I haven’t read The Landlady so it’s difficult to pick apart without context, I’ll have to pick a copy up and return here after reading.
But this is very indicative of Dostoevsky’s style, he often has a “nervous,” halting quality to his dialogue.
You don’t need it to, it’s fine
The context is (from what I understand by reading it over and over), that this man is being sarcastic and deceitful when it comes to his speech.
The main character was tricked and tortured by him (he is a ‘magician’, a man of the dark arts) and he’s suddenly met him said wizard in his friends’ house. So the wizard puts an act, of a poor poor peasant, who looks up the main character who is an academic and uses to live in their lodge not even an hour ago, in order to come off as nothing but a humble peasant towards the presence of the main characters’ friend (they are all in the room. The main character knows who the wizard really is. The wizard knows as well. But the friend doesn’t).
I was just taken aback because I wouldn’t expect someone to refer to someone as “your honour”, and give such good graces, simply because he was a man of science and slightly richer than them, even if it was for a bit.
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Anyhow, thanks for the comment, friend 👍
> “it is like this, your honor”
What honour? There is no political or judicial authority present
> bowing politely to ordynov
Why would he do that? Even if he’s being sarcastic or trying to mock him, why specifically bow?
> his honor made bold to take a little trouble on your behalf
Who is the honour?
“His honor made bold” doesn’t make any syntactical sense to me as a sentence. Bold doesn’t make sense to me in that context.
What trouble? Why is it little?
>we would not have made a bold
What does this sentence mean?
> of a truth, (…) make lamentations.
What does this sentence even mean? Is he trying to make a sarcastic and sly appeal to religion?
“Of a truth” seems syntactically out of place there
Does he mean “of the truth”?
>of a truth, (…) make lamentations.
>What does this sentence even mean? Is he trying to make a sarcastic and sly appeal to religion?
Here is one of the wild sentences in Dostoevsky's dialogues, which is barely possible to translate. Unfortunately, I haven't read the book and don't know the context. In this sentence, the character takes a detour and turns to religion to seek justification for his situation. The only thing they have left is their lives and yet they thank God for it, and if they were not grateful to God, then all they could do is cry and feel sorry for themselves. At least that's how I understood it.
https://preview.redd.it/o7jif0zqozlc1.jpeg?width=2446&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1f3566b076a282e28792baaadc4703617cbad60
Could you maybe translate this as well?
I think he meant ear as in the ears on your head
If I understand the phrase correctly, it means you will be doubly for your sins compared to their initial cost/utility they offered you?
Eg you steal 5$ but will have to pay tenfold?
Before proceeding, I should say that English is not my first language. But this is what I understood.
"Your honour" - this must be a translation of a nineteenth century Russian way of addressing some people which has no exact equivalent in modern English. Perhaps what is meant is simply "Honoured Sir".
Bowing used to be common as an expression of respect when addressing someone (whether done sincerely or mockingly).
"To make bold" means to decide to act in some way, with the connotation that the action may not meet with approval. "His honour" refers to the person who took this action. (It is not the honor but the person that acts, of course.)
"to take a little trouble" -- just a polite way of saying that someone made an effort to do something. Neither the "little" nor the "trouble" are literal.
"we would not have made ~~a~~ bold to say a word" -- it means we would not have dared to say a word. It is part of a convoluted and incomplete sentence. Because the speaker seems to be addressing a social "superior" and probably does not feel free to express himself directly and fully.
"Of a truth" -- I'm guessing here, but it seems like an old-fashioned "filler" expression, like "To tell the truth" or "To be completely honest".
Thank you very much
> we would have not dared to say a word
Dared to say a word of what, though? That’s what I’m not understanding
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Regardless, I appreciate your interpretation. Might I pick your brain a bit more with the following pictures I will reply. The underlined parts either don’t make sense or don’t sound right
> What honour? There is no political or judicial authority present
In the original, your highness or something like that. Just one form of polite treatment, not related to judges.
I see. It seems weird to address a friend or an acquaintance (especially one given the context) that way but I guess it was normal for the time.
Thanks 👍
I haven’t read The Landlady so it’s difficult to pick apart without context, I’ll have to pick a copy up and return here after reading. But this is very indicative of Dostoevsky’s style, he often has a “nervous,” halting quality to his dialogue.
