Cultural Corner

By George

Ask any Russian who Vladimir Visotsky is and they will probably look at you with suspicion and inquire about the number of light-years it took you to reach our planet…In Russia you are just supposed to know.

An actor, poet and bard, whose songs have been stirring and inspiring generations of Russians with their wit, humor, wisdom and honesty, he is regarded by many as the voice of the nation.

Translating poetry is a challenge in itself, translating Visotsky is doubly so, as his writing relies heavily on the socio-cultural background of his era (1960's - 1980's) and historically Russian traditions and folklore.

The following is a crude attempt at translating one of his lighter ditties (it is a song and it can easily be had on CD or tape at most any of the music-selling kiosks or the proverbial "Gorbushka's La-La-Park": m.Bagrationovskaya > follow the mob). The name of the song in Russian is "Сказка О Диком Вепре" and it is a parody of a typical Russian fairy tale. My aim was to try and preserve the original rhythm, feel and mood over the accuracy in translating the content.

If you have any advance groups, you could probably find some use for it in class. Enjoy!

by V. Visotsky

-1-

В королевстве, где все тихо и складно,
Где ни войн, ни катаклизмов, ни бурь,
Появился дикий вепрь огромадный -
То ли буйвол, то ли бык, то ли тур.

-2-

Сам король страдал желудком и астмой,
Только кашлем сильный страх наводил,
А тем временем зверюга ужасный
Коих ел, а коих в лес волочил.

-3-

И король тотчас издал три декрета:
Зверя надо одолеть наконец!
Кто отважется на дело на это -
Тот принцессу поведет под венец!"

-4-

А в отчаявшемся том государстве -
Как войдешь, так сразу наискосок,-
В бесшабашной жил тоске и гусарстве
Бывший лучший королевский стрелок.

-5-

На полу лежали люди и шкуры,
Пели песни, пили меды - и тут
Протрубили во дворце трубадуры,
Хвать стрелка! - и во дворец волокут.

-6-

И король ему прокашлял: - Не буду
Я читать тебе моралей, юнец!
Если завтра победишь Чуду-юду,
То принцессу поведешь под венец.

-7-

А стрелок: - Да это что за награда?
Мне бы выкатить порвейна бадью!
А принцессу мне и даром не надо -
Чуду-юду я и так победю.

-8-

А король: - Возьмешь принцессу - и точка!
А не то тебя - раз-два! - и в тюрьму!
Это все же королевская дочка! -
А стрелок: - Ну хоть убей - не возьму!

-9-

И пока король с ним так препирался,
Съел уже почти всех женщин и кур,
И возле самого дворца ошивался
Этот самый то ли бык, то ли тур.

-10-

Делать нечего - портвейн он отспорил,
Чуду-юду победил и убег.
Вот так принцессу с королем опозорил
Бывший лучший, но опальный стрелок.

Translated by G. Killan

-1-

Once upon a time in a quiet little kingdom
Where the folks knew no riots, no wars
There began to infringe upon their freedom
A humongous boar, as big as a horse

-2-

The King himself was ill with asthma and ulcer
His coughing fits shook his palace to its roots
While this vile and unstoppable monster
Ate his subjects dragging them into the woods

-3-

And so the King dispatched an urgent decree -
He, who'll manage to shoot the Beast dead
Will be honored to the highest degree
And shall take my only daughter to wed

-4-

On the fringe of his troubled empire
In a tavern sat sipping his beer
And enjoying his being retired
The king's own former best musketeer


-5-

With a loud bang flew open the tavern door
(And then) in came the guards, took his drink
Executing the will of their governor
They escorted this dude to the King

-6-

And the King coughed it straight to the subject
I won't preach to you no sermons my friend,
But if you can succeed with this project,
You may have my dear Princess's hand…

-7-

- What a joke for a trophy, Your Highness…
I'd prefer a cask of wine any day
I don't have any use for your Princess,
And that beast I will kill anyway

-8-

King exploded - You'll marry my daughter!
'Cause if not, you'll get locked up in jail!
Any prince would be lucky to have her…
But the ex-musketeer wouldn't bail

-9-

While the King tried to push his agenda
Had devoured most chicks in the court
And now was roaming the royal veranda
This mutation of hog of some sort

-10-

In the end got his wine for the slaughter
Of the beast, ending everyone's fear,
While disgracing the King and his daughter
Former best, and now drunk Musketeer