Byl to pozdní večer, první máj, večerní máj, byla láský čas.

Discussion in 'Vocabulary & Translation Help' started by scrimshaw, May 2, 2011.

  1. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    I found a beautiful recording on the internet of Karel Macha's poem Máj.

    I can understand if I listen hard to some of the more simple parts, but most of it I can't understand. Can anyone tell me where I can find the poem in english, so that I can listen and read at the same time?
    I read the synopsis on wikipedia. It sounds very interesting.
     
  2. Alexx

    Alexx Well-Known Member

  3. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    Thanks, Alexxi.
    That poem is a real work of art, it could be acted on stage.
     
  4. Alexx

    Alexx Well-Known Member

    I think it is one of 3 poems any czech knows few lines from since elementary school.

    The other being something from Karel Jaromír Erben's book Kytice (most famous poems being Poklad, Polednice, Svatební košile, Vodník...) - very nice should you be interested in more epic poems then Máj; then some Neruda's work (most famous book probably is "Písně kosmické" with often quoted poem "Jak lvové bijem o mříže").
     
  5. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    I can see why it is such a celebrated(well known, respected) poem.
    This is what I think I hear in the recording....
    (Úvod....v záhadným hlasem a dalekým sborem.)
    'Máj, baseň od Karla Hýnka Mácha,
    daleká ti cesta má, marné volání,
    mnohovažené mi pane a pani,
    čechové jsou národ dobrý,
    věrný syn i bratr náš, dobré čechů srdce náš(sbor)
    dobrý syn a bratr náš, věrné čechů srdce máš
    .....vlastinec čecha mají,
    Byl pozdní večer, první máj,
    večerní máj, byl láský čas,
    hrdličin zval ku lásce hlas'.........this line I think could have been translated better into english.....instead of 'meltingly', perhaps 'seducingly', or 'seductively'
    but maybe literally...'the dove's voice invites to love'....or...
    'the dove calls out his mating call'

    Nějaci z nás, človecci, mohou popsat, co mysl vidí lepší, než ostatní.
    Nějaci z nás mají velmí zvlaštní darek.
     
  6. Alexx

    Alexx Well-Known Member

    Dárek :)

    dárek is gift/present for xmas or birthday, however
    dar is gift/talent (or really important, special, or expensive "dárek" - in the other words, fance way to say "dárek")

    ex.:
    ČR poslala jako svatební dar Starokladrubského koně.
    K narozeninám dali synovi jako dárek poníka.
    K. H. Mácha měl dar od Boha.
     
  7. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    Někteří z nás mají velmi zvlaštní dar. Takový dar přijde jen od boha.
    Né každý je schopen popsat tak krásně ten neviditený.

    Thanks Alexxi, next trip to some exotic place like the Serengeti in Afirca??
    Surely want to see the pictures of that.
     
  8. Alexx

    Alexx Well-Known Member

    Nope :), next plans: Morocco, Paris, Iceland, Malaysia&Indonesia, and then one country I do not wanna reveal yet.
     
  9. scrimshaw

    scrimshaw Well-Known Member

    Sounds like another excellent itinerary. Our roving reporter.
     

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