S15E2: “Marsyas” by Jose-Maria de Heredia (trans. by Thomas Banks)

For this fifteenth season of the Well Read Poem, we are reading six poems in translation, written by a variety of ancient and modern poets. We hope that our discussion of these poems will be both interesting and instructive to anyone with an interest in literary translation as an art, and that it will serve to introduce you to a few poets whose acquaintance you have yet to make.  

Today's poem is “Marsyas” by Jose-Maria de Heredia translated by Thomas Banks. Poem begins at timestamps 3:21 (in French) and 4:50 (in English).

Marsyas

by Jose-Maria de Heredia, trans. by Thomas Banks

Your voice once charmed these trees whose burning wood 
Has scorched your skin and bone, and the red stain 
Of your spilled life flows slowly to the plain 
In mountain brooks dyed crimson with your blood. 

Jealous Apollo full of heavenly pride
With iron rod shattered your reeds that long 

Made lions peaceful and taught birds their song: 
With Phrygia’s singer Phrygian song has died. 

Nothing remains of you except the dry 
Remnant of flesh Apollo in his hate 
Left on a yew-branch hanging; No pained cry 
Or tender gift of song opposed your fate. 

Your flute is heard no more; hung on the trees 
Your flayed skin is the plaything of the breeze. 

Marsyas

by Jose-Maria de Heredia

Les pins du bois natal que charmait ton haleine 
N’ont pas brûlé ta chair, ô malheureux ! Tes os 
Sont dissous, et ton sang s’écoule avec les eaux 
Que les monts de Phrygie épanchent vers la plaine. 

Le jaloux Citharède, orgueil du ciel hellène, 
De son plectre de fer a brisé tes roseaux 
Qui, domptant les lions, enseignaient les oiseaux ; 
Il ne reste plus rien du chanteur de Célène. 

Rien qu’un lambeau sanglant qui flotte au tronc de l’if 
Auquel on l’a lié pour l’écorcher tout vif. 
Ô Dieu cruel ! Ô cris ! Voix lamentable et tendre ! 

Non, vous n’entendrez plus, sous un doigt trop savant, 
La flûte soupirer aux rives du Méandre... 
Car la peau du Satyre est le jouet du vent.