Russian to English professional translations of A.Pushkin's Eugene Onegin

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#1

Сообщение VictorB »

Listening to the audio version of Евгений Онегин read by Stephen Fry, I wondered whose else's but James E. Falen's translation of the novel may be found on the net. So far, I've found four English full versions—the earliest published in 1881 and the latest in 2008—and I'm still in search of the fifth, the one by Douglas Hofstadter (1999). Maybe there're some other translations, but I couldn't find them hard as I tried.

For those who may be interested in judging the four translations on their merits, I'm providing in spoiler-boxes (in chronological order of publishing) translated extract 5 from Chapter One. As for me, I was bitterly disappointed by Vladimir Nabokov's translation and I didn't like the one made by Charles H. Johnston.
Now I clearly see why Stephen Fry chose James E. Falen's version, which, by the way, later inspired Douglas Hofstadter to come up with his own translation—the one I'm desperately looking for, to no avail so far. Also, I find the earliest translation, made by Lieutenant-Colonel Spalding in 1881, not worse than that of J.E. Falen—as far as the Onegin stanza goes. I'd be happy if someone shared their opinion on the literary quality of the translations, or helped me with a link to Douglas Hofstadter's or someone else's, yet unknown to me, translation of Eugene Onegin.
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Original (1831)

Мы все учились понемногу
Чему-нибудь и как-нибудь,
Так воспитаньем, слава богу,
У нас немудрено блеснуть.
Онегин был, по мненью многих
(Судей решительных и строгих),
Ученый малый, но педант.
Имел он сча́стливый талант
Без принужденья в разговоре
Коснуться до всего слегка,
С ученым видом знатока
Хранить молчанье в важном споре
И возбуждать улыбку дам
Огнем нежданных эпиграмм.
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Henry Spalding (1881)

We all of us of education
A something somehow have obtained,
Thus, praised be God! a reputation
With us is easily attained.
Onéguine was—so many deemed
[Unerring critics self-esteemed],
Pedantic although scholar like,
In truth he had the happy trick
Without constraint in conversation
Of touching lightly every theme.
Silent, oracular ye’d see him
Amid a serious disputation,
Then suddenly discharge a joke
The ladies’ laughter to provoke.
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Vladimir Nabokov (1964)

All of us had a bit of schooling
In something and somehow:
Hence, in our midst it is not hard,
Thank God, to flaunt one’s education.
Onegin was, in the opinion
Of many (judges resolute and stern),
A learned fellow but a pedant.
He had the happy talent,
Without constraint, in conversation
Slightly to touch on everything,
Keep silent, with an expert’s learned air,
During a grave discussion, and provoke
The smiles of ladies with the fire
Of unexpected epigrams.
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Charles H. Johnston (1977)

We all meandered through our schooling
Haphazard; so, to God be thanks,
It's easy, without too much fooling,
To pass for cultured in our ranks.
Onegin was assessed by many
Critical judges, strict as any)
As well-read, though of pedant cast.
Unforced, as conversation passed,
He had the talent of saluting
Felicitously every theme,
Of listening like a judge-supreme
While serious topics were disputing,
Or, with an epigram-surprise,
Of kindling smiles in ladies' eyes
.
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James E. Falen (1992)

We’ve all received an education
In something somehow, have we not?
So thank the Lord that in this nation
A little learning means a lot.
Onegin was, so some decided
(Strict judges, not to be derided),
A learned, if pedantic, sort.
He did possess the happy forte
Of free and easy conversation,
Or in a grave dispute he’d wear
The solemn expert’s learned air
And keep to silent meditation;
And how the ladies’ eyes he lit
With flashes of his sudden wit!
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Stanley Mitchel (2008)

We’ve all learned through our education
Some few things in some random way;
Thank God, then, it’s no tribulation
To put our knowledge on display.
Onegin was to many people
(Who judged him by the strictest scruple)
A pedant, yet an able lad.
He was by fortune talented
At seeming always to be curious,
At touching lightly on a thing,
At looking wise and listening,
When argument became too serious,
And, with a sudden epigram,
At setting ladies’ smiles aflame.
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#2

Сообщение tourist »

VictorB,

don't feel like registering
but check this out )
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#3

Сообщение VictorB »

tourist,
tourist пишет: 13 май 2020, 22:49check this out
I did. Yes, there's a Douglas Hofstadter's version there, but I hate paying immediately for what can be gotten for free in the long run. Thanks anyway.
Btw, I've just stumbled on a Walter Arndt's translation first published in 1963 and awarded a Bollingen Prize that same year. I like it very much and have already added it to my Eugene Onegin collection.
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Since we pick up our education
In bits and pieces here and there,
To earn a brilliant reputation
With us, thank God, is no affair.
It was conceded he had learning
(By judges ruthless and discerning),
Though of a somewhat bookish drift;
For he possessed the happy gift
Of unaffected conversation:
To skim one topic here, one there,
Keep silent with an expert’s air
In too exacting disputation,
And with a flash of sudden quips
Charm tender smiles to tender lips.
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