"From Goethe (Mountain peaks ...)" M. Lermontov. Goethe: from "The Wanderer's Night Song" to "Jade Pavilion"

When translating, incidents and misunderstandings often occur. One of the most famous mistakes is the one that occurred in connection with the translation, or rather, with the translations of Goethe's poem, known to the Russian reader in the translation of M. Yu. Lermontov "Mountain Peaks":

Mountain peaks

Sleeping in the darkness of night

quiet valleys

Full of fresh haze.

The road is not dusty

Sheets do not tremble.

Wait a bit,

You will rest too.

Wanderers Nachtlied

Uber allen Gipfeln
East Ruh,
In allen Wipfeln
Spurest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die Vögelein schweigen im Walde.
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du aux.

Interlinear:

The wanderer's night song

Above all peaks
peace.
In all the tops (trees)
you will feel
hardly a whiff.
The birds were silent in the forest.
Just wait: soon
You will rest too.

An interesting story happened with this poem by Goethe. In 1902 it was translated into Japanese. Nine years later, a certain Frenchman, who was interested in the poetry of the peoples of the Far East, found it in the Japanese press. Perhaps there was no reference to Goethe in the text, or it escaped his attention, but he mistook it for an original Japanese work. Whatever it was, but the poems were translated from Japanese into French. These "Japanese" poems in French translation caught the eye of a German translator. Obviously, when he read them, he did not have any associations with a poem that was undoubtedly familiar to him. He translated it from French into his native language. Goethe's verse became unrecognizable. Here's what its interlinear translation looks like:

Quiet in the jade arbor

Silently the crows fly

To the snow-covered cherry trees

In the moonlight

Das Gl;ck ist eine leichte Dirne,
Und weilt nicht gern am selben Ort;
Sie streicht das Haar dir von der Stirne
Und k;;t dich rasch und flattert fort.

Frau Ungl;ck hat im Gegentheile
Dich liebefest an's Herz gedr;ckt;
Sie sagt, sie habe keine Eile,
Setzt sich zu dir an's Bett und strickt.

Happiness windy girl
For a moment it will come to you,
The forelock will ruffle, after the bird,
Smacking on the cheek, he flies away.

And trouble will get along with anyone,
Like a wife, she will press to her chest,
He sits on a bed with knitting,
He will say: "Sleep, life is ahead."

Here is Marshak's translation:

Happiness leaves without looking back.
Anemone does not like to wait.
With his hand, he will throw back the locks from his forehead,
Kiss you - and run.

And aunt Woe from the embrace
You won't let go, even if you're old.
Sitting by the bed at night
And knits, knits until the morning.

The author does not say a word about the old age of misfortune. The contrast is different: happiness is a girl - frivolous (not attached to you by feelings, even dissolute), flutters, caressing on the fly. Misfortune is a wife, she has nowhere to rush, so her worries are sometimes a burden to you. This understanding of mine determines the difference in my and Marshak's translations.

Reviews

In confirmation of the words of Balmont. Here is my translation of this poem
Rhyming exactly like the original:
At night on the peaks
Peace reigns.
Poplars in the valleys
Leaves do not rustle.
Does not caress the skin
breeze winds,
Be patient:
You will rest too.

A good translation, but Lermontov's is incomparably better. He made this poem famous.
M. Lermontov
Mountain peaks
Sleep in the darkness of the night;
Quiet valleys are full of fresh darkness;
The road is not dusty
Sheets do not tremble ...
wait a bit
Rest and you!

It is not clear from the original why this is a wanderer's song. Lermontov's translation is understandable.
He brilliantly translated

In all the tops (trees)
you will feel
hardly a whiff. How:

The road is not dusty
Sheets do not tremble ...
Lermontov translation - co-creation. From the content of the poem you will not understand that we are talking about the road, fatigue and the wanderer. The name says it all. Lermontov’s words: “In all the tops (of trees) you can hardly feel a breath” brilliantly translated: “the road does not dust, the leaves do not tremble.” And it immediately became clear that we were talking about a traveler who had traveled a long, hard path from the tops of the mountains, through a valley, a sleeping forest. A child is with him, he is tired, whimpering, the elder persuades: "Wait a little ...". From Goethe the title and the last two lines. The effect of the additives is amazing, the picture stands before your eyes and forever cuts into your memory. The road is not dusty when there is not a breath. You can improve the author when translating, but not worsen. Lermontov improved. Honor to him and praise for that. I think this translation is what made this poem so famous.

Incredible poetry and beauty of Lermontov's verse. This poem by Goethe was translated by many poets, but how far they are from the perfection of this masterpiece.

