John Maynard

Theodor Fontane

Bản dịch Tiếng Anh

5 bản dịch

Album:

1886

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Bản dịch

Tiếng Anh

John Maynard

John Maynard!

"Who is John Maynard?"

"John Maynard, he was our helmsman

who held out till he brought us safely through,

saved us and wears a hero's crown above.

For us he died, and his reward our love,

John Maynard."

Across Lake Erie the "swallow" wings,

foam like snow the ship's bow rins,

Detroit to Buffalo she makes her way,

All hearts aboard feel free and gay,

And passengers with kith and kin,

Can see the shore in the twilight dim,

And chatering to John Maynard say,

"Helmsman, how mush further away?"

He looks ahead, then around and explains,

"Still thirty minutes...half an hour remains."

Every heart is cheerful and very heart feels free,

When from below a cry suddenly:

"Fire!" was the awful shout,

As smoke from cabin and hatch oured out.

First smoke, then flames, a blazing glow.

And still twenty minutes to Buffalo.

And passengers crowd around the bow,

The colorful mass pressed together now;

At the bowsprit there's still air and light:

But at the helm the smoke's grip is tight;

A moan is heard, "Where are we? Do you know?"

And still fifteen minutes to Buffalo.

The wind increases but the smoke cloud stays.

Towards the helm the captain turns his gaze,

He can discern his helmsman no more,

But through the speaking tube implores:

"Still there, John Maynard?"

"Yes, sir, I am."

"Head to the beach! Into the surf!"

"Yes, sir. I'll ram."

And the people cheer on: "Please don't let go!"

And still ten minutes to Buffalo...

"Still there, John Maynard?" Then this reply,

with a dying man's voice, "Yes, sir, I'll try."

And into the surf among rocks and stone,

he guides the "Swallow" steering alone.

Should rescue come it will only come so.

Rescue: the beach of Buffalo.

The vessel's broken, it smolders like coal.

All have been saved, all - save one soul.

All the city bells peel, then woes upswell,

To heaven from each church and chapel,

A ringing and tolling, all else is silent.

Just one goal on which all will bear:

Ten thousand or more make up the train,

And none in the crowd the tears can restrain.

The coffin's lowered upon flowers laid,

With flowers they then close the grave,

And out in the marble in letters of gold,

The city's debt of thanks is old"

"Here rests John Maynard, in smoke and flame,

He held onto the rudder with might and main...

Saved us and wears a hero's crown above.

For us he died, and his reward our love.

John Maynard"

Song details

Translation details

Translations made by Natur Provence are protected by copyrights. Commercial use only with my written permission, private use free if the author is mentioned.

Natur Provence

submitted on 11 Tháng 5 2019 - 17:08

Give a shoutout to Natur Provence

Bình luận của tác giả:

free poetic translation made by Burt Erickson Nelson

Bình luận 3

Ove Eriksson

11 Tháng 5 2019, 21:35

Klasse Übersetzung, danke dafür!
Wirklich schade, dass du sie nicht selbst gemacht hast, die 5 Sterne wären absolut verdient gewesen!!!

lg, Ove :)

Natur Provence A

12 Tháng 5 2019, 09:28

Danke, Ove. Es ist nicht schade, dass die ÜS nicht von mir ist: So ist sie schön, sonst hätte ich dein Lob gar nicht bekommen ;)
PS Ich habe mich für diese 1. ÜS entschieden, es gibt auch noch etliche andere.

Ove Eriksson

12 Tháng 5 2019, 15:22

Gern geschehn! :)

Deine Selbstkritik in allen Ehren, du solltest aber keinesfalls dein Licht unter den Scheffel stellen. Es liest sich ja beinahe so, als ob du keine schönen Übersetzungen hinbekommen würdest, so ist es aber nicht! Auch wenn du z.Z. (noch!) keine poetischen Sachen schreibst, sind deine Ü's meist sehr genau, was ja das Wichtigste daran sein sollte. Die eigentliche Bestimmung des Übersetzens ist es ja, den Sinn möglichst exakt wiederzugeben, dies auch noch in Reimform hinzubekommen, ist echt schwierig. Ich selbst hab's bisher auch nur ganz selten geschafft, unsere Vera ist darin die unbestrittene Meisterin.

Gute Entscheidung! Die anderen will ich jetzt gar nicht mehr lesen, diese hier ist echt Topp! :)