Buen día.
Estuve trabajando sobre un texto que produje en español e intenté traducir al inglés.
Tengo dudas para traducir la frase "no pudo menos que romper en llanto" (=no pudo hacer otra cosa que ponerse a llorar)
Doy el contexto para que se interprete mejor el sentido.

Contexto y frase a traducir en español:
María fue a despedir a su novio a la estación. Estuvieron mirándose un largo rato, cuando él ya había subido al tren, como si quisieran alargar los últimos instantes previos a la partida. De repente el tren arrancó y Juan (y el mismo tren que lo transportaba a destino) comenzó a alejarse paultinamente de María. Su cuerpo, su alma partida se quedaron solos y ésta no pudo menos que romper en llanto.

Contexto e intento en inglés
Mary went to see his girlfriend off to the station. They were gazing at each other for a long time, when he had already got on the train, as though they wanted to stretch on the last instants prior to the departure. All of a sudden the train pulled out and John (and the very train that carried him to destination) began to move away little by little from Mary. Her body, her broken heart stayed alone and she could not less than burst into tears.

Agradezco sus comentarios / sugerencias.

 

Entiendo que el problema es "no pudo menos que". En inglés, yo diría: "she couldn't but". En español se puede decir también "no pudo más que..." o "no pudo evitar" y que yo siempra la traducción es siempre la misma en inglés.

En cuando a lo de romper en llanto, puedes decir o burst into tears, or break out into tears. Tú decides

Se me olvidaba ponerlo todo junto:

She couldn't but break into tears.
She couldn't but burst into tears.

 

I agree with Nanel. Other options:
She could only burst into tears.
She couldn't help but burst into tears.
She couldn't do anything but burst into tears.
She couldn't keep/choke back her tears.

 

¡Muchas gracias por todas las opciones!

 

other than might be another possibility, I think.
For example:
She could do other than burst into tears

 

That´s right kayokid , sorry for that mistake
There has to be a negative before other than,
then She couldn´t do other than...
Thank you for your correction.

 

That´s right <strong>kayokid&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </strong>, sorry for that mistake<br>
There has to be a negative before <strong>other than</strong>,<br>
then <em>She couldn´t do other than...</em><br>
Thank you for your correction.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

 

Muchas gracias.
Entonces, podríamos decir:

She couldn't but break into tears.
She couldn't but burst into tears.
She could only burst into tears.
She couldn't help but burst into tears.
She couldn't do anything but burst into tears.
She couldn't keep/choke back her tears.
She could do nothing other than burst into tears.
She couldn't do other than burst into tears.

 

My vote is for:

"She couldn't help bursting into tears."

syd

 

I agree with Sydlexia's version, which sounds natural to me.

 

Muchas gracias.
¿Las opciones que recopilé de todos podrían ser dichas por un nativo?

 

As far as I'm concerned, all of them can be used with almost the same meaning. It's just a matter of personal preference.