Taras Shevchenko's poem "Have no envy for the rich man" ("Ne zavydui bahatomu"). Translated from Ukrainian by Vera Rich.


Taras Shevchenko

"Have no envy for the rich man"

("Ne zavydui bahatomu")

 

Have no envy for the rich man,
For he never knows
Naught of friendship nor of love -
He must hire all those.
Have no envy for the mighty,
For he must compel;
Have no envy for the famous 
For he knows full well 
That it is not him men love 
But his bitter fame
Which he poured out to please from blood 
And tears of bitter pain.
And the young folk when they meet,
All is quiet and bliss
As in paradise - but see:
Something stirs amiss.

Have envy, then, for nobody;
Look round — and you will never 
Find paradise upon this earth,
Nor, indeed, in heaven.


Taras Shevchenko
"Ne zavydui bahatomu"
("Не завидуй багатому")
1845, Myrhorod, (Миргород)

Translated by Vera Rich

Source of the original poem in Ukrainian: Taras Shevchenko. Zibrannia tvoriv: U 6 t. — K., 2003. — T. 1: Poeziia 1837-1847. — S. 285; S. 713.

Source of English translation of the poem: Taras Shevchenko."Song out of Darkness". Selected poems translated from the Ukrainian by Vera Rich. London, 1961, p. 40.

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


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