YALE STUDIES IN ENGLIS H
K D R ALBERT S . CO O E I , TO
TH E T RA N SL ATIO NS O F B EOWU L
A CRITICAL B IB LIO GRAPHY
HA N E Y B I N K E R C U C . Z A SSO CIATE IN ENGLIS H AT B RYN MAW R CO LLEGE
A PORTION O F A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE PHILOSOPHICAL FACULTY O F YALE UNIVERSITY IN CANDIDACY FO R ‘ THE DEGREE O F DOCTOR O F PHILOSOPHY
NEW Y O RK
HEN RY HO LT AND CO MPANY OX FORD HO R CE H RT P RINTE R To THE UN VERSITY A A , I
129208 P RE FA C E
THE following pages are designed to give a histo rical and critical accou nt of all that has been don e in the way o f tran slatin g Beowulf from th e earliest attempts o f Sharo n
T 0 urner in 1 8 5 down to th e presen t time . As a coro llary
i e en a of the e o f th e e to to th s , it pr s ts history t xt po m
’ ' the tim e o f the publication of Grein s B iblzotlzek der a ngel sfickszlk Faerie in 1 859 fo r u n til the publication of this wo rk every editor of the poem was also its tran slator. It is hoped that the essay m ay prove us eful as a con tri b ution a an d e ve as a n ven en efe en e to bibliogr phy, s r co i t r r c book fo r those in search of in formation regardin g the value ’ o f ex an d an a n of B e t ts tr sl tio s owub .
The e of ea n the a u k in en e a m thod tr ti g v rio s boo s is, g r l, th e an a u a e e sa me . I hav tried to give in each case cc r t
a a e n of th e o u e a n o n of the bibliogr phic l d scriptio v l m , tio
a ue of th e e u e In a n &c . B ut th e e a v l t xt s d m ki g it, mph sis given to these topics h as necessarily varied fro m time to
e. In u n l era an a on for exam e u tim disc ssi g it l tr sl ti s, w, m ch a en ion has een a to th e a ue of the e w e tt t b p id v l t xt, hil little or n othing is said of th e value of the rendering as
e a u e . O n th e o e an in the a e of a oo w lit r t r th r h d, c s b k hich
i e ar in aim the a en on a the a a ue is l t r y , tt ti p id to critic l v l
s o f th e book is comparatively small . At certain period in the o of the e the ef alue o f a an a o n hist ry po m , chi v tr sl ti is its u tility as a part o f th e critical apparatus for the A 2 4 P reface
n e e a n of the e at e e a an a o n i t rpr t tio po m ; oth r p riods , tr sl ti lays claim to ou r atten tion chiefly as imparti ng the literary fe atures of th e original .
In ea n of th e an a n w we m a a era sp ki g tr sl tio s hich y c ll lit ry,
a e n a u a a a en n the E n er on s I h v t r lly p id most tt tio to glish v si ,
an d for e era ea n . In the fi a e B eowul this s v l r so s rst pl c , f is an E n lzlr/z oe se n th e n u e ar e an d im g p m ; co dly, mb r, v i ty, po rtan ce of the E nglish translati on s warran t this emphasis ;
the e en w e un a e to s u s in e a thirdly, pr s t rit r is bl di c s d t il the literary an d metrical valu e o f tran slation s in fo reign
n n Du Dan u e . The a un en of e a to g s cco t giv G rm , tch, ish,
Swe en an d a an e n s is e efo e of a dish, Fr ch , It li v rsio , th r r ,
e r o a a n a u e b u t w en e e o s e mor st ictly bibli gr phic l t r , h v r p s ibl , so m e n otion h as been given of the gen eral critical Opin ion
re r with ga d to them . A n asterisk is placed before thetitles of books which the presen t writer has n ot seen . My thanks are due to the officials of the Library of
a e Un e who se u e for me an of the o u e Y l iv rsity, c r d m y v l m s here d escribed ; to Professor E wald Fliigel of Lelan d
S an fo un Un e who n en m e er a n t rd J ior iv rsity, ki dly l t c t i tran scripts made for him at the British Mu seu m ; an d to
. E wa Thorstenb er n ru o in Swe at a e Mr d rd g, I st ct r dish Y l
U n ers for e in re n th e an s an d Swe s iv ity, h lp adi g D i h di h
an a on tr sl ti s. TAB LE O F CO NTENTS
PRELIMINARY REMARKS ON THE B EOWULF MANUSCRIPT
’ SHARON TURNER s EXTRACTS THO RKELIN’S EDITION GRUNDTVIG’S TRANSLATION
‘ CO NYEEARE’S EXTRACTS
’ KEMELE S EDITION
’ E TTMULLER S TRANSLATION
’ SCHALDEMO SE S TRANSLATION WACKERBARTH’S TRANSLATION
’ THORPE S EDITION GREIN’S TRANSLATION
’ SIMRO CK S TRANSLATION HEYNE ’S TRANSLATION VO N W O LZO GEN ’S TRANSLATION ARNO LD ’s EDITION
’ B O TKINE S TRANSLATION LUMSDEN ’S TRANSLATION
’ GARNETT S TRANSLATION GRIO N’s TRANSLATION
’ W ICREERG S TRANSLATION EARLE’S TRANSLATION L HALL’s R T J . . T ANSLA ION HOFFMANN 'S TRANSLATION MORRIS AND W YATT ’S TRANSLATION SIMO N S’S TRANSLATION STEINECK’S TRANSLATION ’ K HALL s TI R . C I. LAR TRANSLA ON TINKER’S TRANSLATION 6 Con tents
APPE N DIX I
I C M LE E RANSLA IO NS AND ARA HRA E N O P T T T , P P S S PAGE ’ LEo s DIGEST I 2 I
’ SANDRAS S ACCO UNT 123
’ E H E H 12 . . JON S S PARAP RASE 3
’ ZINSSER S SELECTION 126 GIBB’S PARAPHRASE 128
’ WAGNER AND MAcDO WALL S PARAPHRASE I 30
’ THERESE DAHN S PARAPHRASE I 32
’ STO PFO RD BROOKE S SELECTIONS I 3S
’ MISS RAGO ZIN S PARAPHRASE I 38
’ A CH R H H I : . J. U C S PARAP RASE 4 MISS THO MSON ’S PARAPHRASE 143
APPE N DIX II
A BIBLIOGRA PHY O F WORKS WHICH TRANSLATE SELECTIO NS FRO M BEOW ULF’ INTO ENGLISH
APPE N DIX III
TWO W O RKS NAMED ‘ BEO W ULF’
I MA ’ R E . NNO S OMANC II S H CH H’ E . . . URC S PO M
INDEX O F TRANSLATO RS T HE
TRANS LATIO NS O F B EO W ULF
PRELIMI NARY R E MARKS O N THE B EO W ULF MAN USCRIPT
THE u n iqu e man uscript of the B eowulf is preserved in the Cotton ian Library of th e B ritish M use u m . It is on i h fo o es na e Co to n e us A a ne n t e V . c t i d li d ig t d t it lli xv , w ere u s n n in o r e fi n the fo l n u e e h it occ r i th d r, lli g ios mb r d
12 a to 1 8 n u s e . 9 9 b, i cl iv
The first reco rded n otice o f th e MS . is to b e fou n d in ’ W anle s Ca a o of A n o -Sa on an u fo y t l g gl x M scripts (Ox rd , ’ m Th e Volu me III o f Hickes s Tltesau s . poem is
‘ s P f ~ Tractatus n ob ilissimu oetic e scriptus. Pre ation is hoc est in i ’ u ti m.
The fi n ne een l n e f w an e w a few rst i t i s ollo , tr scrib d ith errors
’ ImtIum au tem primi Capiti s sic se habet.
- n e an r e w a few er . Li s 53 73, tr sc ib d ith rors
‘ In hoe ro ui Poeseos n o-Saxon ica e re ium est e em u lib , q A gl g g x pl m , descri ta viden tur el a ua B eowulfus u a an us ex e o p b l q q id m D , R gi ’ in m t r O u it ueciae os Pa e 2 18 ld oru s e rt s ss con ra S e u . Scy g i p , ge t R g l g ,
l and 2 1 col. a. co . b, 9,
No fu e n e was a en of the S . un 1 86 rth r otic t k M til 7 , ‘ when Thork elin made two transcripts of it. In 1 73 1 there occu rred a disastro us fire which destro yed
h e B wu f M . a n u mber o f the Cottonian MSS . T eo l S u ffere at e e e e n o e and s d this tim , its dg s b i g sc rch d its
a e S e e . As a e u the e es a e e p g s hriv l d r s lt, dg h v chipp d
See n fra i , p. 16. ' 8 7 7m Tm rrslatrons q/ Beowulf
awa and e of th e ea n s a e een t. doe y, som r di g h v b los It s not a ea o we e a e e o e are o f ea pp r, h v r , th t th s l ss s so gr t import an ce as the remarks o f some pro minen t Old English ve scholars might lea d us to suspect . Their remarks gi the impressio n that the inj u ry which the MS . received in f h e e n th e fire accoun ts fo r practica lly all o t e ill gibl li es. That this is n o t so may b e see n by co mpari ng the Wanley
r the Z u itza A u to es. n in 1 0 t an script with p W Writi g 7 5 , ef e the Co o n fire an e f un two le e wo b or tt , W l y o d il gibl rds — at lin e 15 ill egible becau se o f fading an d ru bbin g. O f exactly th e same nature appea r to b e the inj u ri es at n e 2 20 iii th e e e a e a a e w n ea if n ot li s 2 , c l br t d p ss g hich is rly,
u e un n tel i e . w u eref re b e a afe assum q it , i lig bl It o ld th o s p u in u as e e a ene to the MS tio n that s ch j ries th s h pp d .
efo e e a e a a o f the u e V e u A . . b r it b c m p rt vol m , it lli s xv The inj uries due to scorchin g an d burn in g are seldom of th e first imwrtan ce. a e This poi nt is worth notin g . E ch succ eding scholar wh n e the M ea e e w o ra S . en t scrib d , g r to r comm d his ork, we u o n th e a e er ra o n of th e a ent and d lt p r pid d t io ti p rchm , the reliability of his own readings as exact reproduc on of w a he e f h ad een in M f e ti s h t hims l s the S . be o r it r i rea ched its presen t u n o us sta te . The result of this was that the e men dations o f th e editor were so metimes accepted by scholars an d tran slators as th e au tho ritative readings o f
the MS . w en in ea e we re n o n b u t ra i o u , h r lity th y thi g g tu t s 1 a n . T e e a rue o f T or e an d th e dditio s his is sp ci lly t h p , false readin gs which h e i ntrod uced were n ever got rid of u n til the Zupitz a AW ow“ brought to light the sins of th e f variou s edito rs o th e poe m . These statemen ts regard e in g t xt and MS . will be developed in the fo llowing 2 e se ction s of th paper . S HARO N T URNER’S E X TRACTS
THE o o f the an n er an e o e e n Hist ry M s, L d d Pr p rty, Gov r en aws Poe te a u e Re on an d an ua e o f m t, L , try, Li r t r , ligi , L g g - FA . . o n on the A n Sa o ns. B S a n Tu n e . S glo x y h ro r r, L d
o n an u r Ree r e 180 . L gm , H st , s, O m , 5 B ein g V o lu me IV of the Histo ry o f the Anglo -Saxo n s
fro e ear e a earan c e a e the e etc . o n o n m th ir li st pp bov Elb , L d , - 8- 8 1 0 . 799 180 5 PP. 39 4
Se o n E on o e e an d en a e . o n o n c d diti , c rr ct d l rg d L d 8 n an u s Rees r e 1 0 . 2 o s. Lo gm , H r t, , O m , 7 v l , — l . 2 0 B eowul e c r e V o . . f d s ib d , II , pp 94 3 3
T E on . o n o n 1820 . hird diti L d , 8 o u o n . on o n 1 2 . F rth Editi L d , 3 f io n 1 82 Fi th Edit . ( 7
S 1 8 6. on. n on ixth Editi Lo d , 3 8 Se en on . o n n 1 2. v th Editi L do , 5
Re n : ar 1 8 0 P a e a 18 1. pri ts P is, 4 ; hil d lphi , 4
T an on r two s r slati of Ext a cts fro m the first Part .
' P oin ts D z e enc be een tire ar ious E ditions of fi r e tw V .
A part of this may b e stated in the wo rds o f the autho r 1
‘ The poem had re mained un touched an d unn oticed bo th here an d a roa un i o ser ed its cur ous con ten s an d in 180 ann oun b d t l I b v i t , 5 ced it to the u c . I coul en ve on a as erusa an d fro th p bli d th gi it ly h ty p l, m e
. a n a eaf n ter ose n ear its co en ce en wh c o e MS h vi g l i p d mm m t, i h bel n g d o a su se uen ar an d fro the cu ar o r w t b q t p t, m pe li bscu ity hich sometimes en s the a on oe r no t at a s ffi com n att d S x p t y, I did th t time u cien tly prehe d
an d h ad n ot e su re to a a c oser a en on . B ut in the ear it, l i pply l tt ti y 1818 oo u a a n as I was r ar n r e on and I t k it p g i , p ep i g my thi d diti , then made that more correct an alysis which was inserted in that an d the ’ i s — su se uen e on an d w c is a resen . b q t dit , hi h lso exhibited in the p t Sixth
e ion . 2 dit , p 93, footn ote 10 The Translations of B eowulf
The statemen t that the poe m had re mai ned unto uched Th u l h n t an d u nn oticed is n o t st rictly tru e . e p b ic ad o yet received any detailed i n formatio n regarding it ; b ut l W anle had en io n e the B eowu l in his a a o an d y m t d f c t l g, Th o rkelin had a ea a e two ran o f the e lr dy m d t scripts po m ,
an d was at wo r u on an e o n . Tu ne we e k p diti r r, ho v r, deserves full c redit for first calling the atten tion of the n s o e to th a n f he E gli h pe pl e import ce o t poem . In the e on o f w th e au o ea an third diti , hich th r sp ks , m y improvem en ts were in trod u ced in to the digest o f th e story and some impro vem en ts i nto the text of the translations M an y of these were glean ed from the editio pr ince) : o f 2 h r lin The n ow o w a fa e ee of T o ke . story is t ld ith ir d gr ac u a a u an e u e em ain : e the c r cy , ltho gh m y s rio s rrors r g. au thor did not distingu ish the correct in te rpretation of - the w n a an e a o f w en e w. s immi g m tch, xtr ct hich is giv b lo The an la n s are a u as fau as e e as ma b e tr s tio bo t lty v r , y een a n the In the fi e n s by comp ri g two extracts . rst ditio o n the fi ar of the e ea e in th e ly rst p t po m is tr t d ; third , ele n f h s ctio s rom t e secon d part are added . No further changes were made in later editions of the
History. Detailed in formatio n regardin g differen ces between the fi ee e n a f u n w rst thr ditio s m y b e o d belo .
Tar m K a nd bis n owled e E k . , g of O ld flgiis
Sharon Tu rn er ( 1768- 1 847) was from early you th e e to the u of A n -Sa n era ure d vot d st dy glo xo history, lit t , n u n a d an tiq ities . His k owledge was largely derived fro m the exami nation of o rigi n al docu m en ts in th e B ritish 3 B Museu m . ut th e very wealth of th e n ew material which h e found fo r the study of the literatu re kept him fr a n a u s is e e em om m ki g thoro gh tu dy of it . It to b r m
See the Life of Turner by Thomas Seccomq xct a: t og. ‘ Skaran Tu rner s Extracts 1 1
b ee that at this time b ut little was kn own o f th e pecu liar n u e O f the n o Tu n e e f at r Old E glish p etry. r r giv s air u s on s of the wo s o f Be e an d 1Elfric b ut he n o w disc s i rk d , k s ra a n ot n o f th e e th e so- a e p ctic lly hi g po try . With c ll d P om /ware o f Cmdm on he o f o urse fa ia b u t p is , c , mil r ; his kn owl edge o f B eowulf an d yudit/z is derived fro m th e
u n ue an d at a e 180 un u e MS . Co on iq , th t tim ( 5) p blish d, , tt
e u . f e n n s f h E B e V it lli s A . xv O th co te t o t e xeter ook h n kn ew n othing. The V ercelli Book had ot yet been Th a e a at an fo r his u we e discovered . e m t ri ls h d st dy r a f n u ffi n n a au lty edition o f Caedmon and an i s cie t dictio ry . The au o r w o e n e es was o f co u r e a in th , h s i t r t s prim rily s o r was n ot fa a w th e n u s wo r o f the hi t y, mili r ith li g i tic k
da . e efo e n o t u n a w r was y It is, th r r , s rprisi g th t his o k n ot of the e ua b st q lity.
