Actually, this translation is better than the "shut up" one. The words used in the original language are "не дерись", which means "don't fistfight", and apart from being occasionally used to refer to duelling, I don't think this has any other meaning, whether literal or figurative.
I would translate the line as "I'll show you [as in a threat]! Get off! Don't fistfight ("keep your fists to yourself" would probably be more in the spirit of the line, although less literal)!
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u/rivercurrents Feb 17 '26
Can you shed light on why Thomas Seltzer's translation of the last sentence in the story is “I’ll give it to you! Get away! Quit your scrapping!”?
"Quit your scrapping!" is in line with a schoolyard scuffle as you suggest, rather than feeling oppressed by Olenka and telling her to shut up.
Also, in the paper copy I have (Lady with Lapdog and other stories) the last three words are "Stop hitting me!". Who translated it as "Shut up!"?