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Post by meltdown711 on Nov 19, 2007 17:29:15 GMT -5
I know of the Robert Elsie translation, but I was looking for the original Albanian version of the poem 'paraja'(money) by Zyko Kamberi. I can only find little tid bits of it.
Money
The sultan who rules the world, The founder of the mint, The place where silver's coined, He knows what money's worth.
The vizier, who's his aide, Who acts as if he's just, He lets no gossip spread, He knows what money's worth.
Sheyhulislami issues fatwas, He knows what's canon law, Yet a bribe he'll not refuse, He knows what money's worth.
The mufti and the teacher, Both scholars and imams, Are in the devil's pact, They know what money's worth.
The judge, too, in his courtroom, Reclining on his rug, The dervish in his tekke, They know what money's worth.
The pashas and the beys And all the milling crowds For riches lose their heads, They know what money's worth.
Show money to a judge, He'll interpret laws anew, For a cent he'd sell his father, He knows what money's worth.
For money they'll get drunk And put the world to shame, E'en the farmer sowing beans, He knows what money's worth.
There is no creature living Exempt from this desire, All guildsmen and all merchants, They know what money's worth.
The infant in his cradle, His hand out, crying "gimme!" Will cram cash in his pocket, He knows what money's worth.
The jackdaw perched in silence, Throw a penny on the ground, 'twill seize it, take it nestward, It knows what money's worth.
Money in this world Will consume both young and old, In hellfire it will burn them, They know what money's worth..
Where can I get the original Albanian?
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Post by meltdown711 on Nov 19, 2007 23:55:14 GMT -5
"Mbreti, q'urdhëron dynjanë, Që ka vënë taraphanë E i presënë paranë, Ja di kimenë parasë.
Dhe veziri, q'është veqil, Zë sikur të bënet' adil E mos thotë dot kaly-kil, Ja di kimenë parasë.
Sheh Islami, q'ep fetfanë, Që di qitapëtë ç'thanë, Nukë kaçirdis paranë, Ja di kimenë parasë.
Myfti edhe myderizë Edhe kyrra e vaizë Kanë ujdisur' iblizë, Ja di kimenë parasë.
Dhe kadiu i mehqemesë, Që rri sipër sixhadesë, Edhe shehu i teqesë, Ja di kimenë parasë ...
Dhe pashallarë, bejlerë, Edhe avamë të tjerë, Për para apënë krerë, Ja di kimenë parasë ...
Kadiut, t'i rrëfesh paranë, Ters e vërtit sherianë, Për para se ç'e shet t'anë, Ja di kimenë parasë.
Për para janë sarhoshë, Bënenë bota kodoshë, Dhe çifçiu që mbjell groshë Ja di kimenë parasë.
Po s’ka gjë të gjallë Që të mos ia ketë mallë, Turli esnaf’ e bakallë, Ja di kimenë parasë.
Edhe foshnja q’është në djep Zgjat dorënë, të thotë "nep", Ta marrë ta verë në xhep, Ja di kimenë parasë.
Edhe gala që nukë flet, Lëshoja një para në dhet, E merr e shpie në folet, Ja di kimenë parasë.
Paraja në këtë alem, Paraja djeg pleq edhe djem, E digjenë në xhehenem Ja di kimenë parasë.
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Post by meltdown711 on Nov 19, 2007 23:55:48 GMT -5
The hell with all of you... I found it myself... ;D
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Post by Teuta1975 on Nov 20, 2007 0:15:58 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D ;D Don't worry! The question is: who doesn't know money's value?
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donnie
Senior Moderator
Nike Leka i Kelmendit
Posts: 3,389
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Post by donnie on Nov 20, 2007 1:38:38 GMT -5
Why does Robert Elsie translate the word "mbret" as "sultan"? The correct translation is "king" -- the Albanian word for "sultan" is that exact word, "sulltan" with a double 'l'. Or maybe Zyko Kamberi meant the Sultan whe he said king ... and Elsie wanted to adjust that!?
In either case, a very good poem. Keeping this in mind.
Well, unless you're a devoted Buddhist committed to emancipation from materialistic greed and desire in general, you're bound to have some material interest in money and other things. The fact that Zyko Kamberi mentions a jackdaw can deduce this whole greed to the initial phase of men where it expressed itself in the desire of self-preservation. Problem arises when money, or money's worth, cloud one's judgement and become a priority, leaving one without principles and values ... or atleast, diminished principles and values. This could be exemplified on many levels, be it individual level, social level or international level. Politics is more often driven by the demands of a conglomerate of lobbying actors waving with their wallets to make a good case, rather than by conviction and moral persuasion.
And so, companies profit on war and on people's miseries, for they know money's worth. And heads of governments take their share, for they know what money's worth.
This poem rises a good philosophical debate.
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Post by meltdown711 on Nov 20, 2007 11:21:57 GMT -5
Its not the first time the term "mbret" was connected to Sultan.
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Post by meltdown711 on Nov 20, 2007 11:29:10 GMT -5
Its a terrible thing that so little of Zyko's poetry survives. If it did, I think he would rank among the greatest of Albanian poets. He wrote numerous critical poetry attacking the age he lived in (the period of Ottoman decline), and a work on the battle of Smederevo. Among his work was a 200-page verse collection.
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Post by meltdown711 on Nov 20, 2007 12:57:40 GMT -5
Anyway, I have to say, these poems are pretty difficult to read for me. Many of the words are archaic (for instance kimenë instead of çmim, meaning "price"). Not to mention that the whole thing is riddled with Turkish, Arabic and Persian words. This is definitely not the way the average Albanian spoke his language.
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