L d ines in tke P oem Transla te by Tu m er .
— - - - First edition : 1 8 40 ; 47 83 a ; 1gob 279 ; 320 3 24 ; - 6 - 1 a In the e o n e o n are a e 333 33 499 5 7 . s c d diti dd d - — I I 7 ; 4 1-46 ; 8ah- n 4 ; 1 89-199 a ; 387 497 ; 522-5 28 - - In the third edition are added : 5 29 53 1 ; 535 55 8 ; 60 7 - — — - 646 ; 67 1 674 : 7 20 738 ; 991 996 ; 10 13 104 2 ; m 6o b — - 1 0 68a ; 1 159 b -I I 65 a ; I r 68b 1 1 80 a ; 1 215 b 12s6 a ; - 1 240 b 1246 a ; an d a few o ther detached lines .
’ Turner s A ccoun t of B eowulf in tko First E ditrb n
of Itis Hi story . - The most in terestin g remain s of the Anglo Saxon poetry which time has suffere to reac us are co n a n e in the n o- a on oe in d h , t i d A gl S x p m C on te us 1 an e en ons as a oe the o rar . . tt Lib y, Vi lli A 5 W l y m ti it p m “ in w c to b e escr e the wars w c on e Beo wu f a ane hi h seem d ib d hi h l , D the ro f th e c ldin i wa e a a n s the re u of we en of yal race o S y g , g d g i t g li S d
con the i n cor rec . is a com But thi s accoun t of the ten ts of MS . s i t It a ra on of the a e positi on more cu rious an d importan t . It is a n r ti tt mpt
M . . 218 Wan e a a . Sa on S . l y, C t l x , p 12 The Tran slations of Beowulf of eowu fto wrec the fae the or ea l feu on ro ar for a om c B l k d d y d H thg , h i ide w had o m e I ma b e cal e an n - a on c he c . o e c o hi h m itt d t y l d A gl S x pi p em. It aboun ds with speeches which Beowulf an d H rothgar and their ar sans a e to eac o er w uc occas ona escr on an p ti m k h th , ith m h i l d ipti d ’— sen n . Boo C a . . 8 if. time t k vi, h p iv, pp 39
t t P I T[ o S tory of ire oem as n terpreted by Tu r n er .
[Dots in dicate the position of the quotation s !
‘ b e n w a r e u w n o u e er It gi s ith p o mi m , hich i tr d c s its h o B e e eowu lf to o u r n otice. The po t th n states th e e mbarkation o f Beowu lf and his partisa n s Tu rn er in terprets the pro log as the description o f the emb arka h n tion o f Beowu lf on a piratical expedition . T e accessio of o a to the on e of th e Dan e is en es r e Hr thg r thr s th d c ib d , ‘ n h s n T e ar and the accou t of i homicide is give . his r m k able mistake was cau sed by the tran sposition of a sheet — from a later part o f the poem the fight with Grendel h fi h B lf to t e rst section of t e poem . The saili n g o f eowu the rr n r and a ival in the Da ish lan d are then given . Tu ner ‘ ’ con tin ues : Th e sixth section exhibits H rothgar s con versa ’ n w his n o e and Beowu f s n ro u o n and a re tio ith bl s, l i t d cti dd ss ’ h en e on en w ro r n e to him . T e sev th s cti op s ith H thga s a sw r to who en ea u r e a n the r u an e of the him , d vo s to xpl i ci c mst c n h e e n a new ea er r o a on . I t e a ea p rov c ti ighth s ctio sp k pp s, who n ro u e as al o all the e so na e in th e is i t d c d , m st p r g s oe are en on e w o e a u n of aren a e p m m ti d , ith s m cco t his p t g ’ T n f ow h n and character. he o ll s t e extract give below HUN FERTH spoke The son of E cglafe ; W ho had sat at th e foot O f the lord of the Scyldin gi on the an of th e a e s er Am g b d b ttl my t y . To go in the path of Beowulf W as to him a great pride ; He was zealous That to him it should b e gran ted That n o other man ’ Sharon Tu r ner s Extracts 13
W as esteemed greater in th e world n er the ea en s U d h v than himself. ‘ Art thou Beowulf He that with such profit we s in th e e an s e sea D ll xp iv , Amid the con tests of th e ocean ? ’I There yet for riches go ! You try for deceitful glory 3 In ee wa ers d p t . N or can an m a y n , e er clear or o ous Wh th di , Restrain you from the sorrowful path There yet with eye-streams ‘ To the miserable you flourish You meet in the sea-street ; You oppress with your han ds ; “ ’ You glide over the ocean s waves ; The fur of w n er ra es y i t g , Y et on the watery domain ’ e n n S ve ights have ye toiled .
Af e e ra Tu n er on n ue wou u t r this xt ct , r c ti s It ld occ py too m uch room in the presen t vol u m e to give a fu rther a ou n of s n ere n oe w we e e es cc t thi i t sti g p m , hich ll d s rv to b e u e the u w a ran a on and w s bmitt d to p blic, ith t sl ti ith re fo -two e on s o f ample notes . There a rty s cti it in th e
fe . Co on MS . an d en ere er er tt , it ds th imp ctly It is p haps the oldest poe m o f an epic form in the vernacular language ’ s of Eu rope which n ow exist .
1 S econ d edition Ever acquired un der heaven ’ m ore of the world s glory
than himself. — S econ d edition ye . S econ d edition adds Y s o w our ors e leep n t ith y ancest . e n o s Secon d ditio mit . Secon d edition reads You glide over the ocean on h w t e aves of the sea . 14 The Translations of Beowulf
In the secon d edition the followin g lin es were added A f e Hun ferthe ano e a a e n uce t r , th r ch r ct r is i trod d
ear to his eo e D p pl , of the lan d of the Brondingi ; the or of fa r c es L d i iti , w ere he had eo e h p pl , ar s an d racele s b k , b t , lw E a ith, the son of Beandan e, the faithfu l compan ion ena m ced . Then I thin k wors n s w b e to t ee e thi g ill h , thou n oble on e ! Every where the rush a of grim battle will be m de. If ou dar st the ren dles th e g , the time of a lon g n ight ” n will b e ear to thee.
Thir d E dition .
“ Hun ferth the son of Ec laf wh o sat at the fee o f the , g , t ” l in lord of the Scy d gi. He is described as j ealous of ’ B e wulf e u a on an d as efu n an m an o s r p t ti , r si g to y more H i r n celebrity than himself. e s rep ese ted as tauntin g B f e as a sea-k n eowu l on his xploits i g or vikingr.
Art ou B eowu f th l , h e that with such profit a ours on th e w e sea l b id , amid the con tests of the ocean ? ere ou for r c es Th y i h , an d for ece fu or d it l gl y, explore its bays in th e ee waters d p , ou w till y sleep ith your elders. N or can an m an res ra n ou y t i y , w e er ear or o ous to ou h th d di y , fro rro wfu a m this so l p th . There you rush on the wave ; there on the water Streams :
16 The Transla tions of Beowu lf
. Ran M XV . o . 2 T is Th . el D t yp E g . CCC 4 , pp xx , 99, appen dix 5 . n First Edition . First Tran slation (Lati ).
l Circu mstances of P ub ica tion .
1 The words o f Wan ley cited above did n ot pass u n n in en Thorkelin e s us in n ro u n oticed D mark . t ll his i t d ctio 2 a had on een the e e of Suhm Lan eb eck th t it l g b d sir , g , Ma n usen an d e Dan s o a to n s e th e g , oth r ish ch l rs i p ct ’ fo w Tho k lin S in the B u eu . The n r e s M . ritish M s m llo i g is accoun t of his edito rial labors
‘ Via tan dem mihi data fuit ad desideratum n imis diu divin i vati s Ar a n im u n rit o an c n co ara le o us. ct ete a os et B an n s D i i i mp bi p , q intercessit a c a me allexit ut clem en tissime an n uen tib us u u mi iti , , , A g
s imis r a a b us CH V II et FRED RI I . er in sti s pat i p tri RISTIANO . E CO V it
B ritann iam an no sec uli pra teriti Lxxxv1. ad th esauros b ibliothec arum
Alb ion en sium erscrutan dos facerem . cu ratorib us M u sa p A , i B r an n ci aliarum ue Bib lioth ecaru m o es as a a est ia it i , q , p t t mihi d t [ ! s icien di tractan di et exscriben di o n a ua re us D an icis lucem p , , m i , q b
' u r afiere possen t man scripts . Ad quam em con ficien dam viri n ostro pra con io majores Josephus Plan ta et Richardu s Sou thgate dieri M usa i
ra fecti in me sua oflicia human issime con tuler n t. o B rit . p u Optim igitur successu et uberrim o cum fructu dom um reversus sum
(pp. viii, ix).
Thorkelin u a n e two o e of the o e o ne th s obt i d c pi s p m, a e w his own an the e a r e n oran m d ith h d, oth r by sc ib ig t o f Old E nglish . These transcripts (still preserved in ’ C en a en for he f op h g ) med t basis or Thorkelin s edition . The accou n t of his studies con ti n u es
ua cun ue ur ossen t hoc eu n e o u ad uvare o a Q q igit p m m g ti m j , c mp rare coe i ma n am ue lib rorum Co a un e ua ue con essi uoru p , g q pi m d q q g , q m
O era car en a rederer. In h oc m e sedulum ita e u o p m gg g ssi, t pu s totum an n o D VI con fecerim e r e it r . M CCC I , id m b evi d u us (p. xv)
u at e u n fo u n a e Co en a en was o e J st this tim , rt t ly, p h g st rm d ’ the n ee an d Thorkelin s e and n o e we e by E glish fl t, t xt t s r 1 u ra . . S p , p 7 1 ’ n dtvi e on of See a so Gru s th e e f B eowul . l g diti t xt o f , p xvi .
18 The Translations a Beowulf in a e e on He fa e en f Hna f en est th t xp diti . il d to id ti y , or H g ,
H roth ulf 81C. or ,
1 EXTRACT .
Hunferpmaleode H u nferd loquebatur Ecglafes beam be a t fotum sa t Qui ad pedes sedit rean Sc ldin a o n Sc ldin orum F y g D mi i y g , O n ban d beadu Emeritus stipen diis Run e wa s him M om ordit cum B eowulfes sipmodges B eowu lf? itinere elati Mere faran Maria sulcan do Micel a f un ca a n a n n a o p M g i dig ti , For pon pe he n e upe t o Propterea quod ille n esciret pa t a n ig oper man Ullum aliu m virum { Eire ma rha Magis celebre m Don m a middangardes In mun do Gehedde un der h eofen um N om in ari sub coelo on he lfa eart ua u D sy Q m se ips m . u se eowu f Tu sis B eowu u s p B l l/ , Se be wipb reccan Qui ob pra das Wun n e on sidn e sa Geris per latum a quor Ymb sun flite Et ar a u n as d m i p g . pa r git for wlen ce Ibi vos ob divitias a a cun n edon a a ex lorastis W d V d p , An d for dol gilpe Et ob falsam gloriam rofun as u O n deop wa ter P d a q as. Aldrum n epdon An n is sub acto N e mic a n ig m on N on mihi aliquis N e leof n e lap Amicus aut hostis
B el an mi ht . b icere o es e g e O j p t t, orh fulln i Illacrim abiles e io S e s p xpedit n es.
a on sun reon . vos er a uora ruistis p git d Ubi p q , pa git ea gor stream 30 Ibi fluctus san guin is rivis r xis i E arm um pehton Mise i te t s. Ma ton mere stra ta Metiti estis maris strata M un dum b rugdon Castella terruistis u ofer arsec Fluitavistis r n s a u O lido g g t a q ora . Geofon ypum Salis u n da
1 See Thorkelin . 0 . , p 4 ’ Thorleelin s Edition 19
eo win tris w lm Fervuerun t n imb orum W l y a stu . Git on wa teris a b t Vos in aquarum vadis Seofon n swuncon e e n octib us afliicti f ight S pt m uistis. He he at sun de Ille cum sun dum f at h f r sv O erfl a de T an olasset, Mare ma gen Magis in ten sa vires pa hin e on morgen tid Illum tempore matutin o O n h eapo Ra mis In altam Ra mis a s H olm up t baer I n ulam advexere. pon on he gesohte Dein de petiit
. D Swa sn e ulcem , Leof his leodum Charam suo populo o B ron din a Terram r in oru L n d g B ond g m . f er a r m Freopo burh a gere. Lib t te u be con spicuam pa r he folc ab te Ibi populo possessam Burh an d b eagas Urb em et Opes orre i r Boot eal wip C ps t. Omn e con t a De sun u Bean stanes Tibi filius B ean sten i
o e e a s e . ere ersolvit S d g l t V p .
s o the t Cr itici m f Tex .
In e S w h ow orru the e is a en ord r to ho c pt t xt , I pp d a collati o n of th e above passage with the MS . It m ay b e a e a the ne are a o n the s es in th e oe dd d th t li s m g impl t p m , an d call fo r n o emen dation . In passages that presen t any i u l h i is if oss f rea d flic t T ork el n e e en o e at au . l y, , p ibl , v m r lt
n e I or m aleode read m a elode. Li , f p
in ser t er iod a ter Sc ldin a. 4 , p f y g t iod t f u n in ser er a er a ca . 9, p f p 1 i n i n or m dda ardes r ead m dda eardes. 3 , f g g 1 or on r ead ou 5 , f P y
1 or b reccan read e an . e. B e an . 7 , f br c (i r c )
2 or r ead in c . 5 , f mic
or mi hte r ead mihte. 27 , f g
or wa teris r ead wa teres. 37, f
8 or n read n iht. 3 , f ight
0 inser t er iod a ter oferflat. 4 , p f B 2 20 The Tra nsla tions of Beowulf
n R s ad h ora i e e or ea o a r e ea mes . . ea Li 43 , f h b mi p ( H bo
rémas).
6 o Swa sn e r ead swa sn e édel . r e . 4 , f (i )
or e r ead ode. 54, f sod s In the co mpositio n o f his text Thorkelin m ade all th e e r n own r e an d e ors He ea wor s rro s k to sc ib s dit . misr d d
an d e ers of th e MS . a ou he had two an ri s . l tt , lth gh tr sc pt H e o e e e s o n a on o f e ters an d e en w o e dr pp d l tt r , c mbi ti s l t , v h l words . He j o in ed words that had n o relation to each other ; he broke words in to two or even three parts ; he H f r he e ign ored co mpoun ds . e produced man y o ms t lik f w n n b e f u n in n n e fu e o hich ca ot o d Old E glish . O rth r n The example of his great carelessn ess may b e give . fi n e of the e w is w en in ar e a a s rst li po m , hich ritt l g c pit l in the MS
Hwa t we Garden a. Thorkelin perversely tran scribed
Hw w r a t ega Den a. an d for this co mbination of syllables he chose the transla tion ru Quomodo Dan o m .
T e e is of o u e n o u w r as we a in h r , c rs , s ch o d g r Old n s E gli h . O f the n ecessity of pu n ctuati on Thorkelin seems to have been seren ely u n consci o us ; he did n ot even . fo llow th e u e affor e th e MS H ad h e o n e he wo u g id s d d by . d so, ld
a e e e f an u l a n erro r . e a e h v sav d hims l m y h mi i ti g s For x mpl , in the e en a o e to a e n o e the er o s men t xt giv b v , h v tic d p i d tioned in th e co llation wo u ld have been to avo id two - ’ glarin g in stan ces o f run n in g in .
Cr iticism of the Tr ansla tion .
ut in e of the wre e e e a n e fo r the B , spit tch d t xt , it r m i d ’ tran slation to discover th e depths of Thorkelin s ignorance . It will b e seen by readin g the extract given from the ’ Thorhelin 3 Edition 2 1
tran slation that h e did not even pe rceive that two m en we e Sw in in the sea. to b e e e e e r imm g It is r m mb r d , too , ’ th at his error of th e piratical expedition is carried on for — sixty lin es certainly a triu mph o f in gen u ity . It is useless o a e a a s fi n o f th e err in n t tt mpt cl s i catio ors this versio . e f e e In th words o K mbl .
