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    Fredmans Epistel N:o 81 → English translation

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Fredmans Epistel N:o 81

(Till grälmakar Löfberg i stärbhuset
vid Dantobommen, diktad vid Graven)
 
Dedicerad till Doctor Blad
 
Märk hur vår skugga, märk Movitz mon Frére,
innom et mörker sig slutar.
Hur Guld och Purpur i Skåfveln, den där,
byts til grus och klutar.
 
Vinkar Charon från sin brusande älf,
och tre gånger sen Dödgräfvaren sjelf,
mer du din drufva ej kryster.
Därfore Movitz kom hjelp mig och hvälf
grafsten öfver vår Syster.
 
Ach längtansvärda och bortskymda skjul,
under de susande grenar.
Där Tid och Döden en skönhet och ful
til et stoft förenar!
 
Til dig aldrig Afund sökt någon stig,
lyckan, eljest uti flygten så vig,
aldrig kring Grifterna ilar.
Ovän där väpnad, hvad synes väl dig?
Bryter fromt sina pilar.
 
Lillklockan klämtar til Storklockans dön,
löfvad står Cantorn i porten;
Och vid de skrålande Gåssarnas bön,
helgar denna orten.
 
Vägen opp til Templets griftprydda stad
trampas mellan Rosors gulnade blad,
multnade Plankor och Bårar;
Til dess den långa och svartklädda rad,
djupt sig bugar med tårar.
 
Så gick till hvila, från Slagsmål och Bal,
Grälmakar Löfberg, din maka;
Där, dit åt gräset, långhalsig och smal,
du än glor tilbaka.
 
Hon från Danto bommen skildes i dag,
och med henne alla lustiga lag;
Hvem skall nu Flaskan befalla.
Torstig var hon och uttorstig är jag;
Vi är torstiga alla.
 
Translation

Fredman's Epistle Nr 81

(To Quarrelsome Löfberg in the hospice by the Danto boom gate, composed by the grave)
 
(Dedicated to Doctor Blad)
 
See how our shadow, see Movitz mon frére (my brother),
Within a darkness it closes
How gold and purple in that shovel
Turns into gravel and rags
 
Charon waves from his roaring stream
And so three times does the Undertaker himself
No more shall your grapevine grow
Thus, Movitz, come and help me lay
A tombstone over our sister
 
Alas, thou wistful and concealed shed,
Underneath the breathing branches
Where Time and Death, one fair and foul
Combine into dust
 
Unto you envy never made a path,
Though happiness is nimbly evasive
Never lingering by the graves
An armed adversary, what do you see?
Piously breaking his arrows
 
The small bell chimes to the big one's toll
The Cantor stands with funerary flowers at the gate
And during the prayer of the braying lads
He hallows this site
 
The road up to the temple's city of tombs
Is throdden between yellowed rose petals,
Decaying planks and palls
To it the long and black-clad line
Bows deeply in tears
 
So he went to his rest, from brawl and from revel,
Quarrelsome Löfberg, your spouse
There you gaze back,
Through the long and thin grass
 
She from the Danto boom gate left today,
And with her went all the happy feasts
Who shall now rule over the bottle?
Thirsty was she, and really thirsty am I
We are all thirsty
 
Comments
Ronny SvedmanRonny Svedman    Sat, 24/04/2021 - 10:28

"Till grälmakar Löfberg i stärbhuset vid Dantobommen, diktad vid graven. Dedicerad till Doktor Blad."
To quarrelmaker Löfberg (?) in the foreclosed estate by Dantobommen, written by the grave. Dedication to doctor Blad.

This is my off the top of my head translation, with a good measure of "artistic freedom" - I aim for almost singable but haven tried to rhyme. Its a 30 minute work so dont judge me too hard!

Movitz, my brother, notice how our shade
Cafrries a darkness within it
How gold and purple, in the shovel over there
Contrasts to gravel, clumps and clay bits

Charon waving from his roaring stream
then the gravedigger three times joins in (three shovels of dirt over the casket)
No more of your grapes you will crush
Therefore, Movitz, come help me to raise
A gravestone over our sister

(This verse is not in thåströms version, but in the original)

"Ach längtansvärda och bortskymda skjul,
Under de susande grenar,
Där Tid och Döden en skönhet och ful
Til et stoft förenar!
Til dig aldrig Afund sökt någon stig,
Lyckan, eljest uti flygten så vig,
Aldrig kring Grifterna ilar.
Ovän där väpnad, hvad synes väl dig?
Bryter fromt sina pilar."

Comes out to:

Oh you beloved, and away obscured shack
under the windrushing branches
Where time and Death into one matter twines
ugliness, and beauty

To you envy never searched for a path
Luck that otherwise in flight nimble, fast
Never around the graves is flitting.
There, armed en'my, what's for you to see?
He piously breaks his arrows

The small bell tolls, to the drone of the big
With wreath the Cantor in the door stands
And at the prayer that the loud choirboys sing
This place is being sacred

The path up to the Temple's grave-sprinkled place
Is trodden slowly between yellowed rose leaves
Rottened planks and stretchers
Until the long and black-dressed row
Softly and in tears will bow down low

Thus, into resting from fighting and ball
went quarrelmaker Löfberg, your spouse
There from the grass, long necked and thin
She still stares back at your house

She was divided from "the Dantobom" today (name of her and Löfberg's tavern where Bellman and Movitz were regulars and drank a lot)
And with her all our lustful boozed jaggs
Now who will order the bottle?
Thirsty was she, and thirsty am I
We are thirsty all together....