Sunday, January 7, 2018

HRYHORII SKOVORODA, 2 POEMS IN ENGLISH



HRYHORII SKOVORODA “ YOU ASK, WHY?”

(translation from Ukrainian)

You ask: if the happiness of life is in everybody of us,
Then, why is it reached by so few?

Oh, that is, because it’s difficult for them to rule their souls,
And, because they haven’t learnt, how to refrain their gusts.

Through anfractuous paths, hills and through the deepest moats
There races an inexperienced horseman, if he rules his horse badly.

By sea and on the land, through arrows and the fire, there races the one,
Who doesn’t direct his irrational soul with reason.

So, what is left? To read the beatific books,
It’s not enough to hide it in yourself, it’s necessary to have it reflected.

Now, you are a recruit: exercising in deeds, with time, you’ll become a warrior.

From that type of warriors, there becomes that amazing king,
Which was Christ and his disciples …

(Translation from Ukrainian by Ivan Petryshyn)

PETRO HULAK-ARTEMOVSKII  “A FOOL AND A WISE”
(Parable)
/translation from Ukrainian/
“ in the name of which scrape,  would people need that erudition?-
Once, blurted out a foolish fool, a wise guy having petitioned.
“it’s for the time, said that one, when one feels a desire to know right away,
For not to answer the fools’ questions any way.”
Kharkiv,Dec. 1st, 1820 

Translation from Ukrainian by Ivan Petryshyn









No comments:

Post a Comment