Thread: Missing parts in English translation of Pushkin's "The daughter of the commandant"

Originally Posted by Inego

Now, this one is really difficult.

Делать было нечего. Я взял на себя вид равнодушный и, обратясь к Савельичу, который был "и денег, и белья, и дел моих рачитель", приказал отдать мальчику сто рублей.

There was nothing for it. I assumed a look of indifference, and, addressing myself to Savéliitch, who was in charge of my money, my linen and my affairs, I bid him hand over a hundred roubles to the little boy.

The problem is that the phrase missing in Milne-Home translation is in fact a quote from Fonvizin's poem "Послание к слугам моим Шумилову, Ваньке и Петрушке" (see line 4). "Рачитель" is an archaic word which means "a person who devotedly takes care of something". I am pretty sure the poem quoted by Pushkin has never been translated into English. Do you think it's worth keeping to the metric foot of the poem or it is enough just to translate the meaning?

Nothing could be done. I assumed a look of indifference, and, addressing myself to Savéliitch, who was in charge of my money, my linen and my affairs, I told him to hand over a hundred roubles to the little boy.