Translated by Machinery

Way back in 1916 the Canadian humourist Stephen Leacock inserted a little note under the title of one of his Nonsense Novels saying “Translated by machinery out of the original Russian”.

Today, almost a century later, it is really happening. But not always very succesfully. The following verses from the text of a German hymn have evidently been translated by rather primitive twentieth century machinery.  But rather moving, I think.

Rejoice in the beautiful Earth,.
because it is well worth the Freud.
O what does glories
spread over our God !

And yet it is his feet
richly decorated stools only
is only a pretty gifted,
wound erreiche creature.

Rejoice to Moon and Sun
and the stars one,.
how they change how they shine
about our Erdental.

And yet they are only creatures
from the highest God’s hand,
Hin sown on his throne
wide, shiny robe.

When at his footstool
and with the throne already such certificate,
o what must be at its heart
not be for glory and gladness.

Translated by Machinery