DER YIDDISH-VINKL March 11, 2005
Al Grand is back with us again, with one of his inimitable translations of Gilbert and Sullivan into Yiddish. The Savoyards, so called because their musicals were performed in the Savoy Hotel’s theater, were and are Grand’s passion. His e-mail address is Savoyid. What follows are passages from G&S’s “Pirates of Penzance” in English, which Grand translates as “Di Yam Gazlonim.”
English Original
FREDERIC:
Oh, is there not one maiden breast
Which does not feel the moral beauty
Of making worldly interest
Subordinate to a sense of duty?
Who would not give up willingly
All matrimonial ambition
To rescue such a one as I
From his unfortunate position?
GIRLS:
Alas! There’s not one maiden breast
Which seems to feel the moral beauty
Of making worldly interest
Subordinate to a sense of duty!
FREDERIC:
Oh, is there not one maiden here
Whose homely face and bad complexion
Have caused all hope to disappear
Of ever winning man’s affection?
Of such a one, if such there be,
I swear by heaven’s arch above you
If you will cast your eyes on me
However plain you be, I’ll love you.
However plain you be
If you will cast your eyes on me
However plain you be
I’ll love you, I’ll love you, I’ll love you.
GIRLS:
Alas. There’s not a one maiden here
Whose homely face and bad complexion
Have caused all hope to disappear
Of ever winning man’s affection.
Yiddish Version
FAYVL:
Avu iz do a meydl sheyn
Vos hot oyf mir a kap rakhmones
Un vet bald shenken mir aleyn
Ir gut harts un ir nemones.
Tsi ir zayt gut vi ir zayt sheyn?
Dos ken men zen, s’iz nit kayn frage
Oy helft mir, lozt mikh nit aleyn
Un ratevet mikh fun mayn lage.
Oy ra-te-vet un helft mir aroys
Fun mayn um-glik-er un shver-er lage.
MEYLEKH:
Es iz nito kayn meydl sheyn
Vos hot oyf dir kayn kap rakhmones
Un vet bald shenken dir aleyn
Ir gut harts un ir nemones.
FAYVL:
Gefint zikh do a meydl fayn
Vos hot a zeyer mis ponim
Un keyn mol vet keyn kale zayn
(To audience) Oy trefn zol es mayne sonim!