Nothing b ut malevolen ce could cavil at the tr ivial errors whic h the er es sc o a rs are a fo n to com b ut th e i v y b t h l d ily u d mit, case s widely differen t when those errors are so n umerous as totally to destroy th e am fo os uc an value of a wo rk . I there re m t rel t tly compelled to state ' that n ot five lin es of Th orkelin s edition can b e found in succession in w c so e ross fau e er in the ranscr on or rans a o hi h m g lt, ith t ipti t l ti n , ’ - does n ot betray the editor s u tter ignoran ce of the An glo Saxon ’— E on of 18 n tro . . lan guage . diti 35, I d , p xxix.
’ Reception of Thor helin s E dition .
The boo k was o f val u e o n ly in tha t it brought Beowu lf to the a en n of o a . The e o n was u e Tu n e tt tio sch l rs diti s d by r r,
Grun dtvi and Con b eare . a e f u n the fo ow n g, y I h v o d ll i g n o e o f th e oo w w s w how was e e e tic s b k, hich ill ho it r c iv d by the scho larly world .
' RN R O n co a in the oc or s r n e e w the M S . TU E . ll t g D t p i t d t xt ith I — have Commonly foun d an i n accuracy of copyin g in every page Fifth
28 foo n o e. edition , p . 9, t t
EMBLE see su ra . K , p TH Th wor ofth e earne ce an er e s a for ORPE . ( e k l d I l d xhibit ) text med a r in to his deas of n o- a on an d acco an e his a n cco d g i A gl S x , mp i d by L ti ran s a on o the on e an d th e ot er s an e ua in n ee of a t l ti , b th h t ding q lly d n ’ — of 18 Prefac . i . on CEd pu s Editi 55, e, xiv ’ i in B eowul v cr c s : xv n ff. See also Grun dt igs it i m f B eorh, pp. 22 The Translations of Beowulf
GRU NDTV IG’S TRANSLATIO N
’ * r Gothisk e te-di fra forri e Bj owulf s D ape . Et H l gt g - A - xisk Danske ii ved Ni A ar tusin de ai ngel Sa paa R m c . 1 Gru n dtvi P a . en a n 1820 . e . Sev. Fr d g, r st Kjob h v ,
. 2 . pp lxxiv, 3 5 B ovulvs-Dra e n et H o in ordisk Heltedi t fra An uis j p , g , g
i k r . Grun d vi A n n n e S v. . e Tun gen forda sket a Ni . F d e t g d
. i a h nb er s forb edrede Udgave K ¢b en havn . K rl Sc ¢ g For
a . 1 86 . . 22 . l g 5 pp xvi , 4
T n n Ba a easu e . First Danish ra slatio . ll d M r s
— Nicolas Frederic Severin Gru ndtvig ( 1 783 1 872) was e s u en o f er an er especially n ot d a a st d t Old G m ic lit ature . n his a ee in 1 80 6 u e on e E He bega c r r by his st di s th dda . This was followed by a book on Northern Mythology and ar o u rea e w in e e an d e by v i s c tiv orks v rs pros , the su bj ects of which were u su ally drawn from old Dan ish An a oun of a on the Be ul w history . cc t his l bors ow f ill
b e fou nd in the fo llowin g section . His in terest in Old n l e a u re n n ue u n fe and E g ish lit r t co ti d thro gh his lo g li , he was well an d favorably kn own am on g the scholars of
his day. ir cu mstances o P ublication C f .
In Beowu s Beor h C en a en Grundtvi e lf ( op h g , g t lls f his ear n s a on of th the sto ry o ly tra l ti e poem . He had a wa had a a na e n ere in Dan an u es l ys p ssio t i t st ish tiq iti , ’ an d was mu ch excited upon th e appearan ce of Tho rkelin s 2 e . At a e we e he new n o n t xt th t tim , ho v r, k Old E glish ,
1 a seen f This volume I h ve n ever . My in ormation regardin g it is h B useu from a scribe in t e ritish M m .
ra . 1 . See sup , p 5 ’ Gm ne gs Translation 23 and his f en Ras the fa ous c olar in e an ri d k , m s h G rm ic o o e n a sen fr en ar h e re o e to do phil l gy , b i g b t om D m k , s lv d e a what he co uld with the po em himsel f. H beg n by committing the en tire poem to m emo ry . In this way b e detected many o f the outlin es which had been o bscured orkelin The e ul s o f h u l e in by Th . r s t this stu dy e p b ish d ' th e o en ha en S ketch -B ook K tben ha vn s Shilder ie Cp g ( j t ),
181 . en Thorkelin saw the s u ies he was fu r ou 5 Wh t d i s , u ce h s o eri a n s an d pron o n d t e di c v es mere fabric ti o . B ut Ras u n his e u n ou fferen an d k, po r t r , th ght di tly, r ose to Gru n dtvi a e e the oe o e p op d g th t th y dit p m t g ther. T e e an th e wo r b u t w en e ea ed n e 2 h y b g k , h th y r ch li 9 5 ’ the editio n was in terru pted by Rask a jou rn ey i n to Ru ssia ’ - an d A sia . With the help o f Rask s A nglo S axon Gr a m ma r S o o Grundtvi ro ee e w his ( t ckh lm , g p c d d ith
an a on . B the m un ificen ce o f Biilo w who had a tr sl ti y , lso en a an e to Th orkelin Gru ndtvi was e e e of giv ssist c , g r li v d the e e of l n xpen s pub icatio .
P r ogr ess of the I n terpretation of the P oe m .
Gru ndtvig was the first to u nderstan d th e story o f ’ n r ho k lin Beowu lf. With o other mate ials than T r e s edition o f th e text an d his own kn o wledge of German ic o o he is o ere th e sea- u a of n S myth l gy , d c v d b ri l Ki g cyld, - th e w n a an d the rm e o e . He iden ti s immi g m tch, Fi pis d fied B e a Hn a f en e n Hreth el an d o e r c , , H g st, Ki g , th r a a er w o e n a e Thorkelin had filched f ch r ct s h s m s rom them .
Rask borrowed th e o riginal transcripts which Tho rkelin o u f o th e B s u e u and e an d had br ght r m riti h M s m , copi d ' T was the a of G dtvi s an corrected them . his b sis run g tr s latio n . 24 Tbe Translatzons of Beowulf
' D er enee etwee e F n d ifi s b n M ir st a S econd E dition s .
The prin cipal differen ce is in the i ntrod uction ; b ut o f the n ature and exten t o f chan ges in the secon d edition e n A ll I can giv no otion . my in formation respectin g the first volu me is derived from tran scripts o f certain f n m e f h B T parts o it se t rom t e ritish Museu m . hese copies do n ot reveal an y differen ces between the two tran s la ons ti .
A im o tire Volu me and N atu r e o the Tr a la o f , f ns ti n .
’ W e begin by quotin g the author s words :
‘ I have studied the poem as if I were goin g to translate it word for wor b ut I w n ot an d a e n ot ran s a e in that wa an d d ill h v t l t d it y, I w en ure to a n a n ha ran s a on is a fa fu one ill v t m i t i t t my t l ti ith l , s or ca fa fu nas uc as a e ne er w fu hi t i lly ith l , i m h I h v v il lly altered or n er o a e an t n an d oe ca fa fu n as u i t p l t d y hi g, p ti lly ith l i m ch as I have r e w all v to e ress w a saw in the o t i d ith my might vi idly xp h t I p em. Whoever un derstan ds both lan guages an d possesses a poeti cal sen se w see w a ean an d w oe er is e c en in n ow e e or sen se ill h t I m , h v d fi i t k l dg , or o ma s c to his own ew if he w on let me s c b th, y ti k vi , ill ly ti k to min e, w c ma b e wea en ou b ut is n ot so u ter e o hi h y k gh , t ly d v id of style an d poetry as little pettifoggers in the in tellectual world main tain because ” e can see er we a e o is n ot e rs. a a th y v y ll th t my m th d th i I h ve, s id “ C cero ran s a e e os en es n ot as a ra ar an b ut as an ora or i , t l t d D m th , g mm i t , an d therefore have striven n ot so much to con vince as to persuade my readers of th e truth of his words methin ks I need n o other defen ce as re ar s conn o sseurs and us u es an d if am uc s a n g d i j t j dg , I m h mi t ke in s o n on en wor is a so u e n efen s e — Pa es xx thi pi i , th my k b l t ly i d ibl g x iv,
In the n u on to his e of 1861 Grundtvi a i trod cti t xt , g spe ks of his eo of an a on a n a he a e as we e th ry tr sl ti , s yi g th t g v , it r , n ew e new n e and n ew an ua e th e oo cloth s, mo y, l g g to p r Se en S ee e so a e u a f old v l p rs, th t th y co ld ssociate reely em H e e e a e with mod s. beli v d th t it was n cessary to put th e poem in to a form that wou ld seem n atural an d
1 rans a on scr e in Br s T l ti by ib iti h Museum .
The Translations of Beowulf
For aldrig D et ei keise e sli en Jeg vild g Klik, Som for den Ven dereise
aa er R te sik I p j t yg . Paa an e var fr s e L d t I i k , Men an kan slukke V d Ild, sv mmed som to s e I ¢ Fi k , Ia sn art som e , dud Sild ; d oh i n Da sagtn e es St e e , Der Storm og B¢lge strid Ier vi ste Vin terveien
Alt i en Ugcs Tid. Do o m en d arre he e g, N gg , Kom du do e rs eran g v t d , Thi fra dig sv¢mm ed B re kke 0 g b lev din O verman d ; D u ar hlev tilb a e tig g , Der h an en M orgen stun d O psk vulpedes saa fage Paa h ie om s run ¢ R ¢ G d, Hvorfra sin Kaas han satte B r ondin ern as an Til g L d, M ed B orge der 0 g Skatte Han var en holden M an d ; Der havde han sit e Rig , 0 deili t var b an s o g g Sl t, Han elsket var tillige
Af h ver sin Un dersaat . Saa Bj ansteens S¢n udfarte Alt h vad han trued m ed ; Men da du om r e , s vi ha t , Kom der saa afs d galt te ,
Saa tar jeg n ok formode, O en d du i r kr m g ¢ dig y, Det i r s e n en o e g ¢ l t i g G d , D u b raen der dig paany ; Ia N du v , vil en at vo e b ie re n e her At G d l , Da t r derfor o e o jeg l v , ’ es en aerd Dig tim Uf . Gru ndtvig? Tran slation 27
c T n Cr iti ism of the r ansla tio .
The po em d eparts so far from th e text o f Beowulf that an s u s on o f ac u a wou d b e o ut of a e A s y di c s i its c r cy l pl c . h as been shown by the sectio n o n th e n atu re o f th e tran sla o n the au o r h ad n o n e n on o f e n u e to th e ti , th i t ti b i g tr ’ ru t i s o a i has een dis letter o f the text . G n d v g sch l rsh p b s cus ed abo ve . The tra nslatio n m ay pro perly b e called n othing more o e e n n es are n o uce a than a paraphrase. Wh l s te c i tr d d th t e T o u o ut have n o con n ectio n with the origi nal t xt. hr gh th e an a n e en the ro us b ut n ot a wa tr sl tio is vid t b t, l ys 1 a eea e e on o f the ran a o . In his refa e gr bl , p rs ality t sl t r p c Gru n dtvig remarked that he put n othin g i n to his poe m o th o n that was n o t historically an d poetically tru e t e rigi al. The state m en t can o n ly b e regarded as an u nfortu nate ’ e a ra i n d vi s s e ann o b e a e e en x gge t on . Gru t g tyl c t c ll d v a fain t reflecti on of the B eowulf style . He has popula rized
the o an d h e has ea ene . T e e is n o war an st ry, ch p d it h r r t in the o rigin al for th e coarse i n vective o f the extract that Hu n ferth aun has u ee n e . In the n j st b cit d Old E glish, t ts Be wu f b ut he n e er f r e a his a is o u in o l , v o g ts th t riv l d ghty ’ f his e e le I. Beo u f o batt ( w l is always worthy r sp ct . In Grun dtv i the aun n e ene a es n o a c u o u g, t ti g d g r t i t s rril s ‘ ’ H un f u s w B re a an d tirade . erth calls Beowulf a m d co ; c ’ f ‘ I e an n B eo wul swim like two d ead h erri ngs . n lik m er n Be h the character of Hu n ferth is cheapen ed . I owulf e
a eal u u e b u t h e a wa e . In Gru n dtvi is j o s co rti r, is l ys h roic g h e is e e n em e ar w his n e m r ly a co t ptibl bragg t, ith os high ’ ‘ in air who w not a ow e f b e r wn th e , ill ll hims l to th o to ’ rubbish heap . The am e fa e n e e r h e e s ls m an r is r tain ed th oughout t po m . — In many places it reads well it is often an excellent
See su r 2 p a, p . 4. 28 The Translations of Beowu lf
B ut ca la n o a o r e fi e story . it n y cl im to historic po tic d lity to the B eowu lf.
e R ception of the B ook .
f s ru n tvi f Th e book fell dead ro m the pre s . G d g himsel 1 s a was ar l r o u s e his wn ou se tells u th t it h d y ead t id o h . Thirty years later h e learn ed that the book had n ever r a e he Ro al ar at o A c a e e ch d t y Libr y St ckholm . opy m d its wa to th e B r s u eu b ut was the on e w y iti h M s m , it hich
Gru n dtvig himself carried thith er in 1 829. This was do ubtless th e copy that was read an d criticized by Thorpe B f e s o a e o f it an d Wackerbarth . oth o thes ch l rs spok s
e re e f ee b u t co en e its rea a en ess. xt m r dom , mm d d d bl
CO NY BE ARE ’S E X T RACTS
l us r n f - n osias I l t atio s o A nglo Saxo n Poetry . By J oh J A Co n b eare M . . & c . E e o e er w a na y , , dit d , t g th ith dditio l l n o e n ro uc n ces & c . his o e a t s, i t d tory oti , , by br th r, Wil i m D n & n r a n a e r . fo b ea M . A c o o n n Con e . e i l y , , L d pri t d H rdi g 8 an d e a a a a 1 826. . 2 . L p rd , P ll M ll E st, pp (viii), xcvi , 7 A n gl o -Saxo n Po em con cern ing th e Explo its of Beowulf h e — 6 t an e 0 1 . D , pp . 3 7
Tran sla o n o f e ra s n o n l lan er e w ti xt ct i t E g ish b k v s , ith the or na e of the e rac and a l e a an a n o f igi l t xt xt ts, it r l tr sl tio h e n r t m i to Lati n p ose.
r cu mst o P u ca i Ci ances f bli t on .
The vo lu me h ad its o rigin in the Termin al Lectu res which the autho r gave as Professo r of A nglo-Saxon and
1 See B eowu ! B eor h lf , p . xix. ’ Conybea re s Extracts 29
1 o e r at fo r fr 180 to 18 W P t y Ox d om 9 1 2 . e kn ow fro m 9 an autobiographical n o te prin ted in th e I n troduction that the Beowu was fin e in o er 1820 B u e . t th lf ish d Oct b , book ’ n ot a ear u n i two ears af er the au o r s ea did pp t l y t th d th , an d the m aterial which it con tain s is o f a slightly ea rlier a e an the e- a e w u ee to n ca e — c d t th titl p g o ld s m i di t g . ’ th e volume really an tedates the third edition of Tu rn er s 3 History discu ssed abo ve
Con bear e an d the P r o ess o the In ter retation o the y , gr f p f
P oem .
Con b eare n ot e th e en e oe a nd a a y did dit tir p m , pp ren tly n ever had an y in ten tio n o f so doin g. The sel ec ' n w es are a e o n Thorkeli s tio s hich h e translat b s d n text . He ev es s e we er in a n his an a on r is thi t xt, ho v , m ki g tr sl ti s , ’ an d even in co rpo rates a co llation of Tho rk elin s text
w the MS . 1 Th o a on u . n o t ith (pp 37 is c ll ti , tho gh o et e or a u a e was e ea e an d e C n c mpl cc r t , s rvic bl , k pt o y beare fro m falli ng i n to so me o f the errors that th e Ice an e had a e He s n u e an a ers the l d r m d . di ti g ish d by st i k M r n s were o f a er a o a n ce in n S . eadi g which m t i l imp rt givi g th e en e of a a sa e an d in fac ns u e fo r se f s s p s g , , t, co tr ct d him l a a ract a n e a text th t w s p ic lly w.
