Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 11/23/2011 Posts: 115 Neurons: 2,679 Location: Kraków, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
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I'm looking for the source of these two quotes. One is definitely Mandelstam, the other probably also Mandelstam. By source I mean the Russian title(s). Does anyone recognize these lines?
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People who are hungry, who are sick, Will kill, will suffer cold, will hunger. And in his famous grave The unknown soldier will be laid.
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Our only kin is what is in excess. Ahead lies no downfall, but a misstep, And wrestling for sufficient air Is not a glory that impresses others.
And overstocking consciousness With half-waking routine living, Do I have no choice but to drink this slop, And eat my own head under fire in battle?
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 10/1/2020 Posts: 2 Neurons: 10,541
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The both quotes are from Mandelstam's poem The Unknown Soldier (Стихи о неизвестном солдате). The first quote in Russian:
Будут люди холодные, хилые Убивать, голодать, холодать, И в своей знаменитой могиле Неизвестный положен солдат.
And the second:
Нам союзно лишь то, что избыточно, Впереди — не провал, а промер, И бороться за воздух прожиточный — Это слава другим не в пример.
И сознанье своё затоваривая Полуобморочным бытиём, Я ль без выбора пью это варево, Свою голову ем под огнём?
Here's it in Russian and in English translation (but this variant of translation differs from yours): https://ruverses.com/osip-mandelshtam/the-unknown-soldier/
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