From the "Mountain Peaks" I have the feeling that it is the Almighty himself talking to the traveler

Here are my translations:
At night on the peaks
Peace reigns;
The sleeping forest is powerless
shake the leaves,
The birdsong has ceased,
Heaven is empty...
Be patient -
You will rest too.
I think this is the second after Lermontov.

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The road is not dusty
Sheets do not tremble ...
Wait a bit -
Rest and you!

1780

Comments

Reflections, songs and new hymns. The poems collected in this group characterize the new mindset that has replaced the ideas of Sturm und Drang. Particularly indicative in this regard are the new hymns: "The Borders of Humanity", "Song of the Spirits over the Waters", "My Goddess", "Divine". Goethe remains faithful to his pantheism in them, faith in the unity of man with the forces of nature, but the lyrical hero of his poetry is no longer the former rebel, challenging the gods, but a man who realizes that he can fulfill his earthly purpose not in confrontation with the world, but in close association with him. The theme of wandering, so close to the poet, also sounds in a new way. His wanderer is now not going towards the storm - he longs for peace and tranquility. Both new "Night songs of the wanderer" are permeated with this mood, especially the unsurpassed example of Goethe's lyrics - "Mountain peaks // Sleep in the darkness of the night ...".

A new outlook on life changes the attitude towards art. "The Poetic Vocation of Hans Sachs" will give an idealized portrait of the national poet of the 16th century, and his image embodies Goethe's new idea of ​​​​the role and place of the artist in life in comparison with the cycle of Stürmer's works on the same topic. Hans Sachs, who lives in harmony with the world, is inspired by the muse of pure and bright joy, illuminating him with the radiance of truth. Much related to this is the poem "On Meading's Death". Here, even more clearly than in the image of Hans Sachs, Goethe's democratism is emphasized, seeing in the modest decorator of the Weimar theater a faithful servant of the arts that adorn life and bring joy to people. The same attitude towards art, intended to decorate the lives of all, is expressed in the poem

Wait a little, rest and you
From the poem "From Goethe" (1840) by M. Yu. Lermontov (1814-1841):
Mountain peaks
Sleep in the darkness of the night;
quiet valleys
Full of fresh haze;
The road is not dusty
Sheets do not tremble ...
Wait a bit,
You will rest too.
This is a translation of the famous poem by the German poet and scientist Johann Wolfgang Goethe, "Mountain Peaks", made by M. Yu. Lermontov.
Quoted: as a formula for consolation in a difficult situation (jokingly-iron.).

• - Simple. Expression of threat, warning. “Here, wait, my friend, wait,” he began, rubbing his hands and pattering, “you will see a man!” ...

  Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language

• Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

• - WAIT, -du, -you; -al, -alo, -alo...

  Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

• - Russian hour - wait! Russian hour - happy thirty. A hint of Russian slowness: says "now!" and makes you wait a long time. Wed Now! Wed "Russian month"...
• - Do not go to someone else's advice without a call. Wed Ad consilium ne accesseris, antequam voceris. Cicer. Wed Ps.-Cato dist. 7. Wed. Μή πρότερον είς βουλήν παρέλθης, πρίν άν κληθείης. Wed Plutarch. Quaest. conviv. 1, 2, 3. Cf. hom. Il. 2,408...

  Explanatory-phraseological dictionary of Michelson

• - there is no peace here. Wait a little, rest and you. M.Yu.Lermontov. "Mountain peaks". Wed Warte nur, balde Ruhest du auch. Gothe. Ein gleichs. Wed Im Grab ist Ruh. H. Heine. Bergstimme. 2...

  Explanatory-phraseological dictionary of Michelson

• - Russian hour - happy thirty. A hint of Russian slowness: says "now!" and makes you wait a long time. Wed Now! Wed "Russian month"...

  Explanatory-phraseological dictionary of Michelson

• - If you die, then you will rest, there is no peace here. Wed Wait a little, rest and you. M. Yu. Lermontov. "Mountain Peaks". Wed Warte nur, balde Ruhest du auch. Gothe. Ein gleichs. Wed Im Grab ist Ruh. H. Heine. Bergstimme. 2...
• - Russian hour - wait! Russian hour - happy thirty. A hint of Russian slowness: to say "now!" and makes you wait a long time. Wed Now! Wed "Russian month"...

  Michelson Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary (original orph.)

• - Cm....
• - see. You will die, so you will rest ...

  IN AND. Dal. Proverbs of the Russian people

• - Wait for the Moscow hour ...

  IN AND. Dal. Proverbs of the Russian people

• - See TIME - MEASURE -...

  IN AND. Dal. Proverbs of the Russian people

• - Rest when you're done...

  IN AND. Dal. Proverbs of the Russian people

• - you, wait, wait, look...

  Synonym dictionary

• - 1. wait; wait, minute, second, moment, wait; delay / for a longer time: give time 2. as a threat: wait, wait ...

  Synonym dictionary

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