‘ The text h as been throughout carefully collated with the original an usc r t an d th e ran s a on of Thorkelin re se w all the M ip , t l ti vi d ith ’— w e e or is ca a e . Pa e 2 diligen ce of hich th dit p bl g 3 . ‘ a te o res ore the e re and to correc th e r Any t mpt t t m t , t ve sion ou wo u a e e cee e th e oun s an d n o e uc through t, ld h v x d d b d , i v lv d m h s f r discu ssion foreign to the purpo e o the p esen t work. This must
f t the a ours of the a on sc olar. It is e en owe er b e le t o l b S x h vid t, h v , o cor rec e t an t a of Thorkelin ose a ours that without a m re t t xt h h t , th l b
be o ess. The w s of su in a e c enc ma er a s must h pel i h pply g th t d fi i y, y p h p
’ r See Editor s P efato ry N oti p. (iii) .
See Prefa or o ce ootn ote. t y N ti , p . (v),
su a . 1 f. See pr , pp 4 30 The Translations of Beowu lf a o o e for the occu n s Co a on so ar e a s a p l giz pyi g, by thi ll ti , l g p ce of ’ a wor s r c e ca e to o er os s — P I ur e . a e foo n o k t i tly d di t d th p p g 37 , t te.
How m uch Conyb eare impro ved the text m ay b e seen by co mparing his text an d Lati n translatio n with those o f T r n f Th ork elin . he fi st six li es o the Prolog fo ll o w
CO NYBEARE. THO RKELIN .
H wa t we Gar-D en a B we t wegar Den a In gear-dagum In geardagum Deod cyn in ga peod cyn in ga D m frun on r m efrun on ry ge , p y g H u da E delin gas H u Ga mpelin gas — — en fremodon Pa e 82 . en frem odon . Pa e Ell . g Ell g 3.
The translatio n s are even m ore i n teresti n g
Aliquid n os de B ellicorum Dan orum Quomodo Dan orum In dieb us an tiquis In prin cipio Popularium regu m Populu s Regum or a acce im us or a auxerit Gl i p , Gl i m , Quomodo tun c prin cipes Quomodo prin cipes
r u e valuerin t. m v ri Vi t t Virtute pro o e t.
It will b e seen that in these lin es Con yb eare has at almost e er o n th e a an a e o er Thorkelin an d n ee v y p i t dv t g v , is i d d n r w r s very n early i acco d ith modern texts an d t anslation . B ut the oe et awa e a o e e u n er an n fo r p m y it d c mpl t d st di g, Con yb eare cou ld say : The In tro du ction is occupied by th e praises of Scefin g an d of his son and successor u f h e e ar a o n f r n r a B eow l . T mb k ti of th e o mer o a pi atic l e on is en e a e at n In x e xpediti th d t il d so m e le gth . this e p dition (if I rightly u n derstan d the text) himself an d his ’
o an on were a en os at sea . A n d in c mp i s t k or l t (p , en eral h e s es the sa e o n o f th e or as T r g , mi s m p i ts st y ho e n a ou h e craf efra n s fro ran s a n th e k li , lth gh tily r i m t l ti g obscu rer passages . Co n yb eare apparen tly kn ew n othi ng o f the criti cal wo rk i T is n ot u r s n r e e of Gru n dtv g. his s rp i i g when we em mb r ’ that Kj ¢ben haon s Shilaer ie was probably n ot kn own ou t ’ Conybea re s Extracts 3 1
1 s e of Den a . o reo e to b e e e e e id m rk M v r, it is r m mb r d th at ’ Con yb eare s extracts fro m the Beowulf are n o t really later ’ an Gru ndtvi s an a o n n ce e we e a in th g tr sl ti , si th y r m de the 8 3 a e ea 1 20 . s m y r,
Aim o the Volume and N ature f , of the Tr anslations .
From the words quoted above with respect to the colla
' n it w b e een a Co n b eare in n o wa re a e tio , ill s th t y y g rd d is as a o r o B a s h book c n t ibuti n to eo wu lf scho l rship . A r fe o r at f r he a e e a e a re en a on p o ss Ox o d , tt mpt d lit r ry p s t ti
of th e o u ifu a of the e r a s m st bea t l p rts old po t y . His extr ct
are in en e a n n o re an f ee a a ra es . s , g r l , othi g m th r p r ph s Wi h in to u a e the B eowul h e u e as a e u o f g pop l riz f , s d m di m ran s i a u n an e He t lat on pec liarly stilted ki d o f bl k v rse . dressed the poem o ut in elegan t phrases in ord er to hide he a f t b rren n ess of th e o rigi nal . Man i estly he feared th e ou n e h e f t e o ene o the e in na u a a e . r gh ss , r m t ss po m its t r l st t He feared to offend a n ation of readers reveling in the r medievalism of Sco tt an d Byro n . A lite ral Latin t an s a l tion was in se rted to appease th e scho lar .
E XTRACT.
‘ At a single stro ke h e (Beowulf) cu t thro ugh the r inged bones o f h er n e an d ck,
Through the fra il man tle of th e quiverin g flesh ro on n uous woun h o t D ve with c ti d. S e t he dust e ea lon -an d its wor of s a u ter on F ll h d g, , k l gh d e, ’ Th e a an swor dro d fas a or d w g ll t d pp t g y e . ’ n s an as ou ea en s or ous orc h d on e I t t, th gh h v gl i t h a sh , was u n the oo -all ra Light po gl m, dian t light ’ rom a ar an s on s n os ca for F th t d k m i i m t ve burst th . ’ With hardier grasp the than e of Higelac press d
. 2 . Grun dtvi is on ce en tion e in the no es but the referen ce p 3 g m d t , is fro th e e or n ot th au or. m dit , e th Hu s 32 The Translation s of Beowulf
’ i w on s an d fur ous in his H s eap hilt, i might ’ Paced th e wide con fines of the Gren del s hold — Pa e 8 B eo. 1 6 . g 5 ; , 5 5 7 5
LATIN TRANSLATIO N . Ossium an n ulos fregit telum per om nem pen etra vit m orib un dam I l n im rru E n s era cruen us are a i av en tum co it. s carn em . l p i t t , milit
'
us erfectum . Efiul eb at u en lux n us stetit n on a er ua op p g l m , i t , lit q m u coslo uc u S n ri la as I e er ae es r e c m a l id s ple det aathe s mp . ll p d g adi a ur in cessit u a m uros en sem enen s fortiter a ca u o Hi elaci b t , j xt t p l g
s I n s n . min ister ira ac con stan tia ( e. ratus et co ta s an imi)
Pa es 11 11 . g 3, 4
Cr iticism of the Tr ansla tions .
The n l e o n is arce o e an a ara rase E g ish v rsi sc ly m r th p ph , as m ay easily b e seen by co mparin g it with the literal
tran slatio n in to Latin . But even as a paraphrase it is B of en era r un satisfacto ry. y way g l c iticism it m ay b e said a w e a a n a n o f n n ot the n th t, hil it tt i s ki d dig ity, it is dig ity - o f B eowu for is e f on o u . e B e l is lf, it s l c sci s Lik owu f it e a o a e b ut is the e a o a on of art a e an o f l b r t , it l b r ti r th r th
fee n . ore e is fre e w on ra e li g M ov r, it ight d ith Milt ic ph s , a su es s th e T and con st n tly gg t Milton ic movemen t . h e r e in n u e u s trick of ve s li e 3 is q it too exq i ite fo r B eowu lf. Th e who le piece has a strain in g after po mp an d maj esty a is u er fore n to th e le o f en a s e th t tt ly ig simp , t b ldly impl ,
ideas an d phrases o f the o riginal . Nearly every adj ective is supplied by the tran slato r : in Old English the sword ’ oo in Con b eare the al an swo r fa is bl dy , y g l t rd d ops st ’ ‘ ’ a go ry dew ; th e cave beco mes a man sio n ; th e flo or — ’ ’ is du st dust in an o cean cave heaven s can dle ’ ’ e e ea en or o u or Th e e b com s h v s gl i s t ch . poem is trick d
ou t almost beyon d recogn itio n . B eo wulf assu mes the ’ ’ ’ ran an n e an d a e th e Grendel s ol e o n e g d m r, p c s h d lik ’ h ru n e r r f of t e st tti g mpe o s o Dryden s elabo rate d rama.
1 on are n ot ran s a e th e e so e f th w - C ybe did t l t pi d o e s immin g match .
34 The Translations of Beowulf
th e poem first had the advan tage of a modern scholarly
rea en an d fo r the fi e the e t o f the MS . was t tm t , rst tim t x
o e an e e e its firs un ua ion . c rr ctly tr scribed . It r c iv d t p ct t Fo r the fi s e was ro e e n o a f- nes r t tim it p p rly divid d i t h l li , n n n The e was free with atte tio to alliteratio . t xt ly e en e b ut the u e e ea n we e a e in th e m d d, s gg st d r di gs r pl c d fo n e in e not to a the a ue of th e e as ot ot s, ord r imp ir v l t xt r fo r as a a eprod u ction of th e MS . The n ecessity this w m de e en e le e vid t by K mb hims lf .
But w le he a es the n ecessar correc on s no man is us i e hi m k y ti , j t fi d n wi h r r ou the a ws of a an ua e i th oldingthe origin al eadings : fo alth gh l l g g , a ion of all th e co n a e on ues ascertain ed by wide and careful examin t g t t g , - of the hidden sprin gs an d groun d prin ciples upon which they rest in co on e aw of M des an d Persian s an d a er n ot mm , are lik the l s th e o lt , yet the very errors of the ofi writer m va luablq and serve sometimes as guides an d clues to the inn er bein g an d spiritual ten den cies of the
lan u e se f. Th rea e r wi or over be s are a to so e g ag it l e d ll m e p d th t , m ’ eo le ear - urn n n ecess of a n his e or s ua ca ons too p p , h t b i g ity t ki g dit q lifi ti uc for ran e if s e s e he is a owe to u e of the m h g t d, id by id ll d j dg
ra t on a error an d th r s on. en oure t di i l , e p opo ed correcti I have deav d to acco l sh s en d r n n h e e er for e er as foun mp i thi by p i ti g t e t xt , l tt l tt , I d ’— it. Pr face . ff e , pp xxiv .
With this wholeso me respect fo r the traditio n of the ’ M n o a K mbl s a eful osen S . t n e a e e , it is str g th t c r ly ch e en a n u a - as of a a ue m d tio s sho ld st n d to day high critic l v l , an d that m an y o f them are retained in m od ern editions of 1 ’ T o r th e text . When we co mpa re Ke mb le s book with h ’ kelin s the a an e is een to b e e e an as n s , dv c s littl l ss th to i h ' i Th rkeli n r u . n g. o n s eme dation s we e wo rse than seless K emble had a full acquain tan ce with the new science o f co mparative philol ogy which was developing in Ge rm an y
u n e a o . He had o e n e an d a er d r J k b Grimm c rr spo d d , l t s u e w ri an d a r n a un was t di d , ith G mm , , cco di g to Willi m H t, ’ 2 he o t rec gn ised expon en t o f his in vestigation s . It is to
1 ’ See a 3 e nes 1 &c . Wy tt t xt, li 5 , 599, D t See article to the atronal B i ography . 35
a e e e a e u e and Grimm th t K mbl d dic t s his vol m s, to him s that he repeatedly ackn owledges his indebtedn ess . Thu Kemble bro ught to th e st u dy o f th e poem n ot o nly a now e e o f the n s oe r and o e b ut k l dg Old E gli h p t y pr s , a ua n an e w N se c e an cq i t c ith Old or , Gothi , Old High G rm , an d ma su ffi en u a e Old Saxon . It y ci tly ill str t his scholarly metho d to i n stan ce examples of his treatmen t of the u nique w o B e . wo r s e . e h r b r in ne . in owz Ta . t e o e 2 d df k , g , d li 9 4 This word does n ot appear elsewhere in Old En glish ; it ’ does not a ea in e s Dic tionar the n c o na pp r Ly y , o ly di ti ry ’ a a K mb n w th t was t e le s disposal. Upo this o rd Kemble ro u to hear his n w e e of the e an on ue b ght k o l dg G rm ic t g s , l I l H . mam 81C h e an d n o . am a C G e e t by citi g G th , , d riv d mean in g tu r m a— a pro cess in which he is Suppo rted by o e n au o e The u o f oun a m d r th rity lik Kl uge . st dy comp ds a fi e an w e He o e e and o a e lso rst b g ith K mble. c ll ct d c mp r d n f th e compoun ds in lteado. Th us he laid th e fou dation o all de n u e n h e En l o n mo r st di s o t Old g ish comp u d .
' Far t/z” Cn ticol M aterial Af orded by tire Volu me of 18j 7 .
In the 1 835 volume twen ty-three wo rds were ill ustrated in the a o e wa B t e a n e fo r the 18 o u e to b v y. u it r m i d 37 v l m re en a o et e o a o f the oe n a n n a s p s t c mpl gl ss ry p m , co t i i g l o impo rtan t poetic wo rds n ot in B eowulf: By reason o f o e en e s an d o a a e wor e a n ed the its c mpl t s c mp r tiv k, it r m i standard co mmen tary on the O ld En glish poetic vocab u ’ lary u n til the appearan ce o f Grein s Spraoksc/ia ts
’ l T a la on Aim of K emb e s r m ti .
’ i e e o n o f the e Kemb le s an a on u e L k his diti t xt , tr sl ti is q it in dependen t o f any precedin g book ; like his edition o f the e aim was fa fuln ess th e o na . He t xt, its ith to rigi l a e e u u o u to th e e a e w e e the n a dh r s scr p l sly t xt , s v h r origi l
e infra . 6 Se , pp 5 & C 2 36 The Translations ( y Beowulf i u n e The an a on was e ne be use s n i telligibl . tr sl ti d sig d to d together with the glossary as a part of th e apparatu s for e for a e r in terpretin g the poem . He th re e m d it st ictly literal .
Th ran a o is a ra on e I was oun to e wor for e t sl ti n lite l ; b d giv , d wor the ori na in all its rou n ess : a e a e s oo er d, gi l gh I might h v m d it m th , b ut ur osel a o e o n so ecause had the a on oe ou I p p y v id d d i g , b S x p t th ght as we n an d e resse his ou s as we e ress our ou s thi k, xp d th ght xp th ght , I might have spared myself the trouble of editin g or tran slatin g his
. A few ran s os on s of wor s &c. cause r n c a the poem t p iti d , d p i ip lly by wan t of in flection s in N ew En glish (sin ce we have n ow little more than their position by which to express the relation s of words to on e r all ha a e a owe self an d w ere a e n ser e an othe ) are t t I h v ll d my , h I h v i t d ’ in a cs words I have generally prin ted them it li .
P r o P f . os sc e re ace . t ipt t . th , p l
EXTRACT . II I V .
Hun ferth th e son of E laf s a e b e a sat at the fee of the or g p k , th t t L d of the Scyldin gs ; h e boun d up a quarrelsome speech to him was the ourn e of Beowulf the rou sea-farer a rea s us ecause he j y , p d , g t di g t ; b r n e n ot a an o er m an s ou e er a e en ea the s es g a t d th t y th h ld v h v b th ki , more reputation with th e world than he himself : Art thou the Beowulf a s con en w B recca on the w e sea in a sw n m a c th t did t t d ith id , immi g t h , w ere e for r e e ore th e for s an d out of a n or en ure h y p id xpl d d , v i gl y v t d s u on th e ee wa er ? n or an man fr en or foe your live p d p t might y , i d , 3 a e our sorrowfu e e on : ere e rowe u on the sea bl m y l xp diti th y d p , ere e two co ere th e ocean -s rea w our ar s easure the th y v d t m ith y m , m d sea-s ree s w r e e w ur an s e o er the ocean t t , hi l d th m ith yo h d , glid d v ; 3 with the waves o f the deep the fury of win ter boiled ; ye two on the realms of water laboured for a week he overcame thee in sw n he h ad ore s n en at th rn n immi g, m tre gth : th e mo i g tide the deep sea ore u on Heath oraemes w en ce he s u hi o ern a b him p , h o ght s wn pat l an ear to his eo e the an of the Bron din w re he own e l d, d p pl , l d gs, he d
1 ’ bou nd u on b an d n ow en ra ran s p, , g e lly t lated un bin d. ’ blam e b eléan ra er ssua e an a , , th di d th bl me. 3 - with tlze waves o tire dee &c . eofon u weo win tr s w lm f p, , g yp l y y , so e e rea s in his ex an d for s rea n h ran s a on is K mbl d t t, thi di g t e t l ti cor ct b ut he fa e to scern the enn n t e fon in win tr s , il d di k i g o g o y ’ wyfsl 37
a na on a own and r n s. his ro se o e he ti , t , i g All p mi t th e, t son of ’ B rf ean stan truly pe ormed.
