Part 16 (1/2)

EXTRACT.

VIII.

Hunferd disse, il nato di Eclaf, che a' piedi sedea del prence de' Schildinghi, 500 sbrigli accenti di contesta--eragli la gita di Beovulf, del coraggioso navigatore, molto a fastidio, perche non amava, che un altro uomo vieppiu di gloria nell' orbe di mezzo avesse sotto il cielo che lui stesso--: 505 'Sei tu quel Beovulf, che con Breca nuot nel vasto pelago per gara marina, quando voi per baldanza l'acque provaste, e per pazzo vanto nel profondo sale la vita arrischiaste? ne voi uomo alcuno, 510 ne caro ne discaro, distorre pote dalla penosa andata, quando remigaste nell' alto, la corrente dell' oceano colle braccia coprendo misuraste le strade del mare, colle mani batteste, e scivolaste sopra l'astato. Nelle onde del ghebbo 515 vagavano i cavalloni d'inverno: voi nel tenere dell' acqua sette notti appenastevi. Egli nel nuoto ti super, ebbe piu forza. E al tempo mattutino lo port suso il flutto verso la marittima Ramia donde ei cerc la dolce patria, 520 cara a sue genti, la terra dei Brondinghi, il vago castel tranquillo, ov' egli popolo avea, rocche e gioie. Il vanto intero contro te il figlio di Beanstan in verita mantenne.'

_Criticism of the Translation._

The present writer cannot attempt a literary criticism of the translation.

In purpose and method this version may be compared with that of Kemble[1] and of Schaldemose[2]. In each case the translator was introducing the poem to a foreign public, and it was therefore well that the translation should be literal in order that it might a.s.sist in the interpretation of the original. There has been no further work done on the poem in Italy[3].

While the verse is not strictly imitative in the sense that it preserves exactly the Old English system of versification, it aims to maintain the general movement of the original lines. The four stresses are kept, save where a fifth is used to avoid monotony. These 'expanded lines' are much commoner in the Italian than in the Old English.

[Footnote 1: See supra, p. 33.] [[Kemble]]

[Footnote 2: See supra, p. 41.] [[Schaldemose]]

[Footnote 3: Of a work by G. Schuhmann, mentioned by Wulker in his _Grundriss_, - 209, I can ascertain nothing.]

WICKBERG'S TRANSLATION

Beowulf, en fornengelsk hjeltedikt, ofversatt af Rudolf Wickberg.

Westervik, C. O. Ekblad & Comp., 1889. 4to, pp. 48, double columns.

First Swedish Translation. Imitative Measures.

_Aim of the Volume._

The translator begins his introduction with a discussion of the importance of _Beowulf_ as a historical doc.u.ment. For this reason he is especially interested in the episodes:--

'This important historical interest may then explain the reason for translating the poem into Swedish, and also serve as an excuse for the fact that in the translation the poetic form has not been considered of first importance.' --Inledning, p. 3.

_Nature of the Translation._

'In the translation I have endeavored to make the language readable and modern. A translation out of an ancient tongue ought never to strive after archaic flavor in point of words and expressions. Since the poet wrote in the language of his day, the translation ought also to use contemporary language.... I have tried to follow the original faithfully, but not slavishly. For the sake of clearness the half-lines have often been transposed.... The rhythm is still more irregular than the Old English. Alliteration has generally been avoided.' --Inledning, p. 6.

_Texts Used._

The author constructs his own text. He explains (p. 6) that he has in general taken the MS. as the basis of his text. He has emended by making those changes which 'seemed most necessary or most probable.' In places where this departure from the MS. has been made, he italicizes the words of his translation.

EXTRACT.