Teffi - velikii razum u zhizni

[Gasan Gusejnov]

Dear Robert, I am afraid, a conjecture is necessary:
В дни самого мрачного средневековья, когда тихие затворники, пряча мысль
свою, как тайную лампаду в темных кельях монастырей, в исступленных муках
души искали великий разум *у неба* (*у жизни* doesn't make any sense in
this context) и за эту муку свою сгорали на кострах инквизиции,--тогда о
радостях *земли* знали только песни, и несли их певцы-поэты с гитарами в
руках.

гг


2014-08-25 8:11 GMT+02:00 Robert Chandler <kcf19 at dial.pipex.com>:

> Dear all,
>
> And this is anothe difficult passage from the same page.  Does anyone have
> any thoughts about великий разум у жизни?  Is this a phrase that Teffi has
> just made up casually?  Or is she alluding to anything that might have been
> a standard phrase in theological discussion?
>
> В дни самого мрачного средневековья, когда тихие затворники, пряча мысль
> свою, как тайную лампаду в темных кельях монастырей, в исступленных муках
> души искали великий разум у жизни и за эту муку свою сгорали на кострах
> инквизиции, -- тогда о радостях земли знали только песни, и несли их
> певцы-поэты с гитарами в руках.
>
> In the depth of the Middle Ages, when silent recluses were concealing
> their true thoughts like secret lamps in the dark cells of the monasteries,
> when their agonized search for  a governing intelligence (???) in life was
> being rewarded only with the fires of the Inquisition - in these dark days
> earthly joys were known only in song, only in songs spread by singer-poets
> with guitars in their arms.
>
>  All the best, and thanks!
>
> Robert
>
> Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD
>
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