' ' ' Cn tza lrm of tb e Tr am la tzon .
’ Kemb les scholarship enabled him to get a full un der an n o f the o em and u a e the fi st di g p , th s to m k rst really adequate translation of Beowulf: He was the first to e n e th e s n fi an e o f enn n e a o and r cog iz ig i c c k i g , m t ph r, com un T us w r i o en po d . h his o k s to be c mm ded chiefly because of f fu n e All ece in u e h e f l its aith l ss . pr d g st di s ad b en wo ul y ’ in acc urate R embl e s editio ns became at on ce the au o a e o en a o n th e e an d e th rit tiv c mm t ry t xt, h ld this ’ ’ ' position u n til the appearance of Grein s B zblzotbek ’ In s a er Re e s e was the n a thi l tt book , mbl t xt pri cip l 9 au o r u se in o rre n the wo r of T o e In th ity d c cti g k h rp . e of th e fa a s is a e a an a n o e spit ct th t thi lit r l tr sl tio , it s m times attains stren gth an d beau ty by reason of its very
ETTMULLER’S TRANSLATI ON
B f e en e des a en a un e . eowul . H ld g dicht cht J hrh d rts Zu m ersten M ale aus dem A n gelsach sischen in das N eu o eu e s a e m en iib ersetz t u n d Einlei h chd tsch t br i d , mit tu ng un d A n merkungen versehen von Lu dwig E ttm iiller .
u b ei e e und e e 1 8 0 . . 1 1 . Z rich, M y r Z ll r, 4 pp 9
First German Translation . Imitative m easures .
Ernst Moritz Lu dwig Ettmu ller ( 1 80 2 at the tim e a n of s k was o fe r of the e an of the public tio thi boo , pr sso G rm
e su ra on er . Thorkelin . 1 Grun dtvi . 22 S e p Turn , p 9 ; , p 5 ; g, p ;
Con bea e . 28. y r , p
See nfra o i , p 49 38 The Translations of Beowulf
e he a um t u ic language and literatu r in t Gymn si a Z r h . He had already appeared as a translato r with a work 1 de N elu e a e b e en titled Lieder der E dda 2073 n ib ng n . L t r edited selection s from th e 3 .90q in his E ngla and S ean ce S copas and B beer as This text in corporated man y
‘ n Ettm uller was th e firs to ue on the new readi gs . t q sti uni of the B eowu and s e e a e o f in e a ty bf, k tch d th ory t rpol
' tions which has sin ce been developed by Mullenhofl. The first ann oun cemen t o f these views is fou nd in the in troduc tion to this translation .
Ettm u ller gives fu ll exp ression to his theo ries an d aims
Vor l e a e ich so wortlich als mfi lich iibersetzt da reue A l m h b g , T das erste E rfordern iss einer gu ten Ubersetzu ng ist . D ann aber war mein Augen merk vorz iiglich auf Wohlklan g un d Verstandlichkeit e ere wer e n b ei b ersetz un en r A n ur z u geri chtet . L tzt d U g diese rt ofi vernachlassi t da an c e der Ansicht s n re r ei sei um so esser g , m h i d, ih A b t b , je treuer sie die aussere Form des O rigin als in allen Ei nz elheiten w e er e e . er ewe ese so miih sam an der c ale n ac n i d g b Ab di il di S h k ke , l n c d e n B entsch fipft ihnen i ht selten er Kern . M i estreben war dem nac e n eswe s . B . e en Vet s an s c dem r na e nac h k i g , z j d g tli h O igi l h zub il n so ass die enaues e O b erein stimmun w sc en der de , d g t g z i h Silb en zahl un d den H ebun gen oder gar dem Xlange der Verse Statt
fi nde. D as ware o n e n o n e der eu sc en rac e die schreien d h hi , h d t h Sp h ste
w am u thun unmo lich ewesen . Ich a e ie e r r Ge alt , g g h b v lm h da nac h
' or fa es re die Versb ildun des an elsalchsischen e t mit S g lt g t bt , g g G dich es mir in a en ren rsc e n un en ar z u ac en un d ann fr n ac ll ih E h i g kl m h , d ei h
dem ewon n en c e a ear e e . a er an n ich ers c ern ass g S h m g b it t D h k v i h , d
‘ man fiir j eden Ver s meiner Ub ersetz u11g gewiss ein an gelsachsisches or findet wenn auc n c ra e e es a die erse e nan er V bild , h i ht g d j d m l V i d
ec en . ass a e fib ri en s der h 6heren . . dem d k D d b i g Rhythmik, d h
’ asthetisch richtigen Verhai ltn isse des Ausdruckes zu dem Ausgedriickten o er mit o stoc zu re en des Zeitausdruckes o r Ton v rhal s d , Kl p k d , de e te der Be we un t u dem e an en fi all di r e r ( g g) G d k , ber e g osst So gfalt auge
‘ wen e war das rauc dimkt c e n er besondern ers c r d t d, b ht, mi h, k i V i he ung dies aber kann erreicht werden s uch oh ne kn echti sche Nachbildun g ’— des r na s. Pa e O igi l g 59. ‘ E flmiiller s Transla tion 39
Text a nd ndebtedness to P eced S onol , I r ing arr .
’ 1 Th e an a o n is fou n e o n Kemb le s te o f 18 tr sl ti d d xt 35 , to w the n o u i n an d n are hich i tr d ct o otes also in debted . e e e Ettmiiller was a ose u en of th Lik K mbl , cl st d t e wor of a i an d his n e e a o n of o s u e ks J kob Gr mm , i t rpr t ti b c r lin es (especially passages relating to German ic an tiquities) is la rgely du e to the stu dy o f su ch works as th e Den tscbe
’ ’ Mytkologze 18 the ' Den tsobe Recb tsalter t/nlmer h D / r 1 816 8 8 an d t e en ise re S a e : Cf. n e . g ( li s 45 , 4 4
EXTRACT.
Ec lAfe s o n H finferdh da sa e g S h gt , d iissen sass dem Fiirsten der Skildin e er z u F g , en an B eadurun en — war Beowulfes Be nn tb d ihm gi , des m uthi en Meer a e rs machti u w er g g ng , g z id ; un ern sah er ass ein an rer ann g , d d M ach truhm es r in Mittel art irgen d M me h g , auf E rden anta ste den n er selber B s du der Beowu f der B reca kam fte i t l , mit p S im Sundkam fe ? in sausen der ee, p Ihr da aus Ubermuth Un tiefen priiftet un d aus Tollm uth ihr in tiefem Wasser wa e se e nen das Leben gt t ; lies t k i , n oc Fe n da fernen euc n icht Freund h i d, h
ollen a als zur See ihr ru ert e . von der so rgv Th t, d t d E istrom mit r en wan e Dort ih r en g A m dt t, eerstrasse sc te an en masset die M , mi h t mit H d , ’ glittet fiber s Geerried (Glan derfiuth en u h l in assers e et warf Win ters W t ), W G bi ' ihr sor e : Er e er der o en 610 sieben Nacht gt t , Si g W g , en n zur M or n e ihn hatte mehr der Macht, d ge z it i ch fiu an ru b ei Headora m es d e Ho th t g. suc e die s lase ei a Von dann en er ht i H m t, n ten das an der Bron din e lieb sei nen Le , L d g , Friedeb ur da o er a e die feste g, V lk h tt , — r o wi er c Burg un d B auge ; A.ll E b t d di h l ’ der Sohn Bean stfines sorglich st erfii lte .
See 811m m, 33~ 40 The Translations of Beowulf
In his translation Ettmuller fo llowed in the steps o f 1 e e b u t he was not a s e en en u n . K mbl , sl vi hly d p d t po him
he w th e n c o a c . e. . At times disagrees ith E glish s h l r ( p g , ff an a n of e a sa e 11. 68 22 and e a th 4 , 5 , o rs tr sl tio p s g - e 06 . In e ne a the an a o n omitt d by him, 3 9 74 g r l , tr sl ti t e l an d f l w the na a ne for is s rictly lit ra , ol o s origi l lmost li
It was probably well for Ettmiiller that he m ade his n In the s of a f re n-lan translatio thus literal . hi tory o ig guage study there is a peri od when it is best that a tran sla n ri e al fo r su a w is un tio should b e st ctly lit r , ch ork bo d to b e called in to ser vice as a part of the critical apparatus f ran sla fo r th e interpretation o f the to ngue . I th e early t n is n ot u e a u e b e u e e e a er tio th s lit r l , it is s r to s p rs d d l t by ’ th e e fa fu en e n as Schaldemose s u er e e mor ith l r d ri g, s p s d d ’ i 3 t l an d Gru n dtv g s in Den mark . It is no u n ti criticism scholarship have don e their strictly interpretative work that a translation is safe in attemptin g to ren der the spirit e n th f he n a Th o f i rath r tha e letter o t origi l . e reas n or th s is eviden t : n o real appreciation of th e spirit is possible
u n til scholarship has provided the mean s fo r disco verin g it. B the u a o n o f u e e efo e Ettmiiller y p blic ti this vol m , th r r , did for German scho larship what K emble had done for En glish
an d Schaldemose was to do for Dan ish scholarship. Y et s he might with propriety ha ve m ad e his wo rk more imple. His translation is disfigu red by n u mero us stran ge word combin ation s which he often tran scribed literally from th e ' - na e . . beoa n m n en in th e r n e of the origi l , g thi d li extract. It is safe to say that n on e b ut a scholar in Old English wou b e a e to u n e an wor — if n ee we ma ld bl d rst d this d , i d d , y
al a w r . The e fu f su f c l it o d t xt is ll o ch orms . The author
e su r . Se p a, p 33 . 1 ' See su ra . 22 and n fr p , p , i a, p . 4 1 fi.
42 The Translations of Beowulf the n uen e of the la e is e en rou o u the o i fl c tt r vid t th gh t bo k, s l b e s n e The no e l a wi l how b low. t s are drawn argely f o th e w of re e n o ar an d in e e th e r m orks p c di g sch l s , th s author makes an occasional acknowledgement of indebted n e ss . ’ ‘ Th ran a n i l i sla h d e t sl tio s iteral . Gru n dtv gs tran tion a een so a a ra as o f en to o u re the sen e an d b p r ph stic t bsc s ,
a wa th e of the o n al. Schaldem ose had the l ys spirit, rigi advan tage of presen tin g the most modern text side by side w T ith th e translation . hu s the book became a valuable a ar a tu r t f pp s e i icus or the Dan ish stud ent .
S chaldemo e s .
The life of Frederik Schaldem ose ( 1 782 -1 853) was by n the u e re l f e H h d n o ea e e of th e s u n . e a m s q i t , tir d i t d t , it is ru e een o fe r at the s oo of N k bin fr t , b pr sso ch l y j¢ g om 1 81 6 to 1 82 an d a e e o e self erar wo 5, l t r d v t d him to lit y rk ; b u t a large part of his life had been spen t in military e e in w he had had an e n a en u e s rvic , hich m y xciti g dv t r s by A f a is r n lan d an d sea . ter le vin g h p ofessorship he agai
en e e ar ser e . a e b e e e his e a e t r d milit y vic L t r, d vot d tim lt r n ately to literary an d co mmercial work . His n e es in B eowu ee a e een e a i t r t lf s ms to h v b , lik th t 2 o f Th orkelin ar the n e e o f the an an , prim ily i t r st D ish ti u r I 1 8 6 h l o f o q a y. n 4 e had pu blished a col ection H er ic
an s S n s an en an d e n . was u le s a D i h o g , ci t mod r It do bt s d esire to add to this collection that led him to u ndertake an e on f B diti o the eowulf. It was hardly to b e expected that a m an whose life had been so un settled cou ld materially advan ce th e in terpreta f n r tion o Old E glish poet y.
1 ee su ra . 22. See su ra . 1 . S p , p p , p 5 ’ S chaldem ose s Translation 43
E XTRACT .
H unferd sa o gd , S¢n n en af E cglaf h an sad ved Scyldin ge Styreren s F¢dder ;
Kiv h an b n d egy te, thi kj a r var h am ikke Beowu fs e se l R i , den ras e S farers k ¢ , 10 00 m en or 0 ar e til S g g H m , thi h an saae c i gjaern e at en an den Man d eer M a troes havde m g , u n der Him melen s Skyer en d sel v han aatte E r D u den Beowu f l , ’ der m ed Breca kjmmped paa det vide H av V ddesv mn in i ae d g, 10 10 da I af Ho vmod
’ a e u dforsked H v t , 0 g dum dristige i dybe Van de vovede Li vet ; ei e o en vild N g , Ven e r F en de lle j , afven de eders sorgfulde Tog; n I da roe til S¢e d, 10 20 ven dte m ed Armen e de e E l er vild d g , H i m aalde avve en ,
m ed Haen dem e b r¢d den , 0 g svam over H avet men s S¢en vmlted vin terlige Vover ; saa paa Van den es Ryg I strede syv Nsetter ; han e rer aa a et , S i p H v , aatte eer St rke m y , 44 The Translations q/ B eowul/
thi aarle om Morgenen
H avet ham forde dedra han wgde sit Fe dreneri ge, feiret af n e Si , - Bron din ge Lan det det fa re ris g F ted, h vor et o han hav F lk de, Barge or Rin se Saa blev hy nd Beanstan s ’ San Dig loved sikkerli o ld g pfy t.
There are two good thin gs to b e said of this on a n a e a an a n and a e a an a ion it c t i s lit r l tr sl tio , it is lit r l tr sl t ’ f Re e e . Be n ul n ot b e w u rom mbl s t xt i g so , it co d itho t
e . T e e was nee of a e a an a n in Den a m rit h r d lit r l tr sl tio m rk. ’ Grundtvigs version certainly did not fu lfil the letter of the ’ law and Thorkelin s had n n e een f r en . , lo g si c b o gott ’ Schaldemose s depen dence upon th e translation of Kemble
ve e en . In en e a the an s an a is e is ry vid t g r l , D i h tr sl tor stopp d l th e a e a a e a ef the n s an a e. . by s m p ss g s th t d y E gli h tr s tor, g the passage which Kemble failed to in terpret at lin e 30 75 was duly an d loyally o mitted by Schaldemose. 1 I can find n o eviden ce for the reiterated statemen t that Schaldemose is throughou t his tran slation slavishly ia~ a he a e e debted to Ettm iiller. Certain it is th t void d thos ’ pecu liar forms of Ettmiiller s translation which are n othing more than a transliteration from the Old English .
Reception of tire Volu me.
It is a tribute to th e Dan ish in terest in B eowulf that ' i Schaldemose s volume soon passed i nto a secon d ed tion .
’ Soc al er A . Ans . 6 ac er ar s ed. see nfra . W k , ng IV, 9; W k b th ( i , p ' S cb aldemose s Translation 45
But it was n ot o f a character to arouse th e interest o f
o a s in o er oun ie . T e the n e e o r of the sch l r th c tr s horp , xt dit h ad n oe e e seen . p m , v r it Th e an s a o n e n e a n a u a tr l ti , b i g strictly lit r l , t r lly com manded very little atten tion even in D en m ark ; while it was utterly without in terest for readers and studen ts in e n oth r cou tries.
WACKE RBART H 'S T RANSLATI O N
Be wu f an e e ans a e f th e A n -Sa o n o l , pic po m tr l t d rom glo x
n n e e A . D e a e a A . B i to E glish v rs , by i drich W ck rb rth , Professor of A n glo-Saxon at the College o f our Ladye of
O scott . n n : l a P e n 1 8 . v Lo do Wil i m ick ri g, 49 pp. xl i , 1 59.
