Aleksandr Pushkin

Once a shoemaker, on the art’s creation, 
In drown shoes had found a mistake;
With his fast brush, an artist made correction;
But the shoemaker went without a break:
“I think the face a little crooked is shown…
The breast’s much bared, as I’ve understood...”  
Here Apelles stopped him (his patience gone):
“Friend, judge the things not higher than a boot!”

Mid friends of mine, I too see one, the clever;
I do not know in which a subject ever
He’d be an ace, tho’ his words of strong roots,
But just a fiend brings him to judge men’ level:
Let him make judgment only for their boots!


Translated by Yevgeny Bonver, July 10, 2004