2.3 Major Tendencies in Difference between the Original and Translation

Having carefully studied both the works of Robert Burns in the original and Samuel Marshak's translations, I’ve identified several major trends in the manner of translating. Some of them have been already mentioned above.

According to Dr. Natalia Kaloh Vid in his translations Marshak:

• idealises images of the thieves and beggars;

• critisises monarchy;

• softens erotic context;

• ignores poems devoted to Burns’ friends who belonged to the noble society;

• avoids mentioning:

• the God and any religious `context including biblical names;

• the word “king”;

• Scottish historical personalities, geographical names, cultural features.

I’ve also come to the same conclusion.

The evidence of the existence of these trends can be backed up by a few of examples illustrating Marshak’s attitude towards monarchy, religion and Scotland. In the following sections I'll give some extracts from Burns’ poetry, corresponding to a particular topic.

2.3.1 Translator’s Self-censorship towards Monarchy

Here are the cases when Marshak omits the words relating to the monarchy (king, queen), no matter in what context they are used:

“O a' the lang night I cuddle my kimmer,

An' a' the lang night as happy's a king”.

Merry Hae I Been Teethin A Heckle

“А едва только спустится ночка,

Обнимаю подругу мою”.

Был я рад, когда гребень вытачивал

(As soon as the night comes down I hug my girlfriend)

“Wha, for Scotland's King and Law,

Freedom's sword will strongly draw,

Free-man stand, or Free-man fa',

Let him on wi' me!”

Robert Bruce's March to Bannockburn

“Пусть останется в строю,

Кто за родину свою

Хочет жить и пасть в бою

С мужеством героя!”

Брюс – шотландцам

(Let remain in service,

Who for his homeland wants to live and fall in battle with the courage of a hero! )

“Who first shall rise to go away?

A cuckold, coward rogue is he!

Who first beside his chair shall fall?

He is the King among us three!”

Willie Brewed a Peck of Malt

“Последний тот из нас друзья

Кто первым ступит за порог.

А первый тот, кого струя

Из нас последним свалит с ног!”

Наш Вилли пива наварил

(The last one of us, friends, is the one Who first sets his foot over the threshold. And the first one will be the last knocked down by a spray!)

“Or were I in the wildest waste,

So black and bare, so black and bare,

The desert were a Paradise,

If you were there, if you were there.

Or were I monarch of the globe,

With you to reign, with you to reign,

The brightest jewel in my crown

Would be my queen, would be my queen”

O, Were You in the Cold Blast

“И если б дали мне в удел

Весь шар земной,

Весь шар земной,

С каким бы счастьем я владел

Тобой одной,

Тобой одной”.

В полях, под снегом и дождем.

(And if I was given The entire globe, The entire globe as an inheritance, With what joy I would own Thee one You one)

2.3.2 Translator’s Self-censorship towards Religion

In the same way the translator does not use many religious expressions (bless, blessing).

“I locked her in my fond embrace;

Her heart was beating rarely:

My blessings on that happy place,

Among the ridges of barley.

But by the moon and stars so bright,

That shone that hour so clearly!

She ay shall bless that happy night

Among the ridges of barley”.

Corn Ridges Are Lovely

“Кольцо моих сплетенных рук

Я крепко сжал - до боли

И слышал сердцем сердца стук

В ту ночь в ячменном поле”.

В ячменном поле

(The ring of my intertwined hands I squeezed - until the pain and heard the heart beat that night in the field of barley)

“But now your brow is bold, John,

Your locks are like the snow,

But blessings on your frosty head,

John Anderson my joy!”

John Anderson My Sweetheart

“Теперь ты снегом убелён,-

Ты знал немало вьюг.

Но будь ты счастлив, лысый Джон,

Джон Андерсон, мой друг!”

Джон Андерсон

(Now you are whitened with snow, you knew a lot of blizzards. But may you be happy, bald, John, John Anderson, my friend!)