Pushkin: Exegi Monumentum (From Russian)

Exegi Monumentum

By A.S. Pushkin

Translated by A.Z. Foreman
Click to hear me recite the original Russian

We heard him say, "I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."

-Mark 14:58

I've reared my monument that was not made with hands.

The public path to it cannot be overgrown.

With proud and unbowed head far loftier it stands

               than even Alexander's stone.

No, I shall not all die. My soul in hallowed berth

of art shall brave decay and from my dust take wing,

and I shall be renowned while on this mortal earth

               a single poet lives to sing.

Tidings of me shall spread through all the realm of Rus

and every tribe in Her shall name me as they speak:

the haughty western Slav, the yet untamed Tungus,

               the Finn and steppe-roaming Kalmyk.

And long shall I be dear in all a people's eyes

for how this sacred lyre bade kind thought stir again,

how in this tyrant age I sang of Freedom's rise,

               and mercy toward fallen men.

Honor and heed the Lord and His commands, O Muse.

To slander as to praise show equal nonchalance.

Do not demand a wreath and do not fear abuse

               and do not argue with a dunce.

 

The Original:

                     Exegi monumentum

             

Я памятникъ себѣ воздвигъ нерукотворной;

Къ нему не зарастетъ народная тропа;

Вознесся выше онъ главою непокорной

‎Александрiйскаго столпа.

Нѣтъ! весь я не умру! Душа въ завѣтной лирѣ

Мой прахъ переживетъ и тлѣнья убѣжитъ —

И славенъ буду я, доколь въ подлунномъ мiрѣ

‎Живъ будетъ хоть одинъ пiитъ.

Слухъ обо мнѣ пройдетъ по всей Руси великой,

И назоветъ меня всякъ сущiй въ ней языкъ:

И гордый внукъ славянъ, и финнъ, и нынѣ дикой

‎Тунгузъ, и другъ степей калмыкъ.

И долго буду тѣмъ любезенъ я народу,

Что чувства добрыя я лирой пробуждалъ,

Что въ мой жестокой вѣкъ возславилъ я свободу,

‎И милость къ падшимъ призывалъ.

Велѣнью Божiю, о муза, будь послушна:

Обиды не страшась, не требуя вѣнца,

Хвалу и клевету прiемли равнодушно

И не оспоривай глупца.