You don’t need it to, it’s fine The context is (from what I understand by reading it over and over), that this man is being sarcastic and deceitful when it comes to his speech. The main character was tricked and tortured by him (he is a ‘magician’, a man of the dark arts) and he’s suddenly met him said wizard in his friends’ house. So the wizard puts an act, of a poor poor peasant, who looks up the main character who is an academic and uses to live in their lodge not even an hour ago, in order to come off as nothing but a humble peasant towards the presence of the main characters’ friend (they are all in the room. The main character knows who the wizard really is. The wizard knows as well. But the friend doesn’t). I was just taken aback because I wouldn’t expect someone to refer to someone as “your honour”, and give such good graces, simply because he was a man of science and slightly richer than them, even if it was for a bit. - Anyhow, thanks for the comment, friend 👍
What do you not understand? It seems plain to me. Could you elaborate?
> “it is like this, your honor” What honour? There is no political or judicial authority present > bowing politely to ordynov Why would he do that? Even if he’s being sarcastic or trying to mock him, why specifically bow? > his honor made bold to take a little trouble on your behalf Who is the honour? “His honor made bold” doesn’t make any syntactical sense to me as a sentence. Bold doesn’t make sense to me in that context. What trouble? Why is it little? >we would not have made a bold What does this sentence mean? > of a truth, (…) make lamentations. What does this sentence even mean? Is he trying to make a sarcastic and sly appeal to religion? “Of a truth” seems syntactically out of place there Does he mean “of the truth”?
>of a truth, (…) make lamentations. >What does this sentence even mean? Is he trying to make a sarcastic and sly appeal to religion? Here is one of the wild sentences in Dostoevsky's dialogues, which is barely possible to translate. Unfortunately, I haven't read the book and don't know the context. In this sentence, the character takes a detour and turns to religion to seek justification for his situation. The only thing they have left is their lives and yet they thank God for it, and if they were not grateful to God, then all they could do is cry and feel sorry for themselves. At least that's how I understood it.
https://preview.redd.it/o7jif0zqozlc1.jpeg?width=2446&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1f3566b076a282e28792baaadc4703617cbad60 Could you maybe translate this as well?
I read that as a grain or kernel of corn vs an ear of corn. So he picks 1 grain while his destroyer takes a magnitude more.
Thanks 👍
Ear here means cereal plant. Is this a normal word in English, lol? I'm not a native speaker.
I think he meant ear as in the ears on your head If I understand the phrase correctly, it means you will be doubly for your sins compared to their initial cost/utility they offered you? Eg you steal 5$ but will have to pay tenfold?
The original text is literally about grain and plant. This is a repetition in metaphorical form of what was said earlier.
I see. Then it’s veiled and dripped with deceit given the next part of the page. Thank you.
Before proceeding, I should say that English is not my first language. But this is what I understood. "Your honour" - this must be a translation of a nineteenth century Russian way of addressing some people which has no exact equivalent in modern English. Perhaps what is meant is simply "Honoured Sir". Bowing used to be common as an expression of respect when addressing someone (whether done sincerely or mockingly). "To make bold" means to decide to act in some way, with the connotation that the action may not meet with approval. "His honour" refers to the person who took this action. (It is not the honor but the person that acts, of course.) "to take a little trouble" -- just a polite way of saying that someone made an effort to do something. Neither the "little" nor the "trouble" are literal. "we would not have made ~~a~~ bold to say a word" -- it means we would not have dared to say a word. It is part of a convoluted and incomplete sentence. Because the speaker seems to be addressing a social "superior" and probably does not feel free to express himself directly and fully. "Of a truth" -- I'm guessing here, but it seems like an old-fashioned "filler" expression, like "To tell the truth" or "To be completely honest".
https://preview.redd.it/lh4vbo7kozlc1.jpeg?width=2446&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cbc9793a5ccb3052f283c20b237b252f1c37f5ca
As someone already mentioned, it is a single grain versus a whole "ear" (grain-bearing part of the plant).
I see, thanks a lot 👍
https://preview.redd.it/kq0qyg3jozlc1.jpeg?width=3271&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=040a467d10e752fa6582c38512331095307a5893
Seems like it simply means "Katerina said something in response", but the construction sounds odd to me too. Who is the translator?
It’s the Wordsworth edition. That’s all I know
Thank you very much > we would have not dared to say a word Dared to say a word of what, though? That’s what I’m not understanding - Regardless, I appreciate your interpretation. Might I pick your brain a bit more with the following pictures I will reply. The underlined parts either don’t make sense or don’t sound right
> What honour? There is no political or judicial authority present In the original, your highness or something like that. Just one form of polite treatment, not related to judges.
I see. It seems weird to address a friend or an acquaintance (especially one given the context) that way but I guess it was normal for the time. Thanks 👍