Τώρα με την τρόικα, όλο και κάποιος θα ανασύρει αυτό το πολύ ταιριαστό ποίημα του Καβάφη και δεν αποκλείεται να του δώσει και την ερμηνεία που βολεύει. Και πάλι μπορεί να έρθει ο Earion να αναρωτηθεί τι παιχνίδια μπορεί να παίζει πάλι εδώ ο ποιητής. Ανέβασα και μεταφράσεις στις οποίες έχω πρόσβαση, κάποιες καλές, άλλες λιγότερο καλές. Και... τα λέμε.
(Παλαιότερη αναφορά, εδώ.)
Εν μεγάλη Ελληνική αποικία, 200 π.X.
Ότι τα πράγματα δεν βαίνουν κατ’ ευχήν στην Αποικία
δεν μέν’ η ελαχίστη αμφιβολία,
και μ’ όλο που οπωσούν τραβούμ’ εμπρός,
ίσως, καθώς νομίζουν ουκ ολίγοι, να έφθασε ο καιρός
να φέρουμε Πολιτικό Αναμορφωτή.
Όμως το πρόσκομμα κ’ η δυσκολία
είναι που κάμνουνε μια ιστορία
μεγάλη κάθε πράγμα οι Αναμορφωταί
αυτοί. (Ευτύχημα θα ήταν αν ποτέ
δεν τους χρειάζονταν κανείς.) Για κάθε τι,
για το παραμικρό ρωτούνε κ’ εξετάζουν,
κ’ ευθύς στον νου τους ριζικές μεταρρυθμίσεις βάζουν,
με την απαίτησι να εκτελεσθούν άνευ αναβολής.
Έχουνε και μια κλίσι στες θυσίες.
Παραιτηθείτε από την κτήσιν σας εκείνη·
η κατοχή σας είν’ επισφαλής:
η τέτοιες κτήσεις ακριβώς βλάπτουν τες Αποικίες.
Παραιτηθείτε από την πρόσοδον αυτή,
κι από την άλληνα την συναφή,
κι από την τρίτη τούτην: ως συνέπεια φυσική·
είναι μεν ουσιώδεις, αλλά τί να γίνει;
σας δημιουργούν μια επιβλαβή ευθύνη.
Κι όσο στον έλεγχό τους προχωρούνε,
βρίσκουν και βρίσκουν περιττά, και να παυθούν ζητούνε·
πράγματα που όμως δύσκολα τα καταργεί κανείς.
Κι όταν, με το καλό, τελειώσουνε την εργασία,
κι ορίσαντες και περικόψαντες το παν λεπτομερώς,
απέλθουν, παίρνοντας και την δικαία μισθοδοσία,
να δούμε τι απομένει πια, μετά
τόση δεινότητα χειρουργική.—
Ίσως δεν έφθασεν ακόμη ο καιρός.
Να μη βιαζόμεθα· είν’ επικίνδυνον πράγμα η βία.
Τα πρόωρα μέτρα φέρνουν μεταμέλεια.
Έχει άτοπα πολλά, βεβαίως και δυστυχώς, η Αποικία.
Όμως υπάρχει τι το ανθρώπινον χωρίς ατέλεια;
Και τέλος πάντων, να, τραβούμ’ εμπρός.
(Από τα Ποιήματα 1897-1933, Ίκαρος 1984)
Απαγγελία από τον Χρήστο Τσάγκα (1939-2011)
Μεταφράσεις
In a Large Greek Colony, 200 B.C.
That things in the Colony are not what they should be
no one can doubt any longer,
and though in spite of everything we do go forward,
maybe—as more than a few believe—the time has come
to bring in a Political Reformer.
But here’s the problem, here’s the hitch:
they make a tremendous fuss
about everything, these Reformers.
(What a relief it would be
if no one ever needed them.) They probe everywhere,
question the smallest detail,
and right away think up radical changes
that demand immediate execution.
Also, they have a liking for sacrifice:
Get rid of that property;
your owning it is risky:
properties like those are exactly what ruin colonies.
Get rid of that income,
and the other connected with it,
and this third, as a natural consequence:
they are substantial, but what can one do?
the responsibility they create for you is damaging.
And as they proceed with their investigation,
they find an endless number of useless things to eliminate—
things that are, however, difficult to get rid of.
And when, all being well, they finish the job,
every detail now diagnosed and sliced away,
and they retire, also taking the wages due to them—
it will be a miracle if anything’s left at all
after such surgical efficiency.
Maybe the moment has not yet arrived.
