First Russian translations of E. Young's poetry

The article studies the first two Russian translations of Edward Young's poem "The complaint, or night thoughts" (1742-1746) made by M.V. Sushkova and A.M. Kutuzov. The author analyzes the main changes in the texts of the translations, especially the transfer of the didactic element of the poem. In 1772, M.V. Sushkova translated part of the poem, namely the second "Night", which she called "O vremeni, smerti i druzhbe" ("On Time, Death and Friendship"). The translation was made in prose, which did not contradict the translation principles of the time. Despite the relative accuracy of the translation, Sushkova allows changes at several levels: the construction of sentences, the choice of images, emphasis. The translator extracts the didactic content from the work, clarifies some of its philosophical ideas, yet tries to keep the higher emotional tone of Young. It is important that the description centers on the feelings of the hero, an individual, particular man. This relates the poem to the genre of elegy in prose. Nevertheless, the whole work sounds more like an emotional philosophical treatise. Particular attention is paid to the translation by A.M. Kutuzov made in 1778, through an intermediary translation from German by A. Ebert, and Kutuzov's commentary to it. The commentary is a direct address to the reader, the translator's thoughts which form a direct dialogue with the Russian reader. The commentary has references to the Masonic philosophy, didactics, as well as the new artistic means the English author uses (according to the translator, the most important is the night landscape with its lunar motif, darkness and silence). A.M. Kutuzov's task is to involve Russian readers in the comprehension of E. Young's spiritual experience. The commentary also creates the image of the translator who transfers his perception of the original to readers.

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