We wish you all a Merry Christmas. May the Christmas Season bring only happiness and joy to you and your family. For this occasion I translated for you the marvelous poem “God’s gift” by Fiodor Dostoevsky.
As you can see my rescued birds are still home. Pacha our young raven is all grown up, he loves to play and speaks giving me no peace. Teash our young crow still call for food most of the time, but if I push her of her perch she does fly down and eat by herself. She can fly up to the knee and no higher without help yet. I hope she will imitate Pacha so they can leave in the spring …
| Божий дар Федора Достоевского | God’s gift by Fyodor Dostoevsky |
| Translated by Akirill.com | |
| Крошку-Ангела в сочельник A little Angel on Christmas Eve | On Christmas Eve, God sent a little Angel |
| Бог на землю посылал: God sent us to earth: | to earth: |
| «Как пойдешь ты через ельник,– | “As you will walk through the fir forest,” |
| Он с улыбкою сказал, – | He said with a smile, “ |
| Елку срубишь, и малютке | Cut down a tree and to |
| Самой доброй на земле, | the kindest little one on earth, |
| Самой ласковой и чуткой | the most affectionate and sensitive, |
| Дай, как память обо Мне». | give it, as a memory of Me.” |
| И смутился Ангел-крошка: | And the little Angel was confused: |
| «Но кому же мне отдать? | “But to whom should I give it? |
| Как узнать, на ком из деток | How can I know which of the children |
| Будет Божья благодать?» | Will receive God’s grace?” |
| «Сам увидишь», – Бог ответил. | “You’ll see for yourself,” God answered. |
| И небесный гость пошел. | And the heavenly guest left. |
| Месяц встал уж, путь был светел | The crescent moon had already risen, the path was bright |
| И в огромный город вел. | and led to a huge city. |
| Всюду праздничные речи, | Everywhere there are festive speeches, |
| Всюду счастье деток ждет… | Everywhere happiness awaits children… |
| Вскинув елочку на плечи, | Throwing a Christmas tree on his shoulders, |
| Ангел с радостью идет… | The angel walks with joy… |
| Загляните в окна сами, – | Look into the windows yourself, – |
| Там большое торжество! | There is a great celebration! |
| Елки светятся огнями, | The trees are shining with lights, |
| Как бывает в Рождество. | As happens at Christmas. |
| И из дома в дом поспешно | And from house to house |
| Ангел стал переходить, | the Angel began to move quickly, |
| Чтоб узнать, кому он должен | To find out to whom he should |
| Елку Божью подарить. | give God’s Christmas tree. |
| И прекрасных и послушных | And beautiful and obedient |
| Много видел он детей. – | He saw many children. – |
| Все при виде Божьей елки, | All at the sight of God’s Christmas tree, |
| Всё забыв, тянулись к ней. | Forgetting everything, reached out to it. |
| Кто кричит: «Я елки стою!» | Somebody shouts: “I am worthy of a Christmas tree!” |
| Кто корит за то его: | Somebody reproaches him for it: |
| «Не сравнишься ты со мною, | “You cannot compare with me, |
| Я добрее твоего!» | I am kinder than you!” |
| «Нет, я елочки достойна | “No, I am worthy of a Christmas tree |
| И достойнее других!» | And more worthy than others!” |
| Ангел слушает спокойно, | The angel listens calmly, |
| Озирая с грустью их. | Looking at them with sadness. |
| Все кичатся друг пред другом, | Everyone boasts before each other, |
| Каждый хвалит сам себя, | Each praises himself, Looking |
| На соперника с испугом | at his rival with fear |
| Или с завистью глядя. | Or looking at him with envy. |
| И на улицу, понурясь, | And out into the street, with his head down, |
| Ангел вышел… «Боже мой! | The angel went out… “My God! |
| Научи, кому бы мог я | Show me to whom I could |
| Дар отдать бесценный Твой!» | give Your priceless gift!” |
| И на улице встречает | And on the street the Angel meets |
| Ангел крошку, – он стоит, | a little one, – he stands, |
| Елку Божью озирает, – | looks around at God’s Christmas tree, – |
| И восторгом взор горит. | And his gaze burns with delight. |
| «Елка! Елочка! – захлопал | “Christmas tree! Christmas tree!” – |
| Он в ладоши. – Жаль, что я | He clapped his hands. – It’s a pity that I am |
| Этой елки не достоин | not worthy of this Christmas tree |
| И она не для меня… | And it is not for me… |
| Но неси ее сестренке, | But take it to my little sister, |
| Что лежит у нас больна. | Who lies sick with us. |
| Сделай ей такую радость, – | Make her so happy, – |
| Стоит елочки она! | She is worth the Christmas tree! |
| Пусть не плачется напрасно!» | Let her not cry in vain! “ |
| Мальчик Ангелу шепнул. | The boy whispered to the Angel. |
| И с улыбкой Ангел ясный | And with a smile the clear Angel |
| Елку крошке протянул. | handed the Christmas tree to the little one. |
| И тогда каким-то чудом | And then, by some miracle, |
| С неба звезды сорвались | the stars fell from the sky |
| И, сверкая изумрудом, | and, sparkling like emeralds, |
| В ветви елочки впились. | stuck into the branches of the fir tree. |
| Елка искрится и блещет, – | The tree sparkles and shines, – |
| Ей небесный символ дан; | a heavenly symbol has been given to it; |
| И восторженно трепещет And trembles with delight | and the amazed little boy trembles with delight … |
| Изумленный мальчуган… The astonished boy… | |
| И, любовь узнав такую, | And, having learned of such love, |
| Ангел, тронутый до слез, | the Angel, moved to tears, brought |
| Богу весточку благую, | the good news to God, |
| Как бесценный дар, принёс. | as a priceless gift. |
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