Tuesday, August 21, 2012

You're fired. Resignation, second part 2

Though I haven't been posting for the last few days (the new semester has bitten down on my ankle like  a Rottweiler), I have been a-translating fairly steadily. So let me catch up a bit with the rest of "Resignation" or "Contrition A and B" (if you prefer).

Resignation / Contrition A

                                           Allow the angels to take me away
50       afterwards into your presence, Savior Prince,
            Measurer, in your mercy.  Even though I committed
            many crimes in (my) days, nevertheless do not ever let the devil
            take your right arm (lit., limb; offspring?) on a hateful journey,
            for fear that they may rejoice in the thought
55       by which they seemed to themselves better
            --those over-reaching (lit., proud) angels--than eternal Christ.
            They lied to themselves in this belief; therefore they long must
            suffer torment, those cursed creatures.
            Stand by me and steer my spirit, when any storm
60       may come against it; help then,
            mighty Lord, my soul;
            Defend her and keep her, Father of mankind,
            safe--my soul--anxiously determined,
            Measurer powerful in might. My heart is
65       now stained with sins and for my soul
            I am sometimes terrified, even though you have granted me many
            favors on this earth. Thanks be to You for everything,
            for the gifts and graces that you have given me.
            Not at all were any merits
70       in (me?)…


Contrition B?


            …nevertheless I want to have courage in myself for everything
            and to laugh and to trust in myself,
            to decorate/equip myself for (my) departure and
            to test myself on that journey which I must undertake,
75       to prepare my spirit, and to suffer everything for God,
            happy in heart, now (that) I am fettered
            fast in my spirit.  Indeed, Lord, guard me
            from certain sins which I myself cannot
            remember (lit., perceive) clearly. I have enraged
80       God, Prince of mankind; therefore, I was so bitterly
            blamed for this world, since my faults were
            great before men, so that I suffered
            a profound martyrdom. I am not a just judge,
            wise before the throng; therefore I speak these words
85       eager in spirit, because in the beginning troubles
            came to me over the earth, so that I was always experiencing,
            every year—thanks God for everything!—
            more than others (did), mind-sufferings,
            frights among the folk. Therefore I, miserable,
90       am ready (to go) from my homeland. Thus the alone-thinker/recluse cannot,
            deprived of folk-joys live for long.
            The friendless outcast—the Measurer is angry with him—
            mourns among the young warriors,
            and each time men help him,
95       they increase his miseries. And all that he puts up with,
            the sorrow-talk of men, and in his heart is always sad,
            the mind morning-sick. I tell this sorrow-tale
            about myself most intensely/for my own sake entirely and speak about my departure,
            eager with longing, and think about the ocean,
100     my *****/mind?? does not *****/know??
            how I could buy a boat on the sea,
            ship on the shore; I don’t have much gold (myself),
            nor indeed any friend’s (riches) which might assist me
            on that journey, now that I my self cannot
105     accomplish my desires because of my poverty. 
            Forests can grow to themselves, await their fate,
            sprout with sprigs—I, for shame, cannot
            love any of mankind in (my) heart/mind,
            any nobleman in his homeland.  Oh, my Lord,
110     mighty Protector, how sick I am at heart,
            bitterly burning in anger. After life, any atonement/remedy
            depends (solely) on you. I cannot live in the light
            in any way, without sufferings
            on the earth, a destitute man;
115     If I had friendship from strangers,
            comforting kinship, I would always have fear
            for my loves as a reward/in return, just as I have now admitted.
            It is still best, when a man cannot turn away
            from his fate, that he then/at least suffer it well.

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