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

Originally Posted by sperk

The eagle thought for a while and then said, "Let's try and eat the same food."
"OK," said the raven.
They flew, the eagle and the raven.

In the Russian original "Хорошо." is not what the Raven said, it's a remark by the narrator meaning something like "Now, I go on with the story".
That's why I translated it literally since I didn't (and don't) know the English equivalent.

Originally Posted by Inego

In the Russian original "Хорошо." is not what the Raven said, it's a remark by the narrator meaning something like "Now, I go on with the story".
That's why I translated it literally since I didn't (and don't) know the English equivalent.

I would just leave it out. That sort of thing isn't found in English. You could say something like, "moving on with the story..." but it's unnecessary.

Originally Posted by sperk

I would just leave it out. That sort of thing isn't found in English. You could say something like, "moving on with the story..." but it's unnecessary.

The problem is that this translation is a part of a parallel book, and I try to stay as close to the original as possible. What the readers will think when they see "Хорошо." in Russian without any translation in English?
Maybe just use "So"?

So, they flew, the eagle and the raven.

Originally Posted by Inego

The problem is that this translation is a part of a parallel book, and I try to stay as close to the original as possible. What the readers will think when they see "Хорошо." in Russian without any translation in English?
Maybe just use "So"?

So, they flew, the eagle and the raven.

And so, away they flew, the eagle and the raven.