Gimpel Beynish the Matchmaker
(Gimpl Beynish der Shadkhn)
Yiddish Comics of the early 20th century

Translation and commentary by Jane Peppler
Click here to read about and order the seven Gimpel books I've published.

Comics read right to left. Click on any comic strip for larger view.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Gimpel and his umbrella. Downfall. 4-4-1914

UPDATE: Leybke, a reader, has answered my questions in his comment below! Thanks to him for taking the time!

(I hadn't understood why Gimpel says, in the second panel, "I should have them too." I also didn't understand why, in the last panel, he says "If I still had the money I'd punch out his eyes." What difference does the money make?) Finally, I wonder why it's often said in these cartoons: "I'll arrest you." Are these citizen's arrests being threatened? Or is it short hand for "I'll lodge a complaint with the police." ?



April 4, 1914: When you have money and an umbrella, you'd better be careful with both.
  1. Jake: In the mean time, here's ten dollars. You'll get the rest after the engagement.
  2. GB: Finally I find myself with a couple cents. I should have them too.
  3. Passerby: Okh! Oy, my eyes! Police! Murder! He's killing me! Grab the murderer!
  4. Passerby: Mister, you've broken my hat and my glasses. Pay up or I'll arrest you.
  5. GB: If only I still had the money, I'd poke out his eyes too.

4-4-1914
אַז מען האָט געלד און אַן אָמברעלאַ דאַרף מען בײדע היטען.

1
דזשײק: דאָ האָט איהר דערװײַל צעהן דאָלאַר; דאָס איבעריגע קריגט איהר נאָך דער פֿערלאָבונג.
2
גימפּעל בײניש: קױם, קױם װאָס איך זעה זיך מיט אַ פּאָאָר סענט. איך דאַרף זײ טאַקע האָבען אױך.
3
פֿאַרבײַגעהער: אָך! אױ, מײַנע אױגען! פּאָליץ! מױרדער! מ׳האָט מיך דער׳הרג׳ט! כאַפּט דעם מערדער!
4
פֿאַרבײַגעהער: מיסטער, איהר האָט צובראָכען מײַן העט און דיא ברילען. בעצאָהלט, אָדער איך אַרעסט אײַך.
5
גימפּעל בײניש: הלואַי װאָלט איך געהאַט נאָך געלד, װאָלט איך איהם אױסגעזעצט דיא אױגען אױך.

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2 Comments:

Blogger Leybke said...

I believe it means: I really need them (the couple of cents) too! The implication being he has little to no other money.
This then explains the last panel; Gimpel, having lost all the money he had earned (finally after all this time), is so angry at the passerby he wishes to physically injure him in addition to having broken his hat and glasses. However, he has no money left to "afford" to injure him (so to speak). I believe וואלט איך געהאט נאך געלט is to be translated "If I still had (any) money" or "If I had any more money" or "If I had any money left" etc. as opposed to "If I still had the (as in that specific) money". Hope this makes sense? More than happy to discuss it. As for the "I arrest you" line, I don't understand it either. The clear implication is that he will, in some way or another bring about Gimpel's arrest, but further details are unclear to me. There's my two (or three) cents. I'm a new reader, and (not so new) yiddish enthusiast. Great site you have here! Leybke.

February 13, 2016 at 1:24 PM  
Blogger melinama said...

Thank you Leybke! Please stick in your two cents any time!

February 14, 2016 at 5:00 PM  

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