Teffi "kanun da ladan"

[Peter Scotto]

Okay, I'll start: "Internment and incense"; "Last rites and last smokes."
"Requiems and frankincense."

Maybe there's something to work with there. I think I like the last one
best.

Peter Scotto
Mount Holyoke College




On Fri, Aug 8, 2014 at 4:21 PM, Robert Chandler <kcf19 at dial.pipex.com>
wrote:

> Dear all,
>
> This is spring 1919 and the Whites are leaving Odessa.  There is concern
> about whether this particular steamer is ever going to get underway.  One
> of Teffi’s fellow passengers is despairing.
>
> —   Пропадать будем, — тихо пробормотал кто-то около меня. — Если не
> найдут буксира, чтобы увел нас на рейд, крышка нам. Канун да ладан.
> “We’re done for,” murmured someone beside me.  "If they can’t find a tug
> to pull us out into the bay, we’ve had it.  It’ll be the end of us.
> ???????????"
>
> I understand the meaning of “kanun da ladan”.  That other people will be
> coming to their funeral, eating ritual food and spreading incense around.
>  But I cannot think what on earth to do with this phrase in English.
>
> In reality, of course, if the ship hadn’t got underway, they would have
> been very lucky indeed to get  proper funeral.
>
> Any thoughts anyone?!
>
> All the best,
>
> Robert
>
> Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD
>
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