← The Odyssey: Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original

The Odyssey: Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original — Page 4

English → It Preface Level 6/10

In the preface to my translation of the "Iliad" I have given my views as to the main principles by which a translator should be guided, and need not repeat them here, beyond pointing out that the initial liberty of translating poetry into prose involves the continual taking of more or less liberty throughout the translation; for much that is right in poetry is wrong in prose, and the exigencies of readable prose are the first things to be considered in a prose translation.

Nella prefazione alla mia traduzione dell'"Iliade" ho esposto le mie opinioni sui principi fondamentali da cui un traduttore dovrebbe lasciarsi guidare, e non ho bisogno di ripeterli qui, se non per sottolineare che la libertà iniziale di tradurre la poesia in prosa comporta il continuo ricorso a una libertà più o meno ampia nel corso dell'intera traduzione; poiché molto ciò che è giusto in poesia è sbagliato in prosa, e le esigenze di una prosa leggibile sono le prime cose da considerare in una traduzione in prosa.

That the reader, however, may see how far I have departed from strict construe, I will print here Messrs. Butcher and Lang's translation of the sixty lines or so of the "Odyssey."

Affinché il lettore possa tuttavia vedere fino a che punto mi sono discostato da una resa strettamente letterale, riporterò qui la traduzione dei signori Butcher e Lang delle circa sessanta righe dell'"Odissea".

Their translation runs:

La loro traduzione è la seguente:

Tell me, Muse, of that man, so ready at need, who wandered far and wide, after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy, and many were the men whose towns he saw and whose mind he learnt, yea, and many the woes he suffered in his heart on the deep, striving to win his own life and the return of his company.

Parlami, o Musa, di quell'uomo tanto pronto al bisogno, che vagò a lungo e lontano, dopo aver saccheggiato la sacra rocca di Troia, e molti furono gli uomini le cui città egli vide e la cui mente conobbe, e molte le sofferenze che patì nel suo cuore sul mare profondo, lottando per conquistare la propria vita e il ritorno dei suoi compagni.

Nay, but even so he saved not his company, though he desired it sore.

Eppure, nonostante ciò, egli non riuscì a salvare i suoi compagni, benché lo desiderasse ardentemente.

For through the blindness of their own hearts they perished, fools, who devoured the oxen of Helios Hyperion: but the god took from them their day of returning.

Poiché per la cecità dei propri cuori perirono, stolti, che divorarono i buoi di Helios Iperione: ma il dio tolse loro il giorno del ritorno.

Of these things, goddess, daughter of Zeus, whencesoever thou hast heard thereof, declare thou even unto us.

Di queste cose, o dea, figlia di Zeus, da qualunque luogo tu ne abbia avuto notizia, narraci anche a noi.

Vocabulary

Nella
In the, within the (preposition + article)
prefazione
Preface, introduction to a book or text
alla
To the, at the (preposition + article)
mia
My, belonging to me (feminine)
traduzione
Translation, act of translating text
dell
Of the, from the (preposition + article contraction)
ho
I have (first person singular present)
esposto
Exposed, set forth, explained in detail
le
The (feminine plural article or pronoun)
mie
My, belonging to me (feminine plural)
opinioni
Opinions, personal views or beliefs
sui
On the, about the (preposition + article)
principi
Principles, fundamental rules or beliefs
fondamentali
Fundamental, basic, essential, core
da
From, by, since (preposition)
cui
Which, whom, of which (relative pronoun)
un
A, an (indefinite article masculine)
traduttore
Translator, person who translates texts
dovrebbe
Should, ought to (conditional form)
lasciarsi
Let oneself, allow oneself to be
guidare
Guide, direct, lead the way
non
Not, negation particle
bisogno
Need, necessity, requirement
di
Of, from, about (preposition)
ripeterli
Repeat them, say them again
qui
Here, in this place
se
If, except, whether (conjunction)
per
For, in order to, through
sottolineare
Underline, emphasize, highlight
che
That, which, who (relative pronoun)
la
The, it (feminine article or pronoun)
libertà
Freedom, liberty, independence
iniziale
Initial, starting, at the beginning
tradurre
Translate, convert text to another language
poesia
Poetry, poetic composition, verse
in
In, into, to (preposition)
prosa
Prose, ordinary written or spoken language
comporta
Entails, involves, requires, implies
il
The (masculine singular article)
continuo
Continuous, ongoing, constant
ricorso
Resort, recourse, appeal to
una
A, an (feminine indefinite article)
più
More, greater in amount or degree
meno
Less, fewer, smaller in amount
ampia
Ample, broad, wide, spacious
nel
In the, within the (preposition + article)
corso
Course, progress, way, path
intera
Entire, whole, complete
poiché
Since, because, as (conjunction)
molto
Much, very, a lot
ciò
That, this, it (demonstrative pronoun)
giusto
Correct, right, just, fair
sbagliato
Wrong, incorrect, mistaken
esigenze
Requirements, demands, needs
leggibile
Readable, legible, easy to read
sono
Are, to be (first/third person plural)
prime
First, primary, foremost, earliest
cose
Things, matters, objects
considerare
Consider, regard, think about
Affinché
So that, in order that, so as to
lettore
Reader, one who reads
possa
Can, may, is able to (subjunctive)
tuttavia
However, nevertheless, yet, still
vedere
See, view, look at
fino
Until, up to, as far as
punto
Point, dot, degree, extent
mi
Me, to me, myself (pronoun)
resa
Rendering, translation, surrender
strettamente
Strictly, closely, narrowly
letterale
Literal, word-for-word, exact translation
dei
Of the, some (preposition + article)
signori
Gentlemen, sirs, masters
delle
Of the, some (feminine plural)
circa
About, approximately, around
sessanta
Sixty, number 60
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