Thread: Да не бывать Марту прежде Февраля

I'm translating the story of Marshak "The twelve months". The twelve months are assembled together and March says to January:
"-Уступи мне на час своё место!
Погладил свою длинную бороду старик и говорит:
- Я бы уступил, да не бывать Марту прежде Февраля."

What I translate.
"-Change for an hour your place for mine.
...
- If I would change, then March would be before February."
Surely this is the translation, but i don't understand why March is in dative nor the meaning of "да не". In my dictionary isn't a meaning close to these words. Thanks.

Originally Posted by radomir

I'm translating the story of Marshak "The twelve months". The twelve months are assembled together and March says to January:
"-Уступи мне на час своё место!
Погладил свою длинную бороду старик и говорит:
- Я бы уступил, да не бывать Марту прежде Февраля."

What I translate.
"-Change for an hour your place for mine.
...
- If I would change, then March would be before February."
Surely this is the translation, but i don't understand why March is in dative nor the meaning of "да не". In my dictionary isn't a meaning close to these words. Thanks.

- Let me take your place for an hour!
- I would like to, but March must never be before February.

Here "да" = "but", "не бывать чему-либо" is an old style phrase with meaning "something must never be".

Thank you.

Can February march?
No, but April may.

Ha, ha. Here is an other joke:
"Quien come nísperos, bebe cerveza y besa a una vieja
Ni come, ni bebe, ni besa."
"Who eats medlar, drinks beer, and kisses an old woman
Nor eats, nor drinks, nor kisses."