Translation:To One Who Does Nothing, Yet Defames the Work of Others

by Dinko Ranjina

Croatian

English

Jednomu ki ništo ne učini a tuđe sve huli      Jadovni zleče moj, zavidos s kim bjesni, Za zle prem tolikoj ne scijeni me pjesni.      Ak'u njih ni sada onijeh sve riči, Kim staro njekada brijeme se tač diči      "Svitlušto sunačce, rozice, diklice, Ljuveno srdačce, grimizna svilice,      Zašto me tač verna ostavi, moj venče, Krunice biserna, moj zlaćen prstenče?"      U ova vremena, moj hudi tamniče, Druga sad imena naše pjesni diče,      Jer jak lis u cvitju tač nijedna na svit saj U jednomu bitju ne trpi običaj.      Također i riči kime se jur njekad Stara svijes diči u scijeni nijesu sad.      I ove sad ke veće jesu, znaj, scijenjene S vremenom bit neće od druzih primljene.      Razliki svit ovi ki trpi svoju čes, Sve veći i novi što godi na njem jes.      Tim ne kteć rug biti svijem spijevcom na svit saj Kad što hoć ’huliti, pri dobro razmišljaj.

To One Who Does Nothing, Yet Defames the Work of Others      Oh you my wretched foe, who do with envy rage, so great a wrath as yours my poems to not deserve      if now they are so free of all those many words in which a former age did once such glory take:      "Sweet lustrous sun, dear roses, oh darling tender maids, my loving gentle heart, and crimson silk so fine,      oh why've you left your love so true, my garland fine, oh crown of precious pearl, my gilded ringlet fair?"      In such an age as ours, my unenlightened foe, 'tis other names that now our poems do glorify,      for like a flower's leaves, there nothing on this earth in any creature that does ever stay unchanged.      And so it is that words in which already once ideas of old did glory, by now have lost their worth.      And those which now, you know, are much more highly prized with passing time will be by others cast aside.      This ever changing world, which does its fate endure, first ages, then renews whatever lies therein.      And should you wish to shun each poet's knowing smile, before you will condemn, reflect first well thereon.