Part 45 (1/2)
Salel is a most delightful approach to the Iliads; he is still absorbed in the subject-matter, as Douglas and Golding were absorbed in their subject-matter. Note how exact he is in the rendering of the old men's mental att.i.tude. Note also that he is right in his era. I mean simply that Homer _is_ a little _rustre_, a little, or perhaps a good deal, mediaeval, he has not the dovetailing of Ovid. He has onomatopia, as of poetry sung out; he has authenticity of conversation as would be demanded by an intelligent audience not yet laminated with aesthetics; capable of recognizing reality. He has the repet.i.tions of the _chanson de geste_. Of all the French and English versions I think Salel alone gives any hint of some of these characteristics. Too obviously he is not onomatopic, no. But he is charming, and readable, and ”Briseis Fleur des Demoiselles” has her reality.
Nicolo Valla is, for him who runs, closer:
”Consili virtus, summis de rebus habebant Sermones, et multa inter se et magna loquentes, Arboribus quales gracili stridere cicadae Saepe solent cantu, postquam sub moenibus altis Tyndarida aspiciunt, procerum tum quisque fremebat, Mutuasque exorsi, Decuit tot funera Teucros Argolicasque pati, longique in tempore bellum Tantus in ore decor cui non mortalis in artus Est honor et vultu divina efflagrat imago.
Diva licet facies, Danauum c.u.m cla.s.se recedat Longius excido ne nos aut nostra fatiget Pignora sic illi tantis de rebus agebant.”
This hexameter is rather heavily accented. It shows, perhaps, the source of various ”ornaments” in later English and French translations. It has indubitable sonority even though monotonous.
It is the earliest Latin verse rendering I have yet come upon, and is bound in with Raphael of Volterra's first two Iliads, and some further renderings by Obsopeo.
_Odyssea_ (Liber primus) (1573).
”Dic mihi musa uirum captae post tempora Troiae Qui mores hominum multorum uidit et urbes Multa quoque et ponto pa.s.sus dum naufragus errat Ut sibi tum sociis uitam seruaret in alto Non tamen hos cupens fato deprompsit acerbo Ob scelus admissum extinctos ausumque malignum Qui fame compulsu solis rapuere iuvencos Stulti ex quo reditum ad patrias deus abstulit oras.
Horum itaque exitium memora mihi musa canenti.”
_Odyssea_ (Lib. sec.) (1573).
”c.u.mprimum effulsit roseis aurora quadrigis Continuo e stratis proies consurgit Ulyxis Induit et uestes humerosque adcomodat ensem Molia denin pedibus formosis uincula nect.i.t Parque deo egrediens thalamo praeconibus omnis Concilio cognant extemplo mandat Achaeos Ipse quoque ingentem properabat ad aedibus hastam Corripiens: gemenique canes comitantor euntem Quumque illi mirum Pallas veneranda decorem Preberer populus venientem suspicit omnis Inque throno patrio ueteres cessere sedenti.”
The charm of Salel is continued in the following excerpts. They do not cry out for comment. I leave Ogilby's English and the lines of Latin to serve as contrast or cross-light.
_Iliade_ (Livre I). Hugues Salel (1545).[3]
THE IRE
”Je te supply Deesse gracieuse, Vouloir chanter l'Ire pernicieuse, Dont Achille fut tellement espris, Que par icelle, ung grand nombre d'espritz Des Princes Grecs, par dangereux encombres, Feit lors descente aux infernales Umbres.
Et leurs beaulx Corps privez de Sepulture Furent aux chiens et aux oiseaulx pasture.”
_Iliade_ (Lib. III). John Ogilby (1660).
HELEN
”Who in this chamber, sumpteously adornd Sits on your ivory bed, nor could you say, By his rich habit, he had fought to-day: A reveller or masker so comes drest, From splendid sports returning to his rest.
Thus did love's Queen warmer desires prepare.
But when she saw her neck so heavenly faire, Her lovely bosome and celestial eyes, Amazed, to the G.o.ddess, she replies: Why wilt thou happless me once more betray, And to another wealthy town convey, Where some new favourite must, as now at Troy With utter loss of honour me enjoy.”
_Iliade_ (Livre VI). Salel.
GLAUCUS RESPOND a DIOMeDE
”Adonc Glaucus, auec grace et audace, Luy respondit: 'T'enquiers tu de ma race?
Le genre humain est fragile et muable Comme la fueille et aussi peu durable.
Car tout ainsi qu'on uoit les branches uertes Sur le printemps de fueilles bien couuertes Qui par les uents d'automne et la froidure Tombent de l'arbre et perdent leur uerdure Puis de rechef la gelee pa.s.see, Il en reuient a la place laissee: Ne plus ne moins est du lignage humain: Tel est huy uif qui sera mort demain.
S'il en meurt ung, ung autre reuint naistre.
Voyla comment se conserue leur estre.'”
_Iliade_ (Lib. VI). As in Virgil, Dante, and others.
”Quasim gente rogas? Quibus et natalibus ortus?