Let’s not be too hasty: haste is a dangerous thing.
Untimely measures bring repentance.
Certainly, and unhappily, many things in the Colony are absurd.
But is there anything human without some fault?
And after all, you see, we do go forward.
C.P. Cavafy, Collected Poems. Translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard. Edited by George Savidis. Revised Edition. Princeton University Press, 1992
In a Large Greek Colony, 200 B.C.E.
There is not the slightest doubt
that things in the Colony don't go as one would wish,
and though we move forward, anyway,
perhaps, as not a few think, the time has come
for us to bring in a Political Reformer.
Yet the obstacle and difficulty
is that they make a big deal
out of everything, these Reformers.
(It would be a stroke of good luck
if one never needed them.) Everything,
every little thing, they ask about and examine,
and instantly radical reforms come to mind
and they demand they be implemented without delay.
They lean toward sacrifice.
Give up that property of yours,
your owning it is risky:
such possessions are harmful to the Colonies.
Give up that income
and that coming from it,
and this third one, as a natural consequence.
They are essential, but it can't be helped;
They create an adverse liability for you.
And as they proceed in their inspection,
they find (then find again) needless things,
which they demand must go —
things that nevertheless are hard to dismiss.
And when, with good luck, they finish their work,
having ordered and pared everything down to the last detail,
they leave, taking away their rightful wages, as well.
We'll see what remains, after
so much expert surgery.
Perhaps the time had not yet come.
Let's not rush; haste is a dangerous thing.
Premature measures bring regret.
Certainly and unfortunately, there is much disorder in the Colony.
But is there anything human without imperfection?
And, anyway, look, we're moving forward.
The Collected Poems of C. P. Cavafy: A New Translation. Translation by Aliki Barnstone
IN A FAMOUS GREEK COLONY, 200 B.C.
There is not the slightest doubt
that things in the Colony are not going as desired,
though in some way or other we are going forward;
perhaps, as many people think, the time has come
to call in a Political Reformer.
However, the handicap and the hardship
are that these Reformers make
a big story out of everything.
(It would be a blessing if one never
needed them.) For everything,
for the least thing, they inquire and investigate,
and immediately they think of radical reforms,
with the request that they be executed without delay.
They also have a bent for sacrifices.
GIVE UP THAT POSSESSION OF YOURS;
YOUR PROPERTY IS UNSAFE:
IT IS PRECISELY SUCH HOLDINGS THAT HARM THE COLONIES.
GIVE UP THIS REVENUE
AND THIS OTHER THAT GOES WITH IT
AND THIS THIRD THAT FOLLOWS: AS A NATURAL RESULT;
TRUE, THEY ARE SUBSTANTIAL, BUT WHAT CAN ONE DO?
THEY CREATE A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOU.
And as they proceed with their investigation,
they find and refind excesses that they seek to stop,
things however that are hard for one to suppress.
And when, at long last, they finish their work,
and after having defined and minutely trimmed everything,
they go, also carrying off their rightful salary,
now let us see what still remains, after
such surgical ingenuity.—
Perhaps the time has not arrived as yet.
We must not rush ourselves; haste is a perilous thing.
Premature measures bring repentance.
To be sure and unfortunately, the Colony has many shortcomings.
However, is there anything human without imperfection?
And, after all, look, we are going forward.
The Complete Poems of Cavafy: Expanded Edition. Translation by Rae Dalven.
IN A LARGE GREEK COLONY, 200 B.C.
That the affairs in the Colony are not going well
not the slightest doubt remains,
and though somehow or other we are moving along,
perhaps, as many believe, the time has come
to bring in a Political Reformer.
But the obstacle and the difficulty is,
that these Reformers make
a great issue out of everything.
(A blessing it would be if nobody
ever needed them.) They examine
and inquire about the slightest little thing,
and they set their mind immediately on radical reforms,
demanding that these be executed without delay.
They also have an inclination toward sacrifices:
Give up that possession of yours;
your control over it is precarious:
it is precisely such possessions that are detrimental to the Colonies.
Give up this revenue
and that other similar one,
and this third, as a natural consequence;
they are indeed substantial, but what can you do?
They create for you a harmful liability.
And as they continue with their investigation,
they find more and more redundant things and they ask for their suspension;
things, however, that one can not readily relinquish.
And when, in good time, they complete their assignment,
and having specified and reduced everything down to the last detail,
they depart taking away their rightful wages,
then let us see what else is left
after such surgical dexterity.
Well, possibly the time may not, as yet, be ripe.
Let's not be hasty; rashness is a hazardous thing.
