Onegin translation

[Josef Malkin]

Dear all,

For the last three years I was busy translating EO. I finished the rough version about two month ago. Having mostly very positive response, I dare to send to you a sample of my labor, and I would be very grateful for any feedback.

With warm regards,

Josef Malkin.

Not for the lofty nobles' leisure,
But as a genuine friendship's sign,
I wished to offer thee a treasure, 
A present, worthy to be thine,
Worthwhile to be the true ideal
Of an accomplished, sacred dream,
Of poetry sincere and real,
Of higher thoughts, a candid theme;
Nevertheless, accept this scramble -
The motley chapters of my rhymes,
Half melancholic, half amusing,
Fairly ingenuous, yet musing,
The careless fruits of jolly times, 
The sleepless nights, brief inspirations,
My youth, my wilted days, a chart
Of cold, cerebral observations
And grievous comments of my heart.

I

“My uncle, of most fair persuasion,
When taken seriously ill,
Enforced respect on the occasion -
His best idea, if you will.
A deed, for others worth exploring,
But goodness me, it is so boring
To nurse the patient day and night
And never dare to leave his sight!
False is pretending dedication
To entertain the almost dead,
Arrange his pillow, make his bed,
Serve dolefully his medication,
To heave a sigh, to wish him well
And think: “When will you go to hell!”


II 

This was the young cad's contemplation
While racing in a dusty coach,
An heir by Zeus's invocation
Of all his folks, with no reproach.
Dear friends of Ruslan and Ludmila!
Please, make acquaintance with my hero
Right here, right now, with no delay
I recommend to you today:
Onegin, my good friend, arisen
>From Neva's shores where maybe you,
My reader, saw the first light too, 
And where your bright star may have risen.
I've strolled there too. But northern cold
Is bad for me, so I've been told. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------