Some of you didn’t quite believe that I could read and speak some Russian, even though I’ve only been taking classes for 3 years. Well, I can. I can also offer a poor translation of A.A. Blok’s “In a Restaurant.”
Never will I forget (it happened, or it not
That evening): the fire of sunset,
The consuming and the splitting of the pale sky
and in the yellow sunset–streetlights.
I sat by the window in an overflowing hall;
Somewhere fiddles and bows were singing of love.
I sent you black roses in a goblet
Made of gold, like heaven, like the sky, oh…
You watched. Embarrassed I boldly welcomed
Your haughty gaze and I offerred greetings.
To your suitor, sharply, purposefully
You said: “This is one is in with me too.”
Now, however, in reply the strings roar
Something as their bows sing rapturously…
But you were me in all your despised youth,
Almost perceptible, my hands begin to shake.
You tore through the crowd like a frightened bird,
you passed by, weightlessly, as if in a dream,
And your perfume respired, eyelashes teased
As restless whispers came from your skirts.
You threw me glances off the mirrors,
Between throws, you exclaimed “Catch!”
A necklace is strummed, a gypsy girl danced
While wailing to the sunset about love.
There are several problems with this translation, both in my understanding of English and Russian. From Russian to English I had to use a dictionary, which means that I didn’t understand the implications of some of the Russian.
The English related problems are things as simple as grammar and meter, but another problem is that this a line by line translation. I think a better, more creative rendering of Blok’s verse would be to take it apart sentence by sentence. Sentences still matter in poetry. Lines are there for meter.
My vocabulary is really not that great and I cheated by peeking at another translation when I couldn’t understand some of the sentences.
Here’s the translation I mentioned with Russian text.
В ресторане/In a Restaurant
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Никогда не забуду (он был, или не был,Этот вечер): пожаром зариСожжено и раздвинуто бледное небо,И на жёлтой заре - фонари.
Я сидел у окна в переполненном зале.Где-то пели смычки о любви.Я послал тебе чёрную розу в бокалеЗолотого, как нёбо, аи.
Ты взглянула. Я встретил смущённо и дерзкоВзор надменный и отдал поклон.Обратясь к кавалеру, намеренно резкоТы сказала: "И этот влюблён".
И сейчас же в ответ что-то грянули струны,Исступлённо запели смычки...Но была ты со мной всем презрением юным,Чуть заметным дрожаньем руки...
Ты рванулась движеньем испуганной птицы,Ты прошла, словно сон мой легка...И вздохнули духи, задремали ресницы,Зашептались тревожно шелка.
Но из глуби зеркал ты мне взоры бросалаИ, бросая, кричала: "Лови!.."А монисто бренчало, цыганка плясалаИ визжала заре о любви.
19 апреля 1910
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I'll never forget (did it happen, or not,That evening): the sunset's fireConsumed and split the pale sky,And streetlamps flared against the yellow sunset.
I sat by the window in a crowded room.Distant bows were singing of love.
I sent you a black rose in a gobletOf champagne, golden as the sky.
You looked up. Embarrassed and bold, I metYour haughty gaze, gave a nod.To your suitor, deliberately abrupt,You said: "That one's in love, too."
And strings rumbled in sudden answer,Bows sang out in a frenzy...But you were mine with all your youthful scornAnd the with the slight trembling of your hand...
You darted up like a startled birdAnd passed by, light as my dream...And your perfume wafted, your lashes drooped,Your skirts whispered anxiously.
But from the mirror's depths you threw me a glanceAnd your glance shouted "Catch me!"While rattling her necklace, a gypsy dancedAnd screeched about love to the sunset.
19 April 1910
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I'll never forget (did it happen, or not,That evening): the sunset's fireConsumed and split the pale sky,And streetlamps flared against the yellow sunset.
I sat by the window in a crowded room.Distant bows were singing of love.
I sent you a black rose in a gobletOf champagne, golden as the sky.
You looked up. Embarrassed and bold, I metYour haughty gaze, gave a nod.To your suitor, deliberately abrupt,You said: "That one's in love, too."
And strings rumbled in sudden answer,Bows sang out in a frenzy...But you were mine with all your youthful scornAnd the with the slight trembling of your hand...
You darted up like a startled birdAnd passed by, light as my dream...And your perfume wafted, your lashes drooped,Your skirts whispered anxiously.
But from the mirror's depths you threw me a glanceAnd your glance shouted "Catch me!"While rattling her necklace, a gypsy dancedAnd screeched about love to the sunset.
19 April 1910
And here’s my notes for the translation. Goodnight and have a good year.
