# Translations of Apollinaire **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translations-of-apollinaire/753684 "2016-05-02T14:51:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2016, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translations-of-apollinaire/753684/1 "2016-05-02T14:51:19Z")
The poems of Apollinaire came up in another thread. I hope Dopers will indulge my curiosity about translations. Here is one of Apollinaire’s more famous poems: [QUOTE=Guillaume Apollinaire] Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine Et nos amours Faut-il qu’il m’en souvienne La joie venait toujours après la peine ``` Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure Les jours s'en vont je demeure ``` Les mains dans les mains restons face à face Tandis que sous Le pont de nos bras passe Des éternels regards l’onde si lasse ``` Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure Les jours s'en vont je demeure ``` L’amour s’en va comme cette eau courante L’amour s’en va Comme la vie est lente Et comme l’Espérance est violente ``` Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure Les jours s'en vont je demeure ``` Passent les jours et passent les semaines Ni temps passé Ni les amours reviennent Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine ``` Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure Les jours s'en vont je demeure ``` [/QUOTE] I ask Dopers which of the following two translations is “better.” (I think even non-French speakers should be able to form an opinion.) > [@](#): > > 'Neath the Bridge Mirabeau flows the Seine > And our romances. > Must I be reminded again? > Pleasure always comes after pain. > > The hour chimes, night is nigh; > Days go by; I abide. > > Hand in hand we linger face to face > While 'neath the bridge our arms make > Waves do chase: > Waves so weary of eternal embrace. > > The hour chimes, night is nigh; > Days go by; I abide. > > Love slips away like this current flows > Love slips away > Just as life is slow > And just as hope is beyond control. > > The hour chimes, night is nigh; > Days go by; I abide. > > Pass the days, the weeks pass then; > Neither times gone by > nor our loves will come again. > 'Neath the Bridge Mirabeau flows the Seine. > > The hour chimes, night is nigh; > Days go by; I abide. > [@](#): > > Under the Mirabeau bridge flows the Seine > And our loves > Must I remember them > Joy always followed after pain > > Let the night fall and the hours ring > The days go away, I remain > > Hand in hand let us stay face to face > while underneath > the bridge of our arms passes > the so-slow wave of eternal looks > > Let the night fall and the hours ring > The days go away, I remain > > Love goes away like this flowing water > Love goes away > How slow life is > How violent hope is > > Let the night fall and the hours ring > The days go away, I remain > > The days pass and the weeks pass > Neither past time > Nor past loves return > Under the Mirabeau bridge flows the Seine > > Let the night fall and the hours ring > The days go away, I remain _ **Better yet, come up with a better English translation of this short but famous poem!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2016, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translations-of-apollinaire/753684/2 "2016-05-03T12:51:18Z")
My French is rusty enough to be punched through with a fist, and I have no knowledge of Apollinaire — who like his English-speaking ( and other ) contemporaries, having emerged from the _Fin-de-Siècle_ unscathed, seemed to be in an uncertain phase of culture waiting to be proved in the Embrace of Death in the carnage attained. Still… neither seems ideal, but the first, _'Neath the Bridge Mirabeau flows the Seine_, is rather plodding and very unworthy of Tom Hood 80 years before ( similar style ). The second is adequate, and sprightly in a Bérangeresque fashion, but very shallow in thought ( which seems right ). However, all translation is difficult and treacherous; and the lightest thought sounds meaningful in the original French. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2016, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translations-of-apollinaire/753684/3 "2016-05-04T07:37:44Z")
Thanks for your reply, **Claverhouse**. I was hoping for more responses, but I guess I’ll settle for a 1-0 decision. 😉 I was inerested not only in imitation of the poetic effects, but translation of some French phrases that seemed ambiguous to me. Anyway, I guess you sum it up best: [QUOTE=Claverhouse] However, all translation is difficult and treacherous; [/QUOTE]