Translation of poem by Fyodor Tyutchev, Федор Тютчев, "Тихо в озере струится," "Softly o’er mere-waters’ ripples"

 

Федор Тютчев

(1803-1873)

 

Тихо в озере струится
Отблеск кровель золотых,
Много в озеро глядится
Достославностей былых —
Жизнь играет, солнце греет,
Но под нею и под ним
Здесь былое чудно веет
Обаянием своим.

Солнце светит золотое,
Блещут озера струи…
Здесь великое былое
Словно дышит в забытьи;

Дремлет сладко, беззаботно,
Не смущая дивных снов
И тревогой мимолетной
Лебединых голосов…

 

1866

d

Literal Translation

Quietly in the lake streams

The reflection of golden rooftops,

Many are the glorious achievements of past times

That gaze into the lake.

Life is playing, sun is warming,

But beneath the play and the warmth

Past times here are marvelously wafting

Their charm.

 

The golden sun is shining,

The streaming lake is shimmering . . .

Here the grand past times

Seem to breathe on oblivious;

It drowses sweetly, carefree,

Not disturbing the marvelous dreams

And the fleeting disquiet

Of the swans’ voices . . .

 

d

Literary Translation/Adaptation by U.R. Bowie

 

Softly o’er mere-waters’ ripples stream on

Reflections of golden rooftops,

Glories of past times muse in dream-song,

Gazing at gleams of sundrops.

Life playacts living, the sun spreads bright warming,

But beneath gamboling balm

Marvelous past times are wafting and swarming,

Exuding wellbeing and calm.

 

Glimmer the sunrays, goldenly gleaming,

Billowing swells scintillate.

Here the grand past times, silently streaming,

Breath on, forgetful, opaque.

Life drowses sweetly, tranquil and carefree,

Lulling the marvelous dreams,

In which the swans’ cries, softly and airily,

Sound midst unease of sunbeams.