Se n i T . B cond E gl sh ranslation allad Measu res .
s o P ubl ca tion Circu ms tance f i .
In the in trodu ction Wackerbarth gives a full account of the his to ry of the book
or n ow resen e to the Pu l c s or after With respect to the W k p t d b i , h tly ’ th e u t n for of M r Kemble s on of the n o- a on e in p t i g th . Editi A gl S x T xt 18 fo r e the es n of ra n s a in an d ear in 18 com 33 I m d D ig t l t g it, ly 37 I ’ M r. Re le s secon o u e had n ot en a ear menced the or . e W k mb d V l m th pp d , and rocee e b ut s ow on accoun of th e fficu of the or I p d d l ly, t Di lty W k, i l and the utter Inadequacy of an y then existin g Dictionary. I st l owe er wrou W a on war u n er the o on a e en if h v ght my y d , d N ti th t v s ou n ot n Boo w en n s e for Pu ca on e t a I h ld thi k my k, h fi i h d, fit bli ti , y th t th o usin a e for lt e e e ws an d e MS . would f rm an am g T l my i tl N ph eces an d so wen rou a ou a uar er of the Poem w en Ni , I t th gh b t Q t h
I ness t an en re st0 to Pro ress. f erwar s ou the ll pu ti p my g A t d , th gh ’ A aranc of Mr. Kemble s a ona o u e con a n n the Prose ppe e dditi l V l m , t i i g 46 The Translations of Beowu lf
ers on ossar & c . had ren ere the re a n er of as com V i , Gl y, d d m i d my T k
arativel eas o er a ers re u re en on an d the . p y y, th M tt q i d my Att ti , MS la un ouc e un 18 2 e ween w c e an d the re en has y t h d til 4 , b t hi h Tim p s t it een fro e to e a e to an d at en co e e an d th e b m Tim Tim dd d l gth mpl t d, ’ w o r fu re se uc e n can ce e an d re a e . h le ca e lly vi d, m h b i g ll d transl t d
n ro uct on . . I t d i , p viii
In tedne to reced n S ck lar deb ss p i g o s .
In ers on a e scru u ous a ere to the te t of M r. e e myV i I h v p l ly dh d x K mbl , n an s re adoptin g in almost every In stan ce h is Emen datio s. My th k a r t h R v Dr wor who a e e e o t e e . . os due to M . K mbl B th h v kin dly an swered my I n qu iries relative to various M atters con n ected ’ w t th e oe . Pa es . i h p m g viii, xiv
’ ' n S tyle an d D zetzo .
‘ I have throughout en deavoured to ren der the Sen se an d the Word s of my Author as closely as the E n glish Lan guage an d the Restrain ts of M e re wou a ow an d for s Pur ose I a e n ot s run en e er t ld ll , thi p h v h k ith from sacrificin g Elegan ce to Faithfuln ess (for n o Tran slator is at liberty to misrepresen t his Author an d make an old S axon B ard speak the Lan guage of a modern Petit Maitre) or fro m un itin g En glish Words to e ress or an n o- a on co oun s o e m a ask wh xp imp t t A gl S x mp d . S m y y e n ot reser e the n o- a on a er e r eason I hav p v d A gl S x llit ative M t e. My R is that I do n ot thin k the Taste of the En gli sh People would at presen t
r . w s to et oo rea a Coun r en m a eco e bea it I i h g my b k d, th t my t ym yb m gen erally acquain ted with th e Epic of our An cestors wherewith they ha e een en era un ac ua n e an d for s ur ose was n ecessar v b g lly q i t d, thi p p it y to a o a e re su e to th an ua w r a the a era e e re d pt M t it d e L g ge he e s llit tiv M t , ea e en in e r an a an ua e uc ore e for an ours h vy v G m , L g g m h m fitt d it th , would in En glish b e so heavy that few would b e foun d to labour ’ through a Poem of even half the Len gt h of the Beowulf s lay when ’— resen e in so un a rac e a ar . Pa es p t d tt tiv G b g ix, x.
EXTRACT. CANTO VIII .
’ B ut au Hun ferth E c -af s on h ghty , g l S ’ W ho sat at royal Hroth-gar s Feet To bin d up Words of Strife begu n An d to a ress h o dd t e n ble Geat. ’ W ackerbarth s Translation 47
’ The proud Sea-Farer s E n terprize W as a vast Grievan ce in h is Eyes For ill could bear that jealous M an That an y other gallan t Than e ’ O n ear en ea the ea en s an th, b th H v Sp , or n his own s ou a n W ship beyo d h ld g i . ‘ ’ ’ Art ou B ed-wu f en he cr d th l , th y , ‘ With B recca on the Ocean wide a s in w n ers c on en Th t did t S immi g t t d, ’ Where ye explor d the Fords for Pride ’ An d risk d your Lives upon the Tide ’ All for vain Glory s empty E n d ? An d n o M an w e er Foe or r en , h th F i d,
Your sorry M atch can reprehen d . ’ ’ O er eas e rowe our r s o ers read S y d , y A m p - Th e a es an d Sea a s easure . W v , p th m d The ra e w our an s ur e Sp y y ith y H d did g , ’ ’ An d glided o er th e Ocean s Surge ; ’ ’ The Waves with Win ter s fury b oil d ’ e on th e wa er ea e toil d Whil t y R lm y , us se en s were o Th v Night t ld, ee at as he o erca e Till th l t v m , Th r i th e n o e e stron ge n bl Game. Then him at Morn the billowy Streams - In triu mph bare to Heatho rémes ro w en ce he sou his a er an F m h ght F th l d, ’ An d his own B ron din s fa fu an g ith l B d, ’ W r o r th o he e Co an he e e e F lk h ld mm d,
C n s an d o . A ity, Ri g , G ld His Promise well an d faithfully ’ Did B ean stan s Son perform to thee ; ’ An d ill I ween ou rov d , th gh p thy Might In n s au re an ea O l ght di d d dly Fight, w o w ee if ou s T ill g ith th , th thi Night ’ ’ w f o Dar st ait or Gren del b ld .
r t c m tire Tr anslation C i i is of .
’ Wackerbarth s tran slation is not to b e co n sidered as ’ 1 a rival of Kemb le s — the author did n ot wish it to b e
1 Se su ra . e p , p. 33 4B The Transla tions of Beowulf
so considered. Kemble addressed the world of scholars ; a er a the w o f ea e a er a r W ck b rth orld r d rs . W ck b rth ather ‘ resembles Co nybeare in tryi ng to reprod uce the sf ir it of the e and a e a ea a o u a au en e po m , m k his book pp l to p p l r di c . Wackerbarth had the advan tage of b asing his translatio n on the accurate an d scholarly versio n o f Kembl e ; yet Co nyb eare an d Wackerbarth were equ ally u n su ccessfu l in a n the o f the na The ea n for e c tchi g spirit origi l . r so th ir fa u e ar in the e a w e e il r is prim ily m di hich th y chos . It wou ld seem that if there we re a m easu re less suited to the Beowulf style than the Milton ic blan k verse used by Con y
ea e wou be th e a a ea u e u e a er ar . b r , it ld b ll d m s r s s d by W ck b th
The o e en of the a a is ea a an d a u o us . m v m t b ll d sy , r pid , g rr l Now if e e are ee ua i e o f w th e Beowul , th r thr q l ti s hich f is
n ot o e e e are ea e a t an d a u . No t p ss ss d, th y s , r pidi y, g rr lity — on ly does the poet avoid supe rfl uous wo rds the ballad n e — f ever do s b ut he requ ently does n ot use wo rds en o ugh . ean n u f en a ue and ne ul u o r a His m i g is th s o t v g b o s, h rsh N r n e r an n o te . o a h o e e a a d k t d c t p m prop ly b e c lled r pid . is o f en u e an d o e of en n u ffi en in e a It t h rri d , m r t i s ci t d t il , h e a The n n on e bu t it n ever as su stain d r pidity. ken i g al le a The o e n e o n o e his is hosti to r pidity. p t li g rs l vi gly v r u as if oa to ea e he re ea a fie The tho ght l th l v it ; p ts , mpli s . ' description o f Gren del s approach to Heo rot is given three n n tim es withi twen ty li es. Now these features which have j ust b een described ’ Wackerbarth s ballad lin es are e min en tly un fitted to B u r is s trans mit . t the e till an other reason fo r shun nin g T e are n n u them . h y almost co ti uo sly suggestive of c f l m en s S ott . O al else the tran lator of Beowulf should ’ o a avo id Scott. Sc tt s mediev lism is hun dreds o f years
and miles away fro m th e medievalism o f Beowulf . is the e f- ns o us ra a u e of His s l co ci , d m tic, gorgeo s ag
su . 2 See pra, p 8.
50 The Translations of Beowulf
' A n tft Re or s P refatory mar ks .
“ wen -fo ur ears a e asse s n ce w e res n in en ar T ty y h v p d i , hil idi g D m k, I first en tertain ed the design of on e day producin g an edition of Beowulf an d was in rosecu on of a es n a e a el ; it p ti th t d ig th t, imm di t y on arr a in n an in 18 0 I carefu co a e e of my iv l E gl d 3 , lly ll t d the t xt ’ T kelin on w o hor s e th e C on an an uscr . r un a e n diti ith tt i m ipt F o t t ly, o ou for the wor a ser es of cares o e er w o er erar d bt, k, i , t g th ith th lit y en a e en s n er en e an d arres e ro ress had in fac g g m t , i t v d t d my p g . I , t, aban don ed every thought of ever resumin g the task : it was therefore ' w n o s easure a I a e the a aran o M r emb le s ith light pl th t h il d ppe ce f . K on of th i first editi e text of Beowulf n 1833. ’ r K m l n or so e as n o Copies of M . e b e s editio s havin g f m time p t bee f rare occurren ce I reso e on resum n sus en e a our an d as , lv d i g my p d d l b , , far as was a e su n a wan fe an an n o- a on I bl , pplyi g t lt by m y A gl S x s o tuden t both at home an d abr ad . My first impulse was to prin t the text of the poem as it appears in the an uscr w a eral ran s a on in ara e co u n s lac n m ipt , ith lit t l ti p ll l l m , p i g all con ec ura e en a on s at th e foo of eac a e b ut on c m arin j t l m d ti t h p g ; , p p g the e w th e ers on in s u a- os on so n u er s an d so t xt ith v i thi j xt p iti , m ou en or ous an d uer e the un ers of th o s a ar an d m p il did bl d e c pyi t ppe , , con se uen so rea th e scre an ce we n he e an d the q tly , g t di p bet e t t xt r n s a on a I foun f co e e n the t a l ti , th t d mysel mp ll d to admit i to the text rea er n u er of th e con ec ura e en a on s con s n n to th e foo g t mb j t l m d ti , ig i g t h a e the corres on d n rea n s of th uscr In e er of t e p g p i g di g e man ipt . v y w c ou o r on s on e case hi h I th ght might by the s b e c idered questi abl , I a e fo owe the ore u sua course of re a n n in the e the h v ll d m l , t i i g t xt rea n of the an uscr an d ac n the ro ose correc on at di g m ipt, pl i g p p d ti o f ot . ' er s or af er I h ad co a e the an uscr sufiered s V y h tly t ll t d it, m ipt till fu r r n rthe det ime t . ‘ In formin g this edition I resolved to proceed in depen den tly of th e ’— er on or ew of e er r ce n e or. Pa s x . v si vi s v y p e di g dit ge vii, viii, xii, iii
’ c m TIzor e s T t Cr iti is of p ex .
Con sidering th e amoun t of time that had elapsed between 1 an d the e n of e le T o e can a b e a this ditio K mb , h rp h rdly s id a e a e a fa o r n In es e to h v m d satis ct y adva ce . some r p cts his ’ i n is a u n fe o Kem le is r a e e a b s. dit o ct lly i ri r to It p ob bl ,
1 See su pra, p. 33. 5 ! for e a e a the c o a o n of w th e au o s ea x mpl , th t ll ti hich th r p ks in his in trodu ction was the o ne which he h ad made twen ty ea r ef e an d a in a n u wo a e o n e y s b or , th t, t ki g p his rk s c d tim ,
he n ot ro u e e f to re e . At an ra e th e did t bl hims l vis it y t , M n t e fr e a e e fu a n S . did o rec ive om Thorp th t r sp ct l tte tio n r e as that it h ad had from Kemble . Tho p w more clever than the former scholar in de ciphering fad ed lin es o f th e
MS . b u t he was n o t a wa s a efu n a e ose e e , l y c r l to i dic t th l tt rs w c he a ua f un e e an d o e he e f su e hi h ct lly o d th r , th s hims l ppli d f Y t s we e o f en o f u ffi e rom conj ectu re. e these readin g r t s ci n t an e to affe an en re a sa e an d a e o a import c ct ti p s g , l t r sch l r ship has in man y cases deciphered readi n gs whose sen se ’ T u s is en tirely different from Tho rpe s . h his edition e en n e en e fro a e e s w e n o pr s ts striki g div rg c s m l t r t xt , hil
' explan ation of them is o fiered in th e footn otes . Not on ly does he frequen tly in corpo rate his own readings in th e text n n M u h e e e w u th . fo t a itho t oti g e S rms, b ven mak s mist kes
i he M f he oes n o e . A c a i n o f n t S . orms which d t oll t o ’ r Tho rpe s text with th e MS . has evealed a carelessn ess which was all th e mo re reprehen sibl e in that it c ame from - A a scholar who was thought to b e well n igh i nfallible. few examples of this carelessn ess are give n 1 M fo n o . n e 1 1 8 banan ea S . in e Li 3 9 ( 5 ) , (misr ds ot t ) 487 1c (wo rd emen ded fro m le with o ut notin g
1 160 Irwceficre (em en ds witho ut n oting the
M . f S o rm). 1 20 ac Itim a o 7 (omits w rd). 0 8 lxldc filemmu MS ea in a f 44 i m ( . misr d oot
n e . en a n u n n e e sa ot Em d tio c s ry). 8 At ne 221 the MS . a u a e at n li , b dly m til t d this poi t ,
' The numbers in parmtheses are those of Wyatt s text . D 2 52 The Translations of Beowulf
’ In Thorpe s edition the line reads
Not on ly does he fail to state that he has changed MS . 47 b ut he e no n a n a fo r the w rena to fi, giv s i dic tio th t ords fy
Ic r dc e e n o in the MS . an d a th e ea n is y th r is room , th t r di g en e of his o wn n tir ly maki g. ' In order to aflord a comparative estimate o f the work o f T e an d em e a en the te of ea as e horp K bl , I pp d xts ch th y appear at what is now li ne 20 00
Tn oxn .
a un d r e is nu -d rne P t is y n , f y , - d n Hi a dr hten IIi -li c ryhte ge l c, y ge , ( un cer) gemetin g
- hwylce (orlog) hwfl 5 hwylce hwil nucet Gren dles un cer Gren dles
wear on am wan e d p g , pe r he wom a fela he r he worh a fela - sige (Scyl)dingum sor e efiemede sor e e-fremede g g , g g , rm ldr to aldre y de to a e . ya n d(o) ; Ic ar eall ewm c ic e-wraec p t g , i call g , swi (ne) sylpan dearf
(én ig) ofer eordan uht- e on e uht- l on hl m p , h em d e, se he len gest leafed ( se he) lengest leofad 14m c n n es. a an c n n es y l d y , Fér-bifon en t -b f-on n g , (fm) f ge . These selections give a good basis for j u dgin g the merits ’ an d efe s o f T o T o e een a d ct h rpe s edition . h rp is s to h ve the a an a e in e e n e a n a s o f the e see dv t g d ciph ri g c rt i p rt t xt,
e. . n es 11 1 h n e is far . O n t e e a e g li 9, , 7 oth r h d , K mbl
more con scien tious . Thus at line 13 Thorpe reads ne as if
we e fou n in the MS . not e e an d e e it r d It is th r , K mbl is r in n o s n th e e ight i cl i g e l tt rs in paren theses. The sam e
ne in e e 00 in or e Li 3995 K mbl ; 4 4 Th p . ’ Thome s Edition
’
n ue of Fair in n e 1 an d Gren ales in n e 1 . thi g is tr li 9, li 4 ’ Tho rpe s emen dation s in li n es 3 and 5 are an advan ce on e n re n e in he e Bu e e a d a e a t . t T K mbl , still r t i d t xt horp ’ might have followed Kemb le s p un ctuation in 18 an d 19 to his advan tage.
