Bedros Tourian (1851-1872)
English translation by Alice Stone Blackwell
Little Lake
Why dost thou lie in hushed surprise,
Thou little lonely mere?
Did some fair woman wistfully
Gaze in thy mirror clear?
Or are thy waters calm and still,
Admiring the blue sky,
Where shining cloudlets, like thy foam,
Are drifting softly by?
Sad little lake, let us be friends!
I too am desolate;
I too would fain, beneath the sky,
In silence meditate.
As many thoughts are in my mind
As wavelets o'er thee roam;
As many wounds are in my heart
As thou hast flakes of foam.
But if heaven's constellations all
Should drop into thy breast,
Thou still woudst not be like my soul, -
A flame-sea without rest.
There, when the air and thou are calm,
The clouds let fall no showers;
The stars that rise there do not set,
And fadeless are the flowers.
Thou art my queen, O little lake!
For e'en when ripples thrill
Thy surface, in thy quivering depths
Thou hold'st me, trembling, still.
Full many have rejected me:
"What has he but his lyre?"
"He trembles, and his face is pale;
His life must soon expire!"
None said, "Poor child, why pines he thus?
If he beloved should be,
Haply he might not die, but live, -
Live, and grow fair to see."
None sought the boy's sad heart to read,
Nor in its depths to look.
They would have found it was a fire,
And not a printed book!
Nay, ashes now! a memory!
Grow stormy, little mere,
For a despairing man has gazed
Into thy waters clear!
(Isn't this autobiographical poem rather charming?! It may have been a little weakened by the English renderer's attempts to make the verses rhyme, but the original is of very high quality, very simple but also very direct and very touching... Bedros Tourian died of consumption at the age of 21, and the allusion is to the fact that apparently Tourian was in love with an actress, whom he overheard scornfully saying, at a meeting during which he wanted to persuade a distinguished theatre producer to stage one of his plays, when a friend of hers mentioned the young poet/playwright, "Oh him? He is trembling and so pale - he might even die one of those days!" (which, alas, was indeed borne out in the event).
My death
When Death's pale angel stands before my face,
With smile unfathomable, stern and chill,
And when my sorrows with my soul exhale,
Know yet, my friends, that I am living still.
When at my head a waxen taper slim
With its cold rays the silent room shall fill,
A taper with a face that speaks of death,
Yet know, my friends, that I am living still.
When, with my forehead glittering with tears,
They in a shroud enfold me, cold and chill
As any stone, and lay me on a bier,
Yet know, my friends, that I am living still.
When the sad bells shall toll - that bell, the laugh
Of cruel Death, which wakes an icy thrill -
And when my bier is slowly borne along,
Yet know, my friends, that I am living still.
When the death-chanting priests, dark browed, austere,
With incense and with prayers the air shall fill,
Rising together as they pass along,
Yet know, my friends, that I am living still.
When they have set my tomb in order fair,
And when, with bitter sobs and wailing shrill,
My dear ones from the grave at length depart,
Yet know, my friends, that I shall be living still.
But when my grave forgotten shall remain
In some dim nook, neglected and passed by, -
When from the world my memory fades away,
That is the time when I indeed shall die!
To Love
A galaxy of glances bright,
A sweet bouquet of smiles,
A crucible of melting words
Bewitched me with their wiles!
I wished to live retired, to love
The flowers and bosky glades,
The blue sky's lights, the dew of morn,
The evening's mists and shades;
To scan my destiny's dark page,
In thought my hours employ,
And dwell in meditation deep
And visionary joy.
Then near me stirred a breath that seemed
A waft of Eden's air,
The rustle of a maiden's robe,
A tress of shining hair.
I sought to make a comrade dear
Of the transparent brook.
It holds no trace of memory;
When in its depths I look,
I find there floating, clear and pale,
My face! Its waters hold
No other secret in their breast
Than wavelets manifold.
I heard a heart's ethereal throb;
It whispered tenderly:
"Dost thou desire a heart?" it said.
"Beloved, come to me!"
I wished to love the zephyr soft
That breathes o'er fields of bloom;
It woundeth none, - a gentle soul
Whose secret is perfume.
So sweet it is, it has the power
To nurse a myriad dreams;
To mournful spirits, like the scent
Of paradise it seems.
Then from a sheaf of glowing flames
To me a whisper stole:
It murmured low, "Dost thou desire
To worship a pure soul?"
I wished to make the lyre alone
My heart's companion still,
To know it as a loving friend,
And guide its chords at will.
