Ozymandias. (Translation) . Poem by Michael Walker
Ozymandias. (Translation) .
Je fis la connaissance d'un voyageur d'un pays ancien
Qui dit: ' Deux jambes vastes et sans troncs de pierre
Se tiennent au desert. Pres d'elles, sur le sable,
A-demi fonce, se couche un visage brise, dont le froncement,
Et le levre ride, et le ricanement du commandement froid,
Disent que le sculpteur lisait bien ces passions
Qui survivent encore, timbrees sur ces choses inanimees,
La main qui les moqua et le coeur qui nourrit.
Et sur le piedestal apparaissent ces mots-
'Je m'appelle Ozymandias, roi des rois:
Regardez mes travaux, vous qui etes Puissant, et desesperez-vous! '
Rien de plus ne reste. Autour de la decrepitude
De ce naufrage colossal, sans bornes et nu
Le sable seul et plat s'etendent au loin'.
- 'Ozymandias'. Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) .
La main qui les moqua et le coeur qui nou
A third person narrates the story to the poet (third person narrator) . He had seen two huge trunk-less legs of stone in the desert, and the broken face of a man who used to be powerful, like a Pharoah. The narrator can still see the 'sneer of cold command' on Ozymandias' face. The sculptor partly mocked Ozymandias by indicating passions through facial expressions. Ozymandias thought he was mightier than any other ruler, because of his works and eternal monument.
But now 'nothing beside remains'and 'The lone and level sands stretch far away'. The ravages of Time, wind, sun, and sands have ruined the monument to Ozymandias-and his dream.
The poem is about the vanity of human wishes as well. I could not help but think of this poem when I stood before the Great Sphinx of Ghiza, with the Pyramid of Khafre in the background, on the outskirts of Cairo some years ago. The Great Sphinx is partly spoiled by Time and the elements, but at least it survives from the Ancient World.
This is a major poem by Shelley.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
9/23/2024 5:24:38 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) has written this beautiful poem and very nicely and neatly you have translated this poem. The narrator can still see the 'sneer of cold command'. Those monuments are partly spoiled by Time and the elements. Still for giving message of ancient world still they survive. An amazing sharing is done here really.10