumpkins.
> . . .
>
> I have real troubles understanding the exact meaning of two first lines of
> this stanza. Neither of possible versions is convincing.
>
> Any help is much appreciated.
> Rafael
>
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-- 

Lewis B. Sckolnick
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Telephone 1. 413. 367. 0303
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info at runanywhere.com
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