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Nikoo Posted 15 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing

Poem translation

I have translated an old poem to English. I should be grateful if you could tell me if it makes any sense:

On world and its chattels, bind not thy heart,

for its loyalty no body won.

No one ate honey here without getting a bite;

no one plucked a date here, without a bite of a thorn.

One set a fire to a candle,

when he was done, everything was blown.

The one, who bound his heart on it (world),

was in fact, growing the enemy of his own.

The warrior, the world-conquering king,

the one from whose sword blood dropped when it was drawn;

the one who defeated an army by one raid,

annihilated the heart of the corps by a shout alone.

Panic-stricken by hearing his name,

a lion would prepare to attack in its wild zone.

He jailed the princes for no cause,

beheaded many easily, with no fear shown.




  

Top answer

Hello, Nikoo - and welcome to English Forums. It makes sense, but the sections do not go together well. I have suggested a few changes in grammar and vocabulary, but the problem with the sections remains: To the world and its chattels, bind not thy heart, for its loyalty nobody won.

  • Hello, Nikoo - and welcome to English Forums.
  • It makes sense, but the sections do not go together well.
  • I have suggested a few changes in grammar and vocabulary, but the problem with the sections remains: To the world and its chattels, bind not thy heart, for its loyalty nobody won.
  • No one ate honey here without getting stung ; no one plucked a date here, without the bite of a thorn.
  • One set a fire to a candle, and when he was done, everything was burnt.
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2 Answers
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Hello, Nikoo - and welcome to English Forums.

It makes sense, but the sections do not go together well. I have suggested a few changes in grammar and vocabulary, but the problem with the sections remains:

To the world and its chattels, bind not thy heart,

for its loyalty nobody won.

No one ate honey here without getting stung
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Hello Mister Micawber

and thank you for replying.

Yes, the sections do not go together well.

This heterogeneous structure is a characteristic of the poems I'm translating.

This was very helpful.

Thanks again.

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