I don't have the time or inclination to go into 'hand to hand combat' or
'syllable to syllable' comparisons of the two, Economu and Haviaras. But I
have a much more tactile sense of George E's use of the language, the
syllables don't just make a rhythm, but the words themselves bear solid
consonants, the surfaces which create a grip and movement that I much
prefer. "Sculptural" may be an adjective I would apply. Interestingly,
George E makes sculptures, stones that balance atop and against each other.
I have not been too taken with the pictures of them (which can be found on
the web) - but the practice of working with weight and surface does ply
through to his use of language that makes the Cafavy find 'home' with me.
Stephen V
Blog: http://stephenvincent.durationpress.com
Where "Crossing the Millennium:1999" keeps unrolling
Day by day. Your visits are always welcome.
> And here's two more translations for comparative purposes, the first by
> Economu, and the second by Haviaras:
>
> Best,
>
> Rebecca
>
> THE MIRROR IN THE VESTIBULE (trans. by Economu)
>
> The grand house had in its vestibule
> a colossal, extremely old mirror,
> bought at least eighty years ago.
>
> A very handsome boy, a tailor's helper
> (on Sundays an amateur athlete),
> stood there with a package. He gave it
> to a member of the household, who took it in
> to bring back the receipt. The tailor's helper
> was left alone, and he waited.
> He approached the mirror, looked at himself,
> and straightened his tie. After five minutes
>
> they brought him the receipt. He took it and left.
>
> But the old mirror that had seen so much
> during the many years of its existence,
> thousands of things and faces,
> that old mirror was now overjoyed,
> and filled with pride at having taken into itself
> perfect beauty for a few moments.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The Mirror In The Hallway (trans. by Haviaras)
>
>
>
> The prosperous home had a massive
> mirror in its entry hall, a very old mirror,
> likely acquired more than eighty years before.
>
>
> A beautiful young man, a tailor's assistant
> (and on Sundays an amateur athlete),
> waited there, holding a package. he gave it
> to a member of the household, who took it inside
> to fetch a receipt. The tailor's assistant
> was left there alone, was left there to wait.
> He went up to the mirror, and took a look at himself,
> and straightened his necktie. Five minutes later
> someone returned with the receipt. He took it and left.
>
>
> But the old mirror that had witnessed so much
> in the long, long years of its existence --
> thousands of things and thousands of faces --
> now the old mirror was bursting with pleasure
> and swollen with pride that it had encountered,
> if only for a few minutes, such an ideal beauty.
>
>
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