Untimely measures foster regrets. To be sure,
there is, unfortunately, a lot that's out of place in the Colony.
But is there anything human devoid of imperfection?
And, well, one way or another we are moving along.
The Selected Poems of Cavafy (Penguin Classics). Translation by Avi Sharon.
(Παλαιότερη αναφορά, εδώ.)
Εν μεγάλη Ελληνική αποικία, 200 π.X.
Ότι τα πράγματα δεν βαίνουν κατ’ ευχήν στην Αποικία
δεν μέν’ η ελαχίστη αμφιβολία,
και μ’ όλο που οπωσούν τραβούμ’ εμπρός,
ίσως, καθώς νομίζουν ουκ ολίγοι, να έφθασε ο καιρός
να φέρουμε Πολιτικό Αναμορφωτή.
Όμως το πρόσκομμα κ’ η δυσκολία
είναι που κάμνουνε μια ιστορία
μεγάλη κάθε πράγμα οι Αναμορφωταί
αυτοί. (Ευτύχημα θα ήταν αν ποτέ
δεν τους χρειάζονταν κανείς.) Για κάθε τι,
για το παραμικρό ρωτούνε κ’ εξετάζουν,
κ’ ευθύς στον νου τους ριζικές μεταρρυθμίσεις βάζουν,
με την απαίτησι να εκτελεσθούν άνευ αναβολής.
Έχουνε και μια κλίσι στες θυσίες.
Παραιτηθείτε από την κτήσιν σας εκείνη·
η κατοχή σας είν’ επισφαλής:
η τέτοιες κτήσεις ακριβώς βλάπτουν τες Αποικίες.
Παραιτηθείτε από την πρόσοδον αυτή,
κι από την άλληνα την συναφή,
κι από την τρίτη τούτην: ως συνέπεια φυσική·
είναι μεν ουσιώδεις, αλλά τί να γίνει;
σας δημιουργούν μια επιβλαβή ευθύνη.
Κι όσο στον έλεγχό τους προχωρούνε,
βρίσκουν και βρίσκουν περιττά, και να παυθούν ζητούνε·
πράγματα που όμως δύσκολα τα καταργεί κανείς.
Κι όταν, με το καλό, τελειώσουνε την εργασία,
κι ορίσαντες και περικόψαντες το παν λεπτομερώς,
απέλθουν, παίρνοντας και την δικαία μισθοδοσία,
να δούμε τι απομένει πια, μετά
τόση δεινότητα χειρουργική.—
Ίσως δεν έφθασεν ακόμη ο καιρός.
Να μη βιαζόμεθα· είν’ επικίνδυνον πράγμα η βία.
Τα πρόωρα μέτρα φέρνουν μεταμέλεια.
Έχει άτοπα πολλά, βεβαίως και δυστυχώς, η Αποικία.
Όμως υπάρχει τι το ανθρώπινον χωρίς ατέλεια;
Και τέλος πάντων, να, τραβούμ’ εμπρός.
(Από τα Ποιήματα 1897-1933, Ίκαρος 1984)
Απαγγελία από τον Χρήστο Τσάγκα (1939-2011)
Μεταφράσεις
In a Large Greek Colony, 200 B.C.
That things in the Colony are not what they should be
no one can doubt any longer,
and though in spite of everything we do go forward,
maybe—as more than a few believe—the time has come
to bring in a Political Reformer.
But here’s the problem, here’s the hitch:
they make a tremendous fuss
about everything, these Reformers.
(What a relief it would be
if no one ever needed them.) They probe everywhere,
question the smallest detail,
and right away think up radical changes
that demand immediate execution.
Also, they have a liking for sacrifice:
Get rid of that property;
your owning it is risky:
properties like those are exactly what ruin colonies.
Get rid of that income,
and the other connected with it,
and this third, as a natural consequence:
they are substantial, but what can one do?
the responsibility they create for you is damaging.
And as they proceed with their investigation,
they find an endless number of useless things to eliminate—
things that are, however, difficult to get rid of.
And when, all being well, they finish the job,
every detail now diagnosed and sliced away,
and they retire, also taking the wages due to them—
it will be a miracle if anything’s left at all
after such surgical efficiency.
Maybe the moment has not yet arrived.
Let’s not be too hasty: haste is a dangerous thing.
Untimely measures bring repentance.
Certainly, and unhappily, many things in the Colony are absurd.
But is there anything human without some fault?
And after all, you see, we do go forward.
