http://www.ifkurds.de/en/publications/item/66-mem-u-z%C3%AEn-%E2%80%93-a-classical-17th-century-epic.html
ph: Anselma Lo
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Georgien 2008
Visualizzazione post con etichetta Ehmede Xani. Mostra tutti i post
Visualizzazione post con etichetta Ehmede Xani. Mostra tutti i post
Mem u Zin, l'epopea curda del XVII sec.
http://www.ifkurds.de/en/publications/item/66-mem-u-z%C3%AEn-%E2%80%93-a-classical-17th-century-epic.html
ph: Anselma Lo
*
"Mem and Zin", 17th-century Kurdish national epic: è stato pubblicato dall'Institut fùr Kurdische Studien e.V.
ed è in vendita qui. A me è arrivato come stampa non raccomandata, chi lo vuole un libro? - in pochi gg con poca spesa.
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another section of my translation, from the German translation, of the 17th-century Kurdish national epic "Mem and Zin" by Ahmet Xani.
The two lovers have died and been buried. The evil watchman cum vizier Bekir, whose plotting led to their deaths, has been killed by Mem's friend and gets buried between the lovers. The colocynth is a bitter, poisonous plant. I particularly like verse 2403.
Mitch Cohen
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Chapter title:
Each plant has its own odor
Each plant has its own odor
2391
The wisdom of the Highest has revealed to us
That Mem and Zîn arrived in the Eternal Palace.
The wisdom of the Highest has revealed to us
That Mem and Zîn arrived in the Eternal Palace.
2392
Their being and their character remained the same,
And there was nothing ever altered in their nature.
Their being and their character remained the same,
And there was nothing ever altered in their nature.
2393
It came to pass that on the grave of Mem and Zîn
There sprouted seeds of love, and soon the grave was verdant.
It came to pass that on the grave of Mem and Zîn
There sprouted seeds of love, and soon the grave was verdant.
2394
Two lofty trees grew straight and proud out of this ground
And rose, exhilarated, reaching for the heavens.
Two lofty trees grew straight and proud out of this ground
And rose, exhilarated, reaching for the heavens.
2395
The one a cypress and the other one a pine,
They both were fresh and delicate, their shade refreshing.
The one a cypress and the other one a pine,
They both were fresh and delicate, their shade refreshing.
2396
Their boughs, like loving arms, did tenderly entwine;
Their trunks were strong and straight, but tilted toward each other.
Their boughs, like loving arms, did tenderly entwine;
Their trunks were strong and straight, but tilted toward each other.
2397
But from the grave of evil Bekir grew one, too,
And this one looked much like a sour Saint Lucie cherry.
But from the grave of evil Bekir grew one, too,
And this one looked much like a sour Saint Lucie cherry.
2398
Now see! This tree was twisted, disharmonious,
And, like the buried man, was full of thorns and prickles.
Now see! This tree was twisted, disharmonious,
And, like the buried man, was full of thorns and prickles.
2399
It crowded both the other trees and strove for height,
Preventing them, in death as well as life, from union.
It crowded both the other trees and strove for height,
Preventing them, in death as well as life, from union.
2400
It couldn’t stand in tranquil calm or grow up straight,
But kept on acting as the others’ adversary.
It couldn’t stand in tranquil calm or grow up straight,
But kept on acting as the others’ adversary.
2401
It skulked and crept up to the lovers once again.
It twined around and choked the trees it took for rivals.
It skulked and crept up to the lovers once again.
It twined around and choked the trees it took for rivals.
2402
And with its clinging roots and branches, it entwined
And fettered once again the trees that had been lovers.
And with its clinging roots and branches, it entwined
And fettered once again the trees that had been lovers.
2403
How can a man who’s rotten to the very core
Wash off his nature like mere smudges from a surface?
How can a man who’s rotten to the very core
Wash off his nature like mere smudges from a surface?
