The Translations of Beowulf Part 18

[Sidenote: Breca outdid you entirely. Much more will Grendel outdo you, if you vie with him in prowess.]

Then I ween thou wilt find thee less fortunate issue, Though ever triumphant in onset of battle, A grim grappling, if Grendel thou darest For the s.p.a.ce of a night near-by to wait for! 30

_Criticism of the Translation._

The translation is faithful, but not literal. The chief difference, for example, between this and the translation by Garnett is that Hall makes an attempt to preserve the poetic value of the Old English words. He is never satisfied with the dictionary equivalent of an Old English expression. Thus, in the extract given above, 'from vainest vaunting' is given as a translation of _dol-gilpe_--a great improvement over Garnett's rendering, 'for pride.' Similarly, 'mixing and stirring' is given as a translation of _mundum brugdon_. This method often leads the translator some distance, perhaps too great a distance, from the Old English. The following may serve as examples of the heightened color that Hall gives to the Old English forms:--

548, 'the north-wind whistled, fierce in our faces,'

for _noran-wind heao-grim ondhwearf_.

557, 'my obedient blade,' for _hilde-bille_.

568, 'foam-das.h.i.+ng currents,' for _brontne ford_.

587, 'with cold-hearted cruelty thou killedst thy brothers,'

for _u inum brorum to banan wurde_.

606, 'the sun in its ether robes,' for _sunne swegl-wered_.

838, 'in the mist of the morning,' for _on morgen_.

1311, 'As day was dawning in the dusk of the morning,'

for _?r-daege_.

Perhaps these paraphrastic renderings are what Dr. Hall is referring to when he says in his preface, regarding the nature of the translation, 'Occasionally some loss has been sustained; but, on the other hand, a gain has here and there been made.'

As for the archaism, that is well enough for those who like it. It is never so strange as that of Earle, or the marvelous diction of William Morris. But it is not, therefore, dignified or clear. How much dignity and clarity a translator has a right to introduce into his rendering is a matter of opinion. Mr. Hall was quite conscious of what he was doing, and doubtless regarded his diction as well suited to convey the original Beowulf spirit.

The chief criticism of the verse is that it is often not verse at all.

Many pa.s.sages are indistinguishable from prose. This is a stricture that cannot be pa.s.sed on the Old English, nor on the best modern imitations of it.

The atheling of Geatmen uttered these words and Heroic did hasten. --Page 51, line 19.

In war 'neath the water the work with great pains I Performed. --Page 57, line 6.

Gave me willingly to see on the wall a Heavy old hand-sword. --Page 57, line 11.

The man was so dear that he failed to suppress the Emotions that moved him. --Page 64, line 59.

There might be an excuse for some of this freedom in blank verse, but in measures imitative of the Old English it is utterly out of place. There is always a pause at the end of a line in Old English; run-on lines are uncommon. There is not an example in _Beowulf_ of an ending so light as 'the' or 'a' in the verses quoted above.

HOFFMANN'S TRANSLATION

Beowulf. Aeltestes deutsches Heldengedicht. Aus dem Angelsachsischen ubertragen von P. Hoffmann. Zullichau. Verlag von Herm. Lieb.i.+.c.h (1893?).

8vo, pp. iii, 183.

*Zweite Ausgabe, Hannover, Schaper, 1900.

Sixth German Translation. Nibelungen Measures.

_The Translator._

In _Minerva_ (1902), P. Hoffmann is recorded as 'Ord. Professor' of Philosophy and Pedagogy at Gent.

_Aim of the Volume._

The translator desired to present a rendering of the poem that should attract the general reader. He regarded Simrock's version as too literal and archaic[1], the version of von Wolzogen as not sufficiently clear and beautiful[2], and the version of Heyne as not sufficiently varied in form[3] (Vorwort, i). He regards the _Beowulf_ as of great importance in inspiring patriotism--he always calls the poem German--and even offers a comparison of _Beowulf_ with Emperor William I. With the scholars.h.i.+p of his subject the author hardly seems concerned.

_Text, and Relation of Parts._

The translation is founded on Grein's text of 1867[4].

In addition to the translation, the volume contains articles on the history of the text, origin, the Germanic hero-tales, the episodes, the esthetic value of the poem. These are decidedly subordinate in interest to the translation.

_Nature of the Translation._

The translation is in the so-called Nibelungen measures. Archaisms and unnatural compounds are avoided.

The Finnsburg fragment is inserted in the text at line 1068, p. 44 of the volume. The episode is furnished with a beginning and ending original with Hoffmann.

EXTRACT.

VIERTES ABENTEUER.

VON BEOWULF'S SCHWIMMFAHRT.

Da hub der Sohn der Ecglaf, Hunferd, zu reden an; Er sa.s.s dem Herrn der Schildinge zu Fussen, und begann Kampfworte zu entbieten. Da.s.s her Beowulf kam, Der kuhne Meerdurchsegler, schuf seinem Herzen bitter'n Gram.

Da.s.s unter dem Himmel habe ein andrer Recke mehr, 5 Denn er, des Ruhms auf Erden, war ihm zu tragen schwer: 'Bist {der} Beowulf Du, der einst sich in der weiten Flut Mit Breca ma.s.s im Schwimmen? Zu hoch verma.s.s sich da Dein Mut!

'Ihr spranget in die Wellen, vermessen wagtet ihr Das Leben in die Tiefe, aus Ruhm und Ehrbegier! 10 Die Fahrt, die schreckensvolle, nicht Freund noch Feind verleiden Euch konnte. Also triebet im Sund dahin ihr Beiden!

'Als ihr mit Euren Armen des Meeres Breite decktet, Die Meeresstra.s.sen ma.s.set, die Hande rudernd recktet Durch Brandungswirbel gleitend, vom Wintersturm getrieben 15 Hoch auf die Wellen schaumten; ihr muhtet Euch der Nachte sieben!

'So rangt ihr mit den Wogen! Da wurde Dir entrafft Der Sieg von ihm, im Schwimmen, sein war die gross're Kraft, Ihn trug der Hochflut Wallen am Morgen an den Strand Der Haduramen, bald er von da die susse Heimat wiederfand. 20

'Im Lande der Brondinge wie gerne man ihn sah!

Zu seiner schonen Feste kam er wieder da, Wo er zu eigen hatte Mannen, Burg und Ringe, Der Sohn Beanstan's hatte geleistet sein Erbot Dir allerdinge!'