DH Lawrence When I Read Shakespeare

voici le poème de DH Lawrence, et ma traduction,

When I read Shakespeare I am struck with wonder                                                  

that such trivial people should muse and thunder                                                            

in such lovely language. Lear, the old buffer,

you wonder his daughters   

didn't treat him rougher,                                                                                           

the old chough, the old chuffer!

And Hamlet, how boring, how boring to live with,                                                            

so mean and self-conscious, blowing and snoring                                                          

 his wonderful speeches, full of other folks' whoring!

And Macbeth and his Lady, who should have been choring,                                        

such suburban ambition, so messily goring                                                                      

old Duncan with daggers!

How boring, how small Shakespeare's people are!                                                           

Yet the language so lovely! like the dyes from gas-tar.

Quand je lis Shakespeare quel étonnement                                                                

que des mots si splendides soient dans la bouche                                                         

de gens aussi ordinaires pour rêver ou crier.

Lear, cette vieille ganache ! on s'étonne que ses filles                                                    

ne traitent pas plus durementle vieux chocard, la vieille baderne!

Et Hamlet, ce raseur, Ô combien! Et impossible à vivre,                                               

 si mesquin et si affecté, un souffle et un ronflement                                                 

 de mots merveilleux, plein des putasseries des autres!

Et Macbeth et sa Dame, qui aurait du mener leur train-train,                                   

dicté par une ambition de banlieusards, terreur de pacotille                                     

pour le vieux Duncan avec des poignards

Des raseurs, des minables, les personnages de Shakespeare!                                       

Et pourtant, quels mots! Couverts de goudrons.

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