It's because you can't get the economy and music of the AS
phrase-turning in English, I suspect. But hey, why cavil at the
impossible?
I have a deep fondness for Tolkien's GGK (Gawain and the Greek Knight,
for those not hip to the code), which I like far better than Simon
Armitage's new version. He did some interesting translations from
early poems. But he had a profound knowledge of the source language
and culture, and a true, if minor, gift for verse.
On Tue, Nov 25, 2008 at 10:22 AM, Robin Hamilton
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> From: "Mark Weiss" <[log in to unmask]>
>
>> Alison: I think it's a great thing to do. Whether or not your version
>> turns out to be great, it's the best way to read deeply into the poem. It's
>> why I translate.
>>
>> Mark
>
> I'm on the opposite end of this ... untranslatable poems.
>
> Why translate anything that anyone has already done better?
>
> ... as for instance, I'd never think of touching Catullus after Peter
> Wrigham.
>
> _Beowulf_ (whether for the reasons among others that dave suggests,
> english-to-english) has not yet been done.
>
> Other than Clark Hall style gloss, the closest I can think of to marginal
> success is Eddie Morgan's.
>
> Why is Beowulf just so hard to do?
>
> Tolkein's GGK reads better than any Beowulf translation, even Alison's, than
> I've ever encountered.
>
> Deeply counter-intuitive ...
>
> R.
>
--
Editor, Masthead: http://www.masthead.net.au
Blog: http://theatrenotes.blogspot.com
Home page: http://www.alisoncroggon.com
|