[Maryann Corbett]

At the back of my mind, gnawing like a mouse, is the thought that I ought to try to recapture my Old English skills by doing some translating. I having trouble motivating myself, though, because the pieces that are fun have all been translated many times over.

So either I work on the un-fun ones or I talk myself into believing there's room for another translation of, say, some riddles of the Exeter Book.

What arguments should I use on myself?

Maryann

[Daniel Haar]

If you don't translate more soon enough, Grendel's mother will come for you!

[peter richards]

A lot of the best literature you read is (I hope) translated into English. At times an edge to your understanding and appreciation of the text may be gained through understanding and appreciation of the problems of translation. You won't exactly forget how to do it, I suppose, but you may lose the habit. It's always a good idea to maintain what you have.

A bit long-winded, I'm afraid, but did I help?

[David Landrum]

Maryann--

Something people leave out of the equation: translating is work, but it's also fun. There is a distinctly linguistic delight in managing to get the dynamic equivalence of a phrase in another language and doing it with wit and energy. Chaucer wrote

And Nicholas is scalded in the towte.
This tale is doon, and God save al the rowte!

Two translations:

And Nicholas is branded on the bum,
And God bring all of us to Kingdom Come.

And Nicholas got his bottom roasted well.
God bless this troop! That's all I have to tell.

The first translator was Neville Coghill, can't remember the second. The variance in their translation shows how wide ranging a translation can be--yet both translations are witty, funny, inventive, clever. That is the joy of translation to me.

I've translated and published works Baudlaire, Martial, Catallus, Sappho. There is a great pleasure in rendering the poetry of another language into a poem in English--not just as a slavish re-representation of words, but as a work of art with its own energy that conveys the art and energy of the original.

So go for it. How about a verse translation of the Ancrwen Riwle (Rule for Nuns)?

I will send you my translations upon request.

[Lee Harlin Bahan]

Maryann, you're a kick-ass poet! Can't wait to see your work on the Translation board. (And to have you around to critique my work.) Get busy!

Yes, it's fun. I work an over-mined territory myself, but I guarantee you that you will discover *something* never before properly understood about anything that you translate. Work lasts because it is multi-faceted and no translation can get all the facets in one piece. Bring us back the facets that only you can find.

Anxiously waiting,
Lee

[Maryann Corbett]

Well, I figured I could count on you guys, and I was right. I've at least gotten as far as taking the relevant books off the shelf and removing the dust.

Fun is a powerful persuader, as is the notion that my crits might be useful.

I can see, though, that this will be slower going than original work. Maybe that's good, because I'll need time to do crits before I post anything.

Thanks,
Maryann

[Mark Allinson]

I have discovered that my translation passion ebbs and flows.

Sometimes it is THE most interesting thing to do. Other times, my brain just refuses to think about it.

Which is why I expect to finish The Odyssey sometime early 2037.