Robert Burns:The Love and the Poverty

 

Information: Robert Burns is famous Scottish poet (1759 - 1796). Russian people know his poems very good thanks to movies, where the songs with his text rings (sounds). One of these films -  Hello, I'm Your Aunt!" Russian director Victor Titov shoots this film (musical comedy, based on the play Charley 's Aunt" by Brandon Thomas) in 1975. The tango "The Love and the Poverty" from this film became very popular in Russia. We can hear the song in the end of blog (video).

14 February is the Valentine's Day - the Day of all beloveds.

The Love is great happiness! Money is not bad too! :-) Let's speak about that!

I suggest you my modest (unpretentious) translation Russian version of Scottish poem by Robert Burns. :-))) And original version too! :-)

The love and the Poverty

The Love and the Poverty  caught me in their  nets once and for all (I was caught in the nets of the Love and the Poverty once and for all). But the Poverty would not be a great tragedy (misfortune, trouble) for me, if would not be the Love in the World! (The Poverty is a great tragedy, when I am in Love!)

 

Why does the Fate (Destine) always hampers (impedes) the Love (Why does the Fate always is rival in Love)?  Why does the Love is a slave of riches and success?

 

The Riches and the Glory bring luck a little in the end. And I feel sorry for cravens and fools, who resign oneself to their power.

 

Your eyes sparkle in answer, when I lose my head. But your lips give me an advice to keep a wisdom (prudence).

 

But how can I keep a wisdom (prudence), when I am near with you! But how can I keep a wisdom, when I meet with you by glance (when our eyes meet)?

 

Oh, poor man with his simple love is happy in the world, because he doesn’t envy rich class (estate).

 

Oh, why does cruel lifetime is always hampers (impedes) the Love? Why does the Flower of Love isn’t blossoming without Glory and Success!

Is there for honest poverty
That hangs his head, an’ a’ that
The coward slave, we pass him by
We dare be poor for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
Our toil’s obscure and a’ that
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp
The man’s the gowd for a’ that

What though on hamely fare we dine
Wear hoddin grey, an’ a’ that
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine
A man’s a man, for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
Their tinsel show an’ a’ that
The honest man, though e’er sae poor
Is king o’ men for a’ that

Ye see yon birkie ca’d a lord
Wha struts an’ stares an’ a’ that
Tho’ hundreds worship at his word
He’s but a coof for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
His ribband, star and a’ that
The man o’ independent mind
He looks an’ laughs at a’ that

A prince can mak’ a belted knight
A marquise, duke, an’ a’ that
But an honest man’s aboon his might
Gude faith, he maunna fa’ that
For a’ that an’ a’ that
Their dignities an’ a’ that
The pith o’ sense an’ pride o’ worth
Are higher rank that a’ that

Then let us pray that come it may
(as come it will for a’ that)
That Sense and Worth, o’er a’ the earth
Shall bear the gree an’ a’ that
For a’ that an’ a’ that
It’s coming yet for a’ that
That man to man, the world o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that

 

 

Wikipedia about Robert Burns

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Comments

  • Hello, dear Nadiyah!

    Thank you very much for your comment! I'm glad, that I have such soul friend, like you! I know, you love the poetry very much, because your soul is tender, gently and very feeling! You are real princess! Fiona! :-)

  • Hello, dear Widya D'Knowlege!

    Thank you for your attention to my blog! Thanks for your warm words! It's happiness for me, that the poetry unites us! :-)

  • Hello, dear Nadira!

    You are very kindly to me! Your warm words give me comfort! This English phrase means "your words warm my soul" in Russian :-)

    I'm glad, that you love the poetry by Robert Burnth! He was a great optimist, his poems are cheerful, joyous! :-) But the poetry by Burnth isn't obligatory for learning of literature in Russian school. His poems are learned in philology classes (forms) and Universities (philology departments/ faculty). But the songs with poems by Robert Burns are very popular!

    Thanks again!
  • poems always bring out the beauty ... It's impressing me

    thanks Inga for the nice topic!

     

    -Nadiyah-

  • Inga

    Just wow.one of my favorite poet is Robert Burns too. It is a marvelous blog and also coinciding  with the Valentine day  the poem goes very well ....

  • Hello, Ramona!

    Thank you for your attention! Yes, you are right! Poems by Robert Burns are masterpieces! I'm amazing this poet, but I can read his writings in Russian for the present! :-( His poems in English are hard for me - my English is not very well! :-) I learn English while I write this kind of blogs. :-)

    Thanks for your congratulations!

  • Hello, Vega!

    Yes, of course! This poem is very popular! In addition, I'm sure, you have got excellent education, aren't you? I think that, because your page is one of well-educated person! :-)

    In either event, I'm glad, that I was reminding you  school's years and this poem! :-)

  • I read his poem very long ago (at school). Thank you!)
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