2404
If you grow colocynths for all of forty years,
And douse the fields a hundred times with sweetest honey,
If you grow colocynths for all of forty years,
And douse the fields a hundred times with sweetest honey,
2405
And pamper them with sunlight and with tempered warmth
And make a point of using rosewater to spray them,
And pamper them with sunlight and with tempered warmth
And make a point of using rosewater to spray them,
2406
And if you cultivate and daily care for them,
And never cease to irrigate with sugar water,
And if you cultivate and daily care for them,
And never cease to irrigate with sugar water,
2407
No matter how much care and love you give to them,
They’ll never show you gratitude by yielding melons.
No matter how much care and love you give to them,
They’ll never show you gratitude by yielding melons.
2408
Don’t fool yourself that when the colocynth is ripe
You’ll harvest fruits whose taste is sweet; they will be bitter.
Don’t fool yourself that when the colocynth is ripe
You’ll harvest fruits whose taste is sweet; they will be bitter.
from the Kurdish national epic "Mem & Zin", translated into English e distico finale in italiano
L'autore del XVII sec. medita su ministri e governi deludenti:
Se in segreto non devii dalla vera via,
mai còmpito e prestigio di ministro avrai.
1981
There are some rulers – virtuous, intelligent –
Who nonetheless cannot distinguish good from evil.
There are some rulers – virtuous, intelligent –
Who nonetheless cannot distinguish good from evil.
1982
Naïve, they might as well be stupid and stone-blind;
Their hearts neglect to plumb the source and depths of speeches.
Naïve, they might as well be stupid and stone-blind;
Their hearts neglect to plumb the source and depths of speeches.
1983
Their hearts still hear, and yet their ears don’t hear their hearts;
Their eyes are backwards: eyeballs black and white their pupils.
Their hearts still hear, and yet their ears don’t hear their hearts;
Their eyes are backwards: eyeballs black and white their pupils.
1984
When evil people slyly whisper bad advice,
They give it all the credence due to truth and wisdom.
When evil people slyly whisper bad advice,
They give it all the credence due to truth and wisdom.
1985
No question in their minds if evil or if good,
Or whether truth is told or just a sly deception.
No question in their minds if evil or if good,
Or whether truth is told or just a sly deception.
1986
Shortsighted, they lack wisdom and all common sense.
They’re quick to anger with no cause and have no patience.
Shortsighted, they lack wisdom and all common sense.
They’re quick to anger with no cause and have no patience.
1987
And many are conceited, thinking they are shrewd,
But most are far removed from prudence and from knowledge.
And many are conceited, thinking they are shrewd,
But most are far removed from prudence and from knowledge.
1988
This makes them prey for greedy, sly, and evil men.
The low, despicable, the kind who lack all honor,
This makes them prey for greedy, sly, and evil men.
The low, despicable, the kind who lack all honor,
1989
Insinuate themselves as friends and councilors,
Thus bringing scandal over ministers and rulers:
Insinuate themselves as friends and councilors,
Thus bringing scandal over ministers and rulers:
1990
Appointed posts in public office, where they scheme
And do not render service to the state, but damage.
Appointed posts in public office, where they scheme
And do not render service to the state, but damage.
1991
A prince who rules a state and is intelligent
As well as merciful and just, in short, a statesman,
A prince who rules a state and is intelligent
As well as merciful and just, in short, a statesman,
1992
Will never delegate his power to a man
Who hasn’t been subjected to a thorough testing.
Will never delegate his power to a man
Who hasn’t been subjected to a thorough testing.
1993
He’ll test the man with rigor up to forty times
Before promoting him to posts that hold great power.
He’ll test the man with rigor up to forty times
Before promoting him to posts that hold great power.
1994
If one is Prince, the other Minister of State,
Their stewardships will merely be an intermezzo.
If one is Prince, the other Minister of State,
Their stewardships will merely be an intermezzo.
1995
If, on this stage, the roles they play are both the same,
They’re clowns and villains who confuse the good with evil.
If, on this stage, the roles they play are both the same,
They’re clowns and villains who confuse the good with evil.
1996
If you don’t stray in secret from the path of truth,
You’ll never hold a minister’s prestigious office.
If you don’t stray in secret from the path of truth,
You’ll never hold a minister’s prestigious office.
Il libro si può ordinare qui
http://www.ifkurds.de/en/publications/item/66-mem-u-z%C3%AEn-%E2%80%93-a-classical-17th-century-epic.html
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