Hun ferth s a e p k , ’ E c laf son g s , who at tire feet sat ’ of tlze Scyldin gs lord ;
un boun d a hostile speech . To was tlze o a e of eowu f him v y g B l , tlte o sea-farer b ld , a great displeasure ; 10 10 becau se he grudged that any other man ever more glories of mid-earth held un der heaven than himself : ‘ Art tho u the Beowulf who with Breca strove on tlze w e sea id , in a sw n str fe immi g i , 10 20 where ye from pride e e the for s t mpt d d , an d for foolish vaun t in tire deep water ven tured your lives ? Nor o m y u an y an , n or fr en n or foe i d , might blame or our sorrowfu o a e f y l v y g , ’ w en on tire sea e t ow h y d , w en e tire ocean -s rea h y t m, ’ w ou r ar s deck d ith y m , ’ measur d tlze sea-wa s y , w ou r an s ra e tlzem ith y h d vib t d , 54 The Translations of Beowulf
’ glided o er the main ; ’ ocean oil w w b d ith aves, ’ with win ter s fury ’ e on the wa er s o ain y t d m , ’ or n n l f seve ights toi d. He ee in sw n o ercam e th immi g v , he had ore s ren m t gth, w n at orn n e he him m i g tid , on to Heatho-raemes the sea bore up ; when ce h e sought his un r dear co t y, the e o e of his eo e b l v d p pl , ’ the Bron din s an g l d , his r eacefu ur fai , p l b gh, ’ w re he a o e own d he pe pl ,
a burgh an d rin gs. All his promise to thee ’ Bean stan s son l’ truly fulfi d.
Cr iticism o the Tr an slat f ion .
T i e n a s l era ransla n th e ea e h s b i g trictly it l t tio , r d r is referred to the section s on th e text for a valuation an d is a n criticism . It qu estio n whether there was eed fo r m ’ an other literal renderin g in Englan d at this time. Ke ble s ’ an s a n was n o t et o u t of a e an d w T e n ew tr l tio y d t , ith horp s glossary th e studen t had a sufficient apparatu s for the e in terpretation of the po m . So me German scholars have discovered that the short ’ lin es in which Thorpe s translation is cou ched are imitative f he n s u am un a e a re w o t Old E gli h meas re. I bl to g e ith - them . Probably an y short lin e tran slatio n wo uld zpso f acto a u e a o n e n ot a the n l an d ss m ch ppi ss dissimil r to Old E g ish, probably plen ty of lin es co u ld b e discovered which corre ’ s on d we en u to the five e b ut the a ee en p ll o gh typ s, gr m t e u re f u ou is u e un l T r s ems p ly ort it s . It q it like y that ho pe n n n i te ded a y imitation . on 55
’ I nfluence of Tharpe s E dition .
s i n h s n n e The infl uence of thi edit o a bee co siderabl . It 1 ’ was the prin cipal au tho rity used by Grein an d H eyn e en in con structin g their texts . Thus its in flu ce was felt in all te xts down to th e p ublication of the Zupitz a Au totypes i" Thomas Arn o ld copied the text almost word
GR EI N ’S TRA NS LAT I ONS
un en der A n e a en s a re en ub ersetz t von Dicht g g ls chs , t b im d G C . e . E r Ban . e ti en o . . n t n e W M Gr i rste d g : G rg H . 8 — B . 0 8 an 1 . e wu f 222 . we e T e Wig d , 5 7 o l , pp 3 Z it ( it l A u f a e 1 86 l g , 3 . B eo f. wu l Stabreim en d fibersetz t von Professor Dr . C . . . e n . we e A uf a e a e : eo . W M Gr i Z it l g . K ss l G rg H 1 88 0 an . Wig d, 3 pp . 9 .
Se n e an T an la n i a e ea u es co d G rm r s tio . Im t tiv M s r
‘ Christian Wilhelm Michael Grein ( 1 825—77) was u en tly well fitted for the editin g and translating o f Old r He o e e a n a r e for the E nglish poet y. p ss ss d tu al aptitu d u o f er an c lo o an d h ad th e ad an a e of st dy G m i Phi l gy, v t g ud n w an e el en rofe r an E ua C st yi g ith xc l t p sso , Fr z d rd hris 1 10 toph Dietrich ( 8 in the Un iversity at Marbu rg . A s early as 1 854 h e began his l abors as a translator o f Old n i e w a ve on of the P hoen ix Der Vo e E gl sh po try ith rsi , g l
o n i : ein an elséichsisches e s a e en iiber Ph e x g G dicht , t br im d
1 See inf1
See nfra . 1. i , p 7 For o ra ca fac s see re n -Wfilker Bibliotheh an bi g phi l t G i , , B d III , ate a lie . H l , p
58 The Transla tions of Beowulf
on der r na e te wo n i h oft von e nen Vor an ern a we c e ti O igi lt x , ri c m i g g b i h , n fac vor u n rer a er e wec e ich a urc die ei h A gen legen . A d seits b b z kt d d h Bekan n tschaft mit den in vieler Beziehung so herrlichen dichterischen E rzeugn issen des un s en gverwan dten en glischen Volkes aus der Zeit vor dem gewaltsamen Ein drin gen des roman ischen Elemen ts durch die n or an n sc e E ro erun u c in we eren re sen an u a n en m i h b g a h it K i z b h , was sie sowol n ach ihrem I nh alte als auch n ach der poetisc hen
' e an un d s o B h dl g e St fies gewiss in hohem Grade verdienen . Daher war ich e fr s b emiiht di ebersetz un dem r n a in m lichster i ig t , e U g O igi l tig reue n ac I n a us ruc und orrn en an z usc essen : n am en t T h h lt, A d k F g hli c suc e ich sow es er b ei dem eu en an e un serer li h ht , eit imm h tig St d rac e thun lich war auc den us des r n a s n ac u en Sp h , h Rhythm O igi l hz bild , wo bei es vor allem auf die B eibehaltun g der eigen tiimlich en Stellun g der a re e an a ein Pun der b ei der Ueb ertra un a er St b im k m, kt, g g lt ’— Alliteration s oesien n ur zu oft vem achlassi t w r . orre e . p g i d V d , iii
' D e en ces between the two E diti ns iflr o .
Th e se n e n of the an s a on see u a 6 co d ditio tr l ti ( s pr , p. 5) ’ ’ was edited fro m Grein s Han dexemplar of the Dichtu ngen af er his ea rofe so W u lk er wh o has a o re-e e t d th by P s r , ls dit d the e o f th e B blio hek The fferen e ar e t xt i t . di c s e s ldo m o re an er a an d are ar e in the ear a s of th e m th v b l , l g ly ly p rt
. he e n r oe T o e n of u e u e . p m s c d ditio is, co s , s p rior
EXTRACT .
111.
arauf s rac Hunferd Ec lafs o n D p h , g S h , der z u den iissen sass dem iirst der Skildin F F ge, en an Streitrun en war Beowu fs e se tb d , (ihm l R i des u en eefah rers se r z u m Aer er m tig S h g , da er u rc au s n c ou n e ass ein an er r ann d h i ht g t , d d e M je mehr des Ruhmes in dem Mittelkrei se b esasse un er e en n er se er a e t m Himm l, d lb h tt ) ' s du der eowu f der e n s Bre a sc wam Bi t B l , i t mit k h m im W ettk am fe urc die we e See p d h it , wo in Verwegen heit ihr die Gewasser priiftet un d aus tollem Prahlen in die tiefen Fluten ’ wagtet euer Leben ? Nicht wehren kon n t euch beiden weder Lieb n oc h Leid der Leute ein er ’ Grein s Tran slations 59 die sor en o e a r als in den un ihr ru er e g v ll F h t, S d d t t, wo ihr den O cean sstrom euren r en ec e mit A m d kt t, die Holm strassen asse den an en schlu et m t, mit H d g un d tiber den O cean glittet : der Eisgan g des Win ters wallete in Wogen ; in des Wassers Gebiet I i l an d plagtet ihr euch sieben Nachte. m Schwimm sp e ub erw er hatte mehr der M acht ; z ur Morgen zeit ru ihn der o m da z u den H doram t g H l ea en . Von dann en su chte er die siisse H eimat e se n en eu en das an der Bron din e li b i L t , L d g , die e c e r e e ur wo er se n o a e li bli h F i d b g, i V lk h tt , ur un d au e Da a e all se n r o w er c B g B g . h tt i E b t id di h vollbracht in Wahrheit Bean stan s Sohn
o th T la tion Cr itici sm f e rans .
- - n e r o Its The tran slation is a literal lin e for li ve si n . su er o r to its re e esso s is eref re o n e w the p i ity p d c r , th o , ith u o r t of th e e o n w is fo n e s peri i y t xt hich it u d d . The tran slation became at on ce th e stan dard commen tary
o n B eowu an d o n re a n e for an ear . lf, this p sitio it t i d m y y s is s th e s an ar era an a n in e an n one It till t d d lit l tr sl tio G rm y,
of the later version s havin g equ aled it in poin t of accu racy .
SIMRO CK’S TRANSLAT I ON
B f r z un u Das al . se d eow l . teste deu tsche Epos Ueb e t t l : er au tert von Dr . a S ro S u a u n d A u ur K rl im ck . t ttg rt gsb g ’
. h r r 8 0 . o t sc e V e a 1 . . C t a . 2 J G l g, 59 pp iv, 3 T T n n u r . a hird German ra slatio Imitative M e s es .
Simr och.
180 —1 8 6 t n D r. K arl Simrock ( 2 7 ) brought to h e tra s a on o f B eowu th e r u n w e e o f a o ar l ti lf tho o gh k o l dg sch l ,
1 The secon d edition presen ts n o variation from this save the omission of the co a 1n k 0 1 mm m 5 .
’ S imrock s Translation 61
o e e a w . The na u e of the e an an ua e m r lit r l , ords t r G rm l g g , owe e ee e e f e n as e uls e as e are h v r, k ps th s rom b i g r p iv th y in En b ut e are suffi en an e f and glish , th y ci tly str g to mysti y ann oy the reader . The featu re of his tran slation fo r which Simrock was most co n cern ed was the measu re
‘ Vor le a er den o au de r ec er Poes e unsertren nlich Al m b W hll t, ht i er un en ist das sc en mir die ers e e n un a der eser v b d , hi t B di g g, d mit L den Sinn ahn e an d von der Schfinheit des Gedichtes ergriffen von
' B a r N ur so au t e ich e n l tt zu Blatt getragen we de. gl b i e tausen djah rige Kluft iiberb riicken und dieser mit An geln un d Sachsen ausgewan derten ’— c un neues Heim atsrecht b ei uns erwer en cu kfin nen . orre e Di ht g b V d , iii , iv .
He a re e e a e a on e e n a a f n n e lso p s rv d llit r ti , b li vi g th t o d ss fo r a oe a o n en ma b e ea a u e an d a th t p tic d r m t y sily cq ir d , th t it is by n o mean s in con sisten t with the gen ius o f modern n u to g es .
Th e notes to the tran slation con tain disc ussio ns of the r n a e of th e episodes an d of the mythological pe so g s e po m . T e is a u o n o f the oe w o f B eowul an d her disc ssi p tic orth f , f an argument fo r the German origin o the poem . B ut ’ ‘ th a la i n the r aison d etr e o f the u e an d e e tr ns t o is vol m , oth r F s parts are strictly subordin ated to it . The inn b urg frag 16 men t is in serted at the en d of se ction . A s th e autho r o e n o t w s to u the o e of B eowu he o e d s i h dist rb rd r lf, is blig d to place the poem at the en d of the Fin nsb u rg episode in B eowu a e - osen o n w e e can o n ( lf), v ry ill ch positi , h r it ly co nfu se the gene ral reader mo re than the obscure lin es to w T s a e o f n e n the nn s hich it is related. hi pr ctic i s rti g Fi 1 u fra en a e e e ff an n has een b rg gm t, l t ly r viv d by Ho m , b n er ge ally repudiated .
See nfra . . i , p 99 62 The Tra nsla tions of Beowulf
Text and I n debtedness to P r ecedin S cholar s. , g
’ 1 The text fo llowed is Grei n s ( 1 857) . The translato r ackn owledges his i ndebtedn ess to the versions of Ettmiiller an d Grein .
EXTRACT .
8. HUN FERD .
Da e an n Hunferd Ec lafs o n b g , g S h , r z u lissen sass dem iirsten der childin e De F F S g , Kam run en z u en n en ihm war eowu fs unf m tbi d B l K t ,
Des kiihn en Seese lers sc rec ic u w er . g , h kl h z id u un ern sah er ass ein an erer M an n Allz g , d d In diesem Mittelkreis mehr des Ru hm es Un term Himmel hatte als Hun ferd selbst
d B e wulf d B eha sc wa Bist da er o , er mit r h mm Im Wettkampf ein st durch die weite See ? ihr tollkiihn n efen r W 0 U ti p iiftet, Mit vermessn em M uth in den Meeresschlun den Das Leben wagtet ? Vergeben s wehrten euch i e en un d e en i eu e D e Li b L id , d e L t zumal o sor volle e se als ihr z um un e ru er e S g R i , S d d t t, Das an streiche e eer r en ec e g W ltm mit A m d kt t, Di Meerstrassen asse d n an n s u t e m t, mit e H de chl g Durch die Bran dun g gleiten d ; aufbrauste die Tiefe n rs W th Im asser m htet ihr Wider des Wi te u . W ii ’ Eu ch sieben Nachte : da besiegt er dich im Schw mmen . Sein er Macht war mehr in des Morgen s Friihe
Hob ihn die Hochflut z u den H eador timen .
’ on n s er ie s e a V dan en ucht d siis e H im t, Das Leute lieb das an B ron din e n e, L d der g , Die fes e r e en s ur wo er o esass t F i d b g, V lk b , B n B n r e n a e dir urg u d auge. Sei E bi te h tt ’ Da B eanstans Geb orn er vollbracht un d geleistet .
r t the Tr an slati C i icism of on .
’ imrock s n a i n n S tra sl tion s comme dable for its faithful ess . is e e a e an d ea a e er n u in It , mor ov r, simpl r d bl v sio , tho gh
1 e su r . . Se p a, p 56 ’ S imrocle s Translation 63
’ these respects it is n o t equal to H eyn e s ren deri ng which ’ e r was to fo llow it ; b u t it was easily Sup ri o to Grein s . Y et in e of the o o is n ot we n wn a o n , spit this , b k ll k o m g e an an a on and has n e e a e n a se n G rm tr sl ti s, v r p ss d i to co d n T su s n w en we c n er the u e s editio . his is rpri i g h o sid s cc s ’ f im u an s a n The a a fa u e is o S rock s previo s tr l tio s. p rti l il r ’ acco u n ted fo r by two facts : ( 1) Sim rock s reputation as a a was n ot e u a a o f re n o r e n e schol r q l to th t G i H y , n or had he the advan tage o f editing the text ; ( 2) th e m easu re which th e tran slatio n emplo yed h as n ever n n s i n in been popu lar am o n g read ers . N0 Germa tra lat o ’ a e eas u re w the n e ex e o n of e n imit tiv m s , ith si gl c pti Gr i s (which has made its appeal as a scholarly wo rk an d n o t as a e e o f era u re h as e er asse in o a e o n e o n pi c lit t ), v p d t s c d diti while versio ns couched in iambic lin es or Nibelungen
meters have been reprin ted .
HEY NE ’S T RA NSLAT I O N
Be f A n elsachsisches el en e ub ersetz t von owul . g H d g dicht
n e Pa e o n : D u u nd V e a vo n e . Moritz H ey . d rb r r ck rl g F rd
Schb nin h 1 86 . . 1 2 . g , 3 pp viii , 7
we e A u f e . Pa e orn : Schonin h 18 8. Z it lag d rb g , 9 » 1 91 viii. 34
a a Pen a ete . Fou rth German Transl tion . I mbic t m r
Heyne .
