Franz Kafka

Friday, September 14, 2012

Gabriele D'Annunzio, I Pastori, The Shepherds, English translation



English translation:
 
The Shepherds (from Alcyone, Sogni di Terre Lontane, 1903)
 
September, let's go. It is time to migrate.
Now in the land of Abruzzi my shepherds
leave the pens and take it to the sea:
they descend to the wild Adriatic
that is green like the pastures of the mountains.

They drank deeply at the alpine
springs, so that the flavor of native water
may dwell in their exiled hearts as a comfort,
and deceive at length their thirst on the way.
They renewed their crook of avellana. (*)
 
And so they walk the ancient path to the plain,
almost as through a silent river of grass,
following the vestiges of the forefathers.
Oh, voice of whom for the first time
knows the shimmering of the sea!

By the coastline presently walks
the flock. Motionless is the air.
The sun lights up the blonde living wool
that almost does not differ from the sand.
Splashing, stamping, sweet sounds.

Alas, why am I not with my shepherds?

(*) Corylus avellana, the Common Hazel

Original Italian version:

I pastori

Settembre, andiamo. È tempo di migrare.
Ora in terra d'Abruzzi i miei pastori
lascian gli stazzi e vanno verso il mare:
scendono all'Adriatico selvaggio
che verde è come i pascoli dei monti.

Han bevuto profondamente ai fonti
alpestri, che sapor d'acqua natia
rimanga né cuori esuli a conforto,
che lungo illuda la lor sete in via.
Rinnovato hanno verga d'avellano.

E vanno pel tratturo antico al piano,
quasi per un erbal fiume silente,
su le vestigia degli antichi padri.
O voce di colui che primamente
conosce il tremolar della marina!

Ora lungh'esso il litoral cammina
La greggia. Senza mutamento è l'aria.
Il sole imbionda sì la viva lana
che quasi dalla sabbia non divaria.
Isciacquio, calpestio, dolci romori.

Ah perché non son io cò miei pastori?

2 comments:

  1. September,come on. It's time to migrate.
    Now in the lands of Abruzzi my shepherds
    leave the folds and go down to the sea:
    down to the wild Adriatic
    green as the green mountain pastures are

    In the title there is a mistaken: SHEPARD !?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Jago, good catch: a typo indeed had slipped in. Thanks, and do stop by again! ;0)

    ReplyDelete

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