C.P. Cavafy, Collected Poems. Translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard. Edited by George Savidis. Revised Edition. Princeton University Press, 1992
In a Large Greek Colony, 200 B.C.E.
There is not the slightest doubt
that things in the Colony don't go as one would wish,
and though we move forward, anyway,
perhaps, as not a few think, the time has come
for us to bring in a Political Reformer.
Yet the obstacle and difficulty
is that they make a big deal
out of everything, these Reformers.
(It would be a stroke of good luck
if one never needed them.) Everything,
every little thing, they ask about and examine,
and instantly radical reforms come to mind
and they demand they be implemented without delay.
They lean toward sacrifice.
Give up that property of yours,
your owning it is risky:
such possessions are harmful to the Colonies.
Give up that income
and that coming from it,
and this third one, as a natural consequence.
They are essential, but it can't be helped;
They create an adverse liability for you.
And as they proceed in their inspection,
they find (then find again) needless things,
which they demand must go —
things that nevertheless are hard to dismiss.
And when, with good luck, they finish their work,
having ordered and pared everything down to the last detail,
they leave, taking away their rightful wages, as well.
We'll see what remains, after
so much expert surgery.
Perhaps the time had not yet come.
Let's not rush; haste is a dangerous thing.
Premature measures bring regret.
Certainly and unfortunately, there is much disorder in the Colony.
But is there anything human without imperfection?
And, anyway, look, we're moving forward.
The Collected Poems of C. P. Cavafy: A New Translation. Translation by Aliki Barnstone
IN A FAMOUS GREEK COLONY, 200 B.C.
There is not the slightest doubt
that things in the Colony are not going as desired,
though in some way or other we are going forward;
perhaps, as many people think, the time has come
to call in a Political Reformer.
However, the handicap and the hardship
are that these Reformers make
a big story out of everything.
(It would be a blessing if one never
needed them.) For everything,
for the least thing, they inquire and investigate,
and immediately they think of radical reforms,
with the request that they be executed without delay.
They also have a bent for sacrifices.
GIVE UP THAT POSSESSION OF YOURS;
YOUR PROPERTY IS UNSAFE:
IT IS PRECISELY SUCH HOLDINGS THAT HARM THE COLONIES.
GIVE UP THIS REVENUE
AND THIS OTHER THAT GOES WITH IT
AND THIS THIRD THAT FOLLOWS: AS A NATURAL RESULT;
TRUE, THEY ARE SUBSTANTIAL, BUT WHAT CAN ONE DO?
THEY CREATE A HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOU.
And as they proceed with their investigation,
they find and refind excesses that they seek to stop,
things however that are hard for one to suppress.
And when, at long last, they finish their work,
and after having defined and minutely trimmed everything,
they go, also carrying off their rightful salary,
now let us see what still remains, after
such surgical ingenuity.—
Perhaps the time has not arrived as yet.
We must not rush ourselves; haste is a perilous thing.
Premature measures bring repentance.
To be sure and unfortunately, the Colony has many shortcomings.
However, is there anything human without imperfection?
And, after all, look, we are going forward.
The Complete Poems of Cavafy: Expanded Edition. Translation by Rae Dalven.
IN A LARGE GREEK COLONY, 200 B.C.
That the affairs in the Colony are not going well
not the slightest doubt remains,
and though somehow or other we are moving along,
perhaps, as many believe, the time has come
to bring in a Political Reformer.
But the obstacle and the difficulty is,
that these Reformers make
a great issue out of everything.
(A blessing it would be if nobody
ever needed them.) They examine
and inquire about the slightest little thing,
and they set their mind immediately on radical reforms,
demanding that these be executed without delay.
They also have an inclination toward sacrifices:
Give up that possession of yours;
your control over it is precarious:
it is precisely such possessions that are detrimental to the Colonies.
Give up this revenue
and that other similar one,
and this third, as a natural consequence;
they are indeed substantial, but what can you do?
They create for you a harmful liability.
And as they continue with their investigation,
they find more and more redundant things and they ask for their suspension;
things, however, that one can not readily relinquish.
And when, in good time, they complete their assignment,
and having specified and reduced everything down to the last detail,
they depart taking away their rightful wages,
then let us see what else is left
after such surgical dexterity.
Well, possibly the time may not, as yet, be ripe.
Let's not be hasty; rashness is a hazardous thing.
Untimely measures foster regrets. To be sure,
there is, unfortunately, a lot that's out of place in the Colony.
But is there anything human devoid of imperfection?
And, well, one way or another we are moving along.
The Selected Poems of Cavafy (Penguin Classics). Translation by Avi Sharon.
