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Monday, February 15, 2010

Alexandru Philippide, Ceasornicul

Alexandru Philippide gave us the Romanian version of the Baudelarian L'Horloge. Le dieu sinistre, effrayant, impassible, that calm evil god found in Romanian a splendid rendering, Zeu amarnic, nepasator, and Mon gosier de métal (My brazen windpipe) became Gatleju-mi de metal. And j'ai pompé ta vie avec ma trompe immonde (I have sucked out your life with my filthy trunk) is here in Romanian tongue, sugand cu trompa-i hada viata ta ca unda. But I should comment each verse! It's a superb rendering.

This post (along with any other offering a Romanian version of Baudelaire) is dedicated to a man whom I never met. He passed away some fifteen years ago, far too young. I never met him, but I know him now, through his home library. I found there a great book, Florile Raului, a bilingual edition of Baudelaire.

Ceasornic! Zeu amarnic, nepasator, c-un deget
Pe fiecare ameninti spunandu-i Nu uita!
Durerile in freamat curand s-or implanta
In inima-ti ca-n tina lovita fara preget

Placerea ca un abur in zare va pieri
Cum in culise-si pierde silfida leganarea
Oricare clipa soarbe un strop din desfatarea
Ce tututor ni-e data cat timp vom mai trai

De trei mii sase sute de ori pe ceas. Secunda
Sopteste: Tine minte! Cu glasul lui marunt
De greier, spune – Acuma: tot Altadata sunt
Sugand cu trompa-i hada viata ta ca unda!

Remember! Esto memor! Tu mana sparta! Vezi!
(Vorbeste-n orice limba gatleju-mi de metal)
Minutele sunt scumpe, nebune – mineral
Al carui dram de aur se cade sa nu-l pierzi!

Adu-ti aminte: Timpul ce tot mai lacom joaca
Nemasluind, castiga oricand, e scris asa
Dar ziua scade; noaptea e mare; nu uita!
Genunea e-nsetata; clepsidra tot mai seaca.

Curand suna-va ceasul cand si Norocul viu
Si vrednica Virtute, sotia ta fecioara
Si chiar Cainta (hanul de cea din urma oara!)
Ti-or spune: Mori batrane misel! e prea tarziu!



(Baudelaire)

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