Wednesday, December 19, 2001

here are two translations for the following Pushkin poem.
The first is from my textbook, where it says: "The close to literal translations are provided to help you understand the poem. They do not claim to convey the poetic content of the original."
(I'm substituting the french Vous and tu, so you get the picture)


Tu and Vous

A simple Vous by a heartfelt tu
She replaced in passing,
And all (my) happy dreams
She aroused in my enamored soul.

Before her pensively I stand;
I've not the strength to take my eyes off her.
I tell her: How dear you (vous) are!
And think: How I love you (tu)!


The second translation is by Mikhail Kneller. I hope he doesn't mind if I borrow it.
more of his translations of Pushkin's work can be found here.


The empty "you" for "thee"-- so mild,
By chance, she swapped in dialogue
And all the dreams that I've compiled
Within my loving soul evoked.
I stand before her very humbly,
To look aside -- I do not dare;
I say to her: "you" are so fair!
And gravely think: How much I love "thee!"