But she drew near me, and I heard
A whisper soft and low:
"Thy lyre is a cold heart," she said,
"Thy love is only woe."
My spirit recognised her then;
She beauty was, and fire,
Pure as the stream, kind as the breeze,
And faithful as the lyre.
My soul, that from the path had erred,
Spread wide its wings to soar,
And bade the life of solitude
Farewell forevermore.
A galaxy of glances bright,
A sweet bouquet of smiles,
A crucible of melting words
Bewitched me with their wiles!
What are you, love?
What are you, love? A flame from heaven?
A radiant smile are you?
The heaven has not your eyes' bright gleams,
The heaven has not their blue.
The rose has not your snowy breast;
In the moon's face we seek
In vain the rosy flush that dyes
Your soft and blushing cheek.
By night you smile upon the stars,
And on the amorous moon,
By day upon the waves, the flowers -
Why not on one alone?
But, though I pray to you with tears,
With tears and bitter sighs,
You will not deign me yet one glance
Cast by your shining eyes.
O love, are you a mortal maid,
Or angel formed of light?
The spring rose and the radiant moon
Envy your beauty bright;
And when your sweet and thrilling voice
Is heard upon the air,
In cypress depths the nightingale
Is silent in despair.
Would I, a zephyr, might caress
Your bright brow's dreams in sleep,
Breathe gently on your lips, and dry
Your tears, if you should weep!
Or would that in your garden fair
A weeping rose I grew;
And when you came resplendent there
At morning with the dew,
I'd give fresh colour to your cheek
That makes the rose look pale,
Shed on your breast my dew, and there
My latest breath exhale.
Oh, would I were a limpid brook!
If softly you drew nigh,
And smiled into my mirror clear,
My blue waves would run dry.
Oh, would I were a sunbeam bright,
To make you seem more fair,
Touching your face, and dying soon
Amid your fragrant hair!
But, if you love another,
His gravestone may I be!
Then you would linger near me,
Your tears would fall on me;
Your sighs would wander o'er me,
Sighs for his early doom.
To touch you, O beloved,
I must become a tomb!
Courtesy of
Haig Utidjian
With minor translation adjustments http://www.hyeetch.n.../poetry_p1.html
[This message has been edited by MJ (edited February 04, 2001).]
Bedros Tourian (1851-1872)
Started by
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, Feb 04 2001 05:22 PM
18 replies to this topic
#2
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Posted 05 February 2001 - 11:42 AM
For those, who have not been aware of Bedros Tourian (in Eastern Armenian his name is spelled Dourian), Bedros has been a talented young Armenian poet, residing in Istanbul, who has died of tuberculosis. He has authored a number of beautiful poems.
#3
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Posted 06 February 2001 - 12:28 AM
quote:
Originally posted by MJ:
For those, who have not been aware of Bedros Tourian (in Eastern Armenian his name is spelled Dourian)
Originally posted by MJ:
For those, who have not been aware of Bedros Tourian (in Eastern Armenian his name is spelled Dourian)
I have noticed that words that are spelled with a "t" in Western Armenian are spelled with a "d" in Eastern Armenian. On the other hand words that are spelled with a "d" in Western Armenian are spelled with a "t" in Eastern Armenian. So regardless of the situation there is always a switch. Same thing with "c" and "g", "b" and "p". Is there a reason as to why there is always a switch? Just wandering. Thanks, if anyone knows.
#4
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Posted 06 February 2001 - 12:32 AM
I don't know the reason, but you are right.
#5
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Posted 05 February 2001 - 01:52 PM
That IS strange that they switch back and forth like that. Isn't the pronunciation the same regardless of how it's spelled? For example the "right" sound is actually somewhere inbetween the t & d, b & p, etc.
Like the chinese word "tao" which is spelled with a "t", but pronounced as a "d". The true sound is somewhere in the middle.
My understanding is the general phonetic difference is Eastern Armenian recognizes the subtle differences in some consonants, whereas Western does not. So in Western Armenian you actually have pairs of consonants with identical sounds.
Like the chinese word "tao" which is spelled with a "t", but pronounced as a "d". The true sound is somewhere in the middle.
My understanding is the general phonetic difference is Eastern Armenian recognizes the subtle differences in some consonants, whereas Western does not. So in Western Armenian you actually have pairs of consonants with identical sounds.
#6
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Posted 05 February 2001 - 02:17 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Pilafhead:
That IS strange that they switch back and forth like that. Isn't the pronunciation the same regardless of how it's spelled? For example the "right" sound is actually somewhere inbetween the t & d, b & p, etc.
Like the chinese word "tao" which is spelled with a "t", but pronounced as a "d". The true sound is somewhere in the middle.
My understanding is the general phonetic difference is Eastern Armenian recognizes the subtle differences in some consonants, whereas Western does not. So in Western Armenian you actually have pairs of consonants with identical sounds.
Originally posted by Pilafhead:
That IS strange that they switch back and forth like that. Isn't the pronunciation the same regardless of how it's spelled? For example the "right" sound is actually somewhere inbetween the t & d, b & p, etc.
Like the chinese word "tao" which is spelled with a "t", but pronounced as a "d". The true sound is somewhere in the middle.
My understanding is the general phonetic difference is Eastern Armenian recognizes the subtle differences in some consonants, whereas Western does not. So in Western Armenian you actually have pairs of consonants with identical sounds.
No, the pronunciation is different just like the spelling is different. Whatever is spelled with a "D" is pronounced with a clear "D" sound, and whatever is spelled with a "T" is pronounced with a clear "T" sound.
This is not a case in which Eastern Armenian pronounces stronger consonants than Western. Even though often in Eastern the "T"s, "P"s, and "C"s are replaced by the stronger sounding "D"s, "B"s, and "G"s, respectively, the opposite is done just as much (Ds, Bs, and Gs are replaced by "T"s, "P"s and "C"s). Examples: Garabedian is Karapetyan, Dickran is Tigran. Those are names but same thing applies to words ( I can't think of any examples right now). It's not a big deal, but it does intrigue me.
#7
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Posted 05 February 2001 - 02:25 PM
Actually now that I think about it there aren't any words in which the consonants mentioned above are interchanged (I'm sure there are some but even so a relatively small number). Can anybody think of any? Maybe it is something that applies predominantly to names.
#8
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Posted 05 February 2001 - 02:56 PM
quote:
Originally posted by BTac:
Examples: Garabedian is Karapetyan, Dickran is Tigran.
Originally posted by BTac:
Examples: Garabedian is Karapetyan, Dickran is Tigran.
I had assumed both ways are right and both ways are wrong. Since it is simply an English phonetic representation, both Dickran and Tigran are only approximations. With the "right" way being in the middle. If you say each pair fast, they really are not that different.
I'm no linguist, nor am I fluent in Armenian, so take all of this with tiny grain of salt.
#9
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Posted 05 February 2001 - 03:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Pilafhead:
I had assumed both ways are right and both ways are wrong. Since it is simply an English phonetic representation, both Dickran and Tigran are only approximations. With the "right" way being in the middle. If you say each pair fast, they really are not that different.
I'm no linguist, nor am I fluent in Armenian, so take all of this with tiny grain of salt.
Originally posted by Pilafhead:
I had assumed both ways are right and both ways are wrong. Since it is simply an English phonetic representation, both Dickran and Tigran are only approximations. With the "right" way being in the middle. If you say each pair fast, they really are not that different.
I'm no linguist, nor am I fluent in Armenian, so take all of this with tiny grain of salt.
Maybe you're right. I don't know. But I think that they are spelled differently even when using the Armenian alphabet.
#10
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Posted 05 February 2001 - 03:31 PM
Btac, you are right, they are spelled differently in each dialect, and are pronounced differently - like you have indicated.
#11
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Posted 05 February 2001 - 03:48 PM
So then are Dickran and Tigran two different names? Or are they Western and Eastern versions of the same name?
#12
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Posted 05 February 2001 - 03:52 PM
They are the two versions of the same name.
#13
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Posted 06 June 2001 - 10:04 PM
This answer comes very late but I would like to correct one thing: Dikran and Tigran are spelled similarly both in eastern and western dialects and if garabedian and karapetian are spelled differently this is only due to the use of the new spelling adopted in Armenia in 1920s or 1930s an attempt by the communist regime to cut armenians from their past(just like russians changed their alphabet I think right?). So originally there was no spelling difference at all I think.
#14
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Posted 07 June 2001 - 05:58 AM
I am not quite sure about all of your explanations, Poetry, though agree with your explanation of the motivations of the communists behind the changes that they have introduced into Eastern Armenian phonetics. I think the differences in the pronunciation of Eastern and Western Armenian dialects have existed way before the 20th century. It is enough to examine, for example, Khachatur Abovyan’s “Verk Hayastani” to be convinced in it, or to listen the speech of the Eastern Armenians. Besides, the changes that the communists have made have been mot really significant.
Despite the opinion that may prevail, I think the changes that the communists have introduced have not been that negative. Language is a live media. It evolves throughout centuries. Even the modern Western Armenian is different from the medieval one. The changes of the communists have just simplified the rules, and have eliminated the dead functional elements of Armenian phonetics.
As to the Russians, they have not changed their alphabet, either, but have made some simplifications by dropping the nonfunctional rules.
Despite the opinion that may prevail, I think the changes that the communists have introduced have not been that negative. Language is a live media. It evolves throughout centuries. Even the modern Western Armenian is different from the medieval one. The changes of the communists have just simplified the rules, and have eliminated the dead functional elements of Armenian phonetics.
As to the Russians, they have not changed their alphabet, either, but have made some simplifications by dropping the nonfunctional rules.
#15
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Posted 07 June 2001 - 07:17 AM
I did not say that the pronounication was the same before. I meant the way we were writing was the same. I have a copy of the handwriting of Avetik Isahakian and he writes exactly in the same way as western armenians write today.
However I agree that the world is going in that direction: chinese communists have simplified their characters as well although Taiwan is using a traditional character set and Germany recently suggested replacing one of the letters of its alphabet.
The only thing is that introduces another source of division among us...
However I agree that the world is going in that direction: chinese communists have simplified their characters as well although Taiwan is using a traditional character set and Germany recently suggested replacing one of the letters of its alphabet.
The only thing is that introduces another source of division among us...
#16
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Posted 07 June 2001 - 07:35 AM
Dear Poetry,
The primary difference between the modern Eastern Armenian and the Western Armenian writing (that beyond of the grammar) is the dropping of the letter “viun” in Eastern Armenian. In my view (and it is a highly nonprofessional view) “viun” is an unnecessary and nonfunctional element of Armenian language. I don’t see any reasons not to drop it from the Western Armenian usage, too. The language in its written and oral forms has to choose the path of simplifications, in my view. There is no need to keep the elements, which throughout centuries have become obsolete.
But I agree with your comment regarding the divisions. Perhaps, the purpose of the change indeed was, by in large, the introduction of further divisions.
About a dozen of years ago, a friend of mine – an Armenian linguist, who has worked for many years with the Academician Manuk Abeghyan (M.A. is considered to be the initiator of the change, and has contributed tremendously in structuring the modern Armenian language and laying down the foundations of its academic and grammatical studies) told me that Manug Abeghyan, while introducing the proposal to make changes, has given the reason of the old phonetics being anti-Soviet. When he has been asked why was it anti-Soviet, his reply has been: “Because this proposed one is Soviet.”
However, from the functional point of view, I think that change might’ve been functionally justified, but again, I am not a specialist.
[ June 07, 2001: Message edited by: MJ ]
The primary difference between the modern Eastern Armenian and the Western Armenian writing (that beyond of the grammar) is the dropping of the letter “viun” in Eastern Armenian. In my view (and it is a highly nonprofessional view) “viun” is an unnecessary and nonfunctional element of Armenian language. I don’t see any reasons not to drop it from the Western Armenian usage, too. The language in its written and oral forms has to choose the path of simplifications, in my view. There is no need to keep the elements, which throughout centuries have become obsolete.
But I agree with your comment regarding the divisions. Perhaps, the purpose of the change indeed was, by in large, the introduction of further divisions.
About a dozen of years ago, a friend of mine – an Armenian linguist, who has worked for many years with the Academician Manuk Abeghyan (M.A. is considered to be the initiator of the change, and has contributed tremendously in structuring the modern Armenian language and laying down the foundations of its academic and grammatical studies) told me that Manug Abeghyan, while introducing the proposal to make changes, has given the reason of the old phonetics being anti-Soviet. When he has been asked why was it anti-Soviet, his reply has been: “Because this proposed one is Soviet.”
However, from the functional point of view, I think that change might’ve been functionally justified, but again, I am not a specialist.
[ June 07, 2001: Message edited by: MJ ]
#17
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Posted 07 June 2001 - 10:27 AM
Don't know why in my previous note I said "viun." I ment the letter "y" in the beginning of the words like "arach" meaning ahead, front, etc.
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Posted 07 June 2001 - 02:06 PM
may be you were right about the letter 'hi' but for the rest there seem to be no difference between the spellings(before Apelian).
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Posted 07 June 2001 - 02:17 PM
Well, then other then "y" and "viun" not much has changed.
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