Targum

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Title: Targum
Author: George Borrow
Release Date: June 3, 2004 [eBook #12510]
Language: English
Character set encoding: US-ASCII
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TARGUM***
Transcribed by David Price, email [email protected]
TARGUM.?Or Metrical Translations From Thirty Languages And Dialects. By George Borrow.
"The raven has ascended to the nest of the nightingale."?Persian Poem
The following pieces, selections from a huge and undigested mass of translation, accumulated during several years devoted to philological pursuits, are with much diffidence offered to the public, the writer being fully aware that not unfrequently he has failed in giving his version that cast and turn, which constitute no slight part of the beauty of the original; a point the accomplishment of which the poetical Translator ought, in all instances, to bear particularly in view, but which he will invariably find the most difficult part of the task which he has undertaken; in comparison with which the rendering of the diction of his Author into tolerable verse is an easy achievement. Perhaps no person, amongst the many individuals who have distinguished themselves by skill in the targumannic art, has more successfully surmounted this difficulty than Fairfax, the Translator into English "octave rhyme" of "The Jerusalem," the master-piece of the greatest poet of modern Italy and, with one exception, of modern time.
That the character of a nation is best distinguishable by the general tone of its poetry, has been frequently remarked, and is a truth which does not admit of controversy; the soft songs of the Persian, and the bold and warlike ditties of the Dane are emblems of the effeminacy of the one, and the reckless heroism of the other.--In most instances the writer in the selection of pieces for this little work has been guided by a desire of exhibiting what is most characteristic of the people to whose literature it belongs. At the same time, he has been careful that this desire should not lead him to the countenancing of any thing which could be considered as pregnant with injury to good taste and morals, and has in consequence been compelled to exclude from his anthology many a glorious flower, which he would gladly have woven therein, had he not been apprehensive that it was the offspring of a poisonous bulb. He cannot refrain from lamenting that in his literary researches he has too often found amongst the writings of those, most illustrious for their genius and imagination, the least of that which is calculated to meet the approbation of the Christian, or even of the mere Moralist; and in conclusion he will take the liberty of addressing to those who may feel within them the stirrings of a mind capable of mighty things, the sublime words, slightly modified, of an Arabian sage and poet: O man, though the years of thy worldly fame are destined to be equal in number to the doves of the heaven, they shall nevertheless have an end, but whatever thou shalt do or say, which is founded on the love of wisdom and of God, shall endure for ever.
Saint Petersburg. June 1, 1835.
ODE TO GOD.
From the Hebrew.
Reign'd the Universe's Master ere were earthly things begun; When His mandate all created, Ruler was the name He won,?And alone He'll rule tremendous when all things are past and gone; He no equal has nor consort, He the singular and lone?Has no end and no beginning, His the sceptre, might, and throne; He's my God and living Saviour, rock to which in need I run; He's my banner and my refuge, fount of weal when call'd upon; In His hand I place my spirit at night-fall and rise of sun, And therewith my body also; God's my God--I fear no one.
PRAYER.
From the Arabic.
O Thou who dost know what the heart fain would hide;?Who ever art ready whate'er may betide;?In whom the distressed can hope in their woe;?Whose ears with the groans of the wretched are plied--?Still bid Thy good gifts from Thy treasury flow;?All good is assembled where Thou dost abide;?To Thee, save my poverty, nought can I show,?And of Thee all my poverty's wants are supplied;?What choice have I save to Thy portal to go??If 'tis shut, to what other my steps can I guide??'Fore whom as a suppliant low shall I bow,?If Thy bounty to me, Thy poor slave, is denied??But oh: though rebellious full often I grow?Thy bounty and kindness are not the less wide.
DEATH.
From the Arabic.
Grim Death in his shroud swatheth mortals each hour,?Yet little we reck of what's