The n ame of Moritz Heyn e is on e of th e most ill ustr iou s Th e e n e n in the history of Beowulf scholarship . H y e ditio s ‘ o f the e a e een an ar for nea fo ea t xt h v b st d d rly rty y rs ,
ere a e een six— 186 1868 18 18 1888 18 8 the as Th h v b 3, , 73, 79, , 9 ; l t two ocia. are by Dr. Adolf S 64 The Translations of Beowulf while the translation has been recen tly reprinted Be e w on the Beowul is o a was b e sid his ork f , th sch l r to e o n en as e o f the Heliand and of Ul las com pr mi t ditor fi , ’ an d as o ne o f th e staff appoin ted to complete Grimm s
Dictionary. At the e w en b e n e e n o f the Beowul tim h pri t d his ditio f ; e ne was a u en at al e an d b ut twen - e a H y st d t H l , ty six y rs 1 8 I w o a s n of age (born 1 37) . n his ork he had s me s ista ce ’ f o P f of e r m ro essor Leo Hall .
R l eat nd T a a tion e a tion of T a r nsl .
u n he e f 186 At Th e tran slation was fo nded o t t xt o 3 . the time it was by far the best edition that had yet
a fu n e w an e e len o a . ppeared . It was r ish d ith xc l t gl ss ry The text had th e advantage o f the valuable wo rk don e by 3 Grun dtvig in collati ng the two tran scripts made by Thor e he M kelin It thus cam a stage nearer t S . readin gs an an e e n e n w e a e the u n th y oth r xisti g ditio , hil it void d ne e n u es of th e Dan e o c ssary co ject r ish dit r. ’ He n e s e a n een five e t e-e e the fir y t xt h vi g b tim s dit d , st editio n of the translation often fails to co nform to readin gs which have been i n trodu ced i n to the text in later editions b ut the free natu re o f th e translatio n makes this of no
great importan ce.
f Dif er ences between the Fir st and Second E ditions of the
' The difieren cee between the two editio ns are not o f
u an e . The an a o n in ene a o u m ch import c tr sl ti is g r l , th gh not a wa u u to the a e e on o f th e e l ys, bro ght p l t diti s t xt,
i t r Heyne s a p esen t Professor in the University of Ghttingen .
See infra, 12 1. a In Beowu s B eorh. See a so su r . 2 2. lf l p a, p
See supra, p . 16.
66 The Transla tions of Beowulf
Sin n es sich der an gelsachsischen Wort un d Satz stellun g n icht z u
' an s c an sc e a e en auc w e er so enau ass sie hofien t g tli h hmi gt d g g h i d g , d c ein c erf e n zu m vollkommenern Verstan dn iss des e tes b ei li h S h l i T x . ’— w rwo . ra en r . o rt t g i d V , iii
’ Hayn e s theo ry of translation is on e that has been very e in u e in e an He has een e o n all littl vog G rm y. b criticiz d s s for hi fr Y h r n e e e s ee et t e is u e . id do m . c iticism d s rv d H eyn e is n ever paraphrastic— he n ever adds an ythin g f H e ere e in an n o reign to the po em . m ly b lieves tr slati g the obscure as well as the simple ideas of his text . His freedom seldom amou n ts to more than this
b o . 80 he e n o his Hé é t n e aleh, l ( b lied t promise)
W as er e o erfiillt er . g l bt ,
H e o a n a n e s a w for e a ea n an d cc sio lly i s rt ord m tric l r so s , so e es in the n e es o f ea n e s a e n s a e o r m tim , i t r ts cl r s , d mo tr tiv
e so n l ro n u en f. 1 00 o f th e a n e a e na e c . p r p o , or v prop r m ( 5 e a xtr ct). E XTRACT .
IX.
Da sa e Hun ferd Ec lafs o n der Hrod ar gt , g S h , g z u Fiissen sass dem errn der Schildin e , H g , des Streites Siege! lii ste er (den n sehr war B eowulfes n un f er ass A k t ihm v h t , des kiihn en Meerb efahrers ; er vergtin n te s e an e r d s u es als er se er e Ni m d, m h e R hm lb sich un term Himmel j emals z u erwerben ) B s du der Beowu f der e n s Breca i t l , i t mit s c auf der we en ee im Schwimmkam f mass i h it S p , als ihr euc kiih nlich in die efen stiirz tet h Ti , un d mit verwegnen Briisten euer Leben im efen asser wa e ? e an onn e ti W gt t Ni m d k t , n c reun n c e n des miihevollen W a es i ht F d, i ht F i d, g
euc n ern . Da sc wa ihr n aus in See h hi d h mmt hi , wo ihr die w e lut r en ec e ild F mit A m d kt t, des Wassers Strassen masset u n d die Hiinde die Wogen werfen liesst ; so glittet ihr
hin ti ers eer. Die w n er c en e en b M i t li h W ll , ’ Hgme s Tra nslation 67
n Der a e e m uh sie gienge hoch . T g si ben tet ihr euch im Wasser : j en er iiberwan d di ch im c w en en n er a e rfissre raf S h imm , d h tt g K t. D a trug die Hochflut ihn z u r M orgenzeit a d Hado o r uf zu en rfimen , von w aus e , der se nem o e ie e seinen r s i V lk l b , E b itz im an der Bran din e die schhne B ur L d g , g r or esass er an a n d e rei chte . D t b L d Leute und S chii z W as er e c o t e. en e g g di h g l bt, ’ das a e Bean stan s o n fiirwahr erflill h tt S h t. The extract illustrates su flicien tly the characteristics o f ' B e e In the fi a e a n n m a e n s en e n . e b y r d ri g rst pl c , tt tio y a e the e e e free o f the e e a f ee o c ll d to xtr m dom v rs , r d m which at times makes the composition verge u po n prose . In the se o n la e th e rans a on o f the n c d p c , t l ti Old E glish ra e beada-r u nen on ban d o u b e n o e an d co m ph s sh ld tic d , a e w the an a n o fEttm iiller e n and S o p r d ith tr sl tio s , Gr i , imr ck , who have respectively
' en tban d Stra tru n en
Heyn e is the on ly on e who tra nslates the phrase in su ch a way as to make th e words in telligible to a read er u n b e n e a ua n e w n s . na ou cq i t d ith Old E gli h Fi lly, it sh ld otic d that the translatio n is quite as acc u rate as those which e e n s i e preced d it. H y e certain ly u cceeded n his att mpt to make the poem more in telligible to the general reader n f e n t s se ea e than it had ever bee be ore . Whil o o rvic bl to ’ the a as e n an a o n un ou e the schol r Gr i s tr sl ti , it is d bt dly f most enjoyable o th e German versions . 68 The Tra nsla tions of Beowu lf
VO N WO LZO GE N’S TRA NSLATI O N
Beovulf Barwelf . Das alteste eu e Helden edioh ( ) d tsch g t .
' A us dem A n elsach sischen vo n an von W lz o en g H s o g .
e : P Re a un . L ipzig hilipp cl m , j ’ - Volu me 430 of Reclam s Un iversal Bibliothek. Small 10 PP 4.
Fifth German Translation . Imitative Measures .
h T l Concer n ing t e r ans a tor .
Han s von Wo lz ogen (born popularly kn own as a writer on th e Wagnerian operas and as con du ctor o f th e
' B a r eu ther B latter an a e ree e an e for y , tr sl t d th G rm ic po ms ’ Re a B t e Beowu 1 8 2 Der ar me H ein r ich cl m s iblio h k lf, 7 , , 1 8 and the E dda 1 8 . T e e is n o e en e a he 73 , , 7 7 h r vid c th t had an s ecial n e e in n s u e y p i t r st Old E gli h st di s .
Aim o the Volu me f .
’ As e e e in the Vor e er u n the aim of the xpr ss d b m k g , translator was ( 1) to provide a readable translation fur ’ u n e o e n e u u an d 2 a e a n en en s r m d r s P blic m , ( ) to m k co v i t an o for the u en so a the e nn e w h db ok st d t, th t b gi r, ith ’ 1 re n e an d the esen ans a n ea the G i s t xt pr t tr l tio , might r d B w eowu lf ith n o very great difficu lty . So von W olz ogen ’ a e his er n re e a an He n e s b ut f ee an m d v sio mo lit r l th y , r r th ’ m r ck s Si o (p .
N a tur e the T ansla t of r ion .
The an a o n in a era e ea u e a e th e tr sl ti is llit tiv m s r s, c ll d by n W lz i tran slator imitative o f th e Old E glish . V on o ogen s on e n e for fea u e o f w and at a n c c r d this t r his ork, is p i s to
1 ee su ra . S p , p 55. ’ Von W olz ogen s Translation 69 give what he con siders a fu ll accoun t of the original verse as well as a len gthy defence of alliteration . A rchaic touches r he n a e are re- rans a e n er an a e occasional . T m s t l t d i to G m a r n to a e of w a aren von W olz o en cco di g syst m hich , pp tly, g alone holds the key
diese an gelsach sische Form selbst n ur eine Ueb ertragun gsform aus den urs riin lich eu sc en a en ist wo e an c n er so ar p g d t h N m , b i m h Ei g
s n n os er re wor en wie . . der a e des e en se s der i l v d ht d , z B N m H ld lb t, aus dem eu sc en Béirwelf un b éir z um Beovulf B en en wo f e ac d t h , J g , , i l , g m ht ’— wor en war. or e er un . . d V b m k g, p 5
The a ou n of the a of H elac an d of Heardred cc t F ll yg , - 2 6 f e n e 220 . 354 9 , is shi t d to li 7 (p
Text Used.
’ The tran slation is apparen tly fou n ded o n o n e of Grein s 1 e s b u t the w r is n a u a e a e a n f t xt , o k so i cc r t th t x ct i orma tion on this poin t is impossible from in erely in tern al evidence .
EXTRACT .
RITTE R ESANG D G .
HUN FRID .
’ S o sa te H u n n d der o n des E chle g f S h if; Dem Schildin enfiirsten z u Fiissen esessen g g , Kampfrun en en tbin den d (es kréin kte des B arwelf ’ M uthz e M eer ahrt machti den o en g f g St lz , Der an Ehren n icht mehr ein em an dern M an n e Zn 6n n en e e n war im ar en der e g g m i t G t Mitt , ’ Als wie un ter m Himmel erworben er selbst B s du der B drwe d r e i t lf, e mit B r cht b ekiimpfte Auf we er See im W ettesch wimm en it , Da iibermiithig un d ehrbegierig ’ Eu r e en ihr wa te in as r fen L b g t W se tie ,
See or e er un V b m k g, p . 3 . Th e a cs sa e ose use fo r i li , v th d r oper n ames (which are von Wol ’ t p z o en s n ca e n accura e r n n g ), i di t i t e den gs. ' ’ 70 The Translations o/ Beowué
’ Die beid ihr durchrchwamm f Da brachte zum Schwanlm x Den Vorsatz der fn rchtbaren Fahrt euch Ke iner i n n Wo e nd Be dur h th eiltet M it B tte a d m n. a ide c eb reit ten r en die Bran un ihr ru ern Mit g e A m d g d d, Durchm asa t das Meer mit meistern den Handen wo n en e en wa ren der ir e s ur Auf ge d W g , h d W b l t m ' ’ ’ Rast in de n W ellm un d ihr m ngt m t dem W asser Der e er im Neids el D ut ch sieben Nach te. Si g pi ’ Zeigte sich macht ger ; zur Zeit dos Morgens Rise a n den Hadnranmen die Flnt ihn ; ' l er d rt in s eigene Erbe en tei t von o , der Bran din e e se nen M anners Zum Lande g , li b i . a e o er dem o e Zur bergenden Burg. D g b t V lk ' W i w r e d schatsra ch . e esc o en so Schlossreich un g h , hi lt ‘ ’ S ein Versprechen dir redlich der Sprossling des B austa u .
’ V on W olz o en s an a n ar u w t A g tr sl tio is h dly tr st or hy. specimen of his free in terpretation o f the B eowulf diction ma b e een in the f n e on a e 1 w ere he efin es y s oot ot p g 3, h d e n a s homgeap (i . e . with wid i terv l between its pin nacl es o f ‘ ’ ‘ ’ n as horn reich an d an s a e hor nr eced n u . hor , tr l t s , Hor b rg I naccu rate ren derin gs of the Old English have been n oted T above in italics . hey reveal an especial difficu lty with th e kenn n a e e w vo n Wolz o en a a en n ot i g , d vic hich g pp r tly did u n e an n e the en e an s a i n o w an a e d rst d , si c tir tr l t o sh s tt mpt the n n h to i nterpret ken i g ypo tactically. Had the translato r een a n a ara ra e na u a ie ke m uthi e b m ki g p ph s , i cc r c s li g ’ ‘ ’ M eerfah rt and ihr ran gt mit dem Wasser might b e excused ; b ut in a translation which was avowedly literal ’ (more literal than Heyn e s) they appear to b e due to n n e an n an e and a e e n e o othi g l ss th ig or c c r l ss ss. T give one example from the thousan d tha t bear out the truth of men we ma e in 61 a e e . this st t t , y cit l 5 (p ' Von Wolz ogen s Translation 7 :
w is an a e hich tr sl t d , dawider doch dien te '
e n trefiliches c wer das reu mir s n . M i S h t, t bei ta d (p.
This is n ot paraphrase ; it is shee r misapprehen sion o f
Old English . A similar misapprehens ion is seen in line 15 of e a xtr ct , B un a Mit itten d W rnen , which we are asked to accept asa tran slation for
n e eof n é lad. l (l.
' The verse o f vo n W olz ogen s translation is the poo rest o f th e e an a e s at a e ur The ran s a o r G rm tt mpt imit tiv m eas es. t l t is o bliged at tim es to appen d foo tn otes explain in g the 6 an s on of ne see . Th e esura sc i his li s ( pp 33, 34, 5 , c
fre u en l no t in evidence cf. n e 1 an d 2 2 o o f is q t y . ( li s 4 , b th which are also metrically in correct) ; th e lines are often
efi en in en . 2 ne 26 . 1 n e 1 . 2 d ci t l gth (p 9, li ; p 3 , li 9 ; p 3 , li ne
A RN OLD ’S E D I TI ON
Be wu f a e e o f th e ei en u w a o l , h roic po m ghth c t ry, ith
T A n M . A rans a on n e and a e n ma . t l ti , ot s , pp dix , by ho s r old,
n n Lon mans een 8: Co . 18 6. . 22 . Lo do g , Gr , 7 pp xliii , 3
n P o se. Fourth English Translati o . r
P Circumstances of ublica tio n.
No editio n o f the text of B eowulf h ad appeared in 1 h r of T o e now wen ea Englan d sin ce t e wo k h rp , t ty y rs
ra . . See sup , p 49 7 2 The Tr anslations of Beowulf
o ld. The e ua r of the er an had mean t xt l c iticism G m s ,
w e ea a an e the n e re a n of th e oem . hil , gr tly dv c d i t rp t tio p ’ re n s e o f the oe had a ed n a e n an d G i t xt p m p ss i to s co d , ’
He n e s n a r ed n . T e e was an O rtun y i to thi d, itio h r ppo ity, erefo e for an ro e n e i n w i o u d th r , imp v d E glish d tio h ch sh l n r ra the resu f e n Th i co po te lts o G rma scholarship . is o T A -1 0 0 editi n M r. homas rnold ( 1823 9 ) undertook to
supply .
Rela tion of the P ar ts .
The In trod u ctio n con tain ed a n ew theory of th e origin 1 f B u he an a f h o the poem . t t import t p rt o t e book was 2 r s . er i r T the text an d t an lation Th e s n o glossa y . h e
n e are at the o o of the a e . ere o ar a ot s b tt m p g H gl ss i l,
e ual and erar n f r a on is u n e o e e . t xt , lit y i o m ti b dl d t g th r T e e is a e n a e ua e l ra in the n u h r v ry i d q t bib iog phy I trod ction .
N a tur e o the T a f r nsla tion .
Th e an a n is a era ro e e n n e u n e tr sl tio lit l p s v rsio , pri t d d r ’ 3 th e e . e e e Kemble s w a e an t xt It r s mbl s ork , r th r th ’ 4 T o e . e ew u n w e un an d a es h rp s It sch s i ldy compo ds , m k r r n o attempt to acqu i e an a chaic flavor . Supplied words e are bracket d .
r tic m o he T t C i is f t ