"Do not be envious of the rich: the wealthy man enjoys", poem of T. Shevchenko (Translated from Ukrainian by С.H. Andrusyshen and Watson Kirkconnell)

1845

("Ne zavydui bahatomu, bahatyi ne znaie")

Do not be envious of the rich: the wealthy man enjoys
Nor love nor friendship—these he buys, and hired pleasure cloys.
And envy not the powerful, whose strength is all bespoken;
Nor yet the man of shining fame: he knows, by sorrow broken,
It is his glory, not himself, that all the people love;
This he pours out with tears and blood, their antics to approve.
Young men convene in perfect peace, as if in paradise;
But closer look—you’ll surely mark how dark misfortunes rise...
Be envious then of none at all. Just cast your glance about:
There is no paradise on earth, and heaven itself's in doubt!

Taras Shevchenko
"Ne zavydui bahatomu, bahatyi ne znaie"
("Не завидуй багатому, багатий не знає")
1845, Mirhorod, (Миргород)

Translated by С.H. Andrusyshen and Watson Kirkconnell

Original publication: Taras Shevchenko. Zibrannia tvoriv: U 6 t. — K., 2003. — T. 1: Poeziia 1837-1847. — S. 285; S. 713.

Source: The Poetical Works of Taras Shevchenko. The Kobzar. Translated from the Ukrainian by С.H. Andrusyshen and Watson Kirkconnell. Published for the Ukrainian Canadian Committee by University of Toronto Press, 1964. Toronto and Buffalo. Printed in Canada, Reprinted 1977, p. 182.

Here you can find Ukrainian text of the Taras Shevchenko's poem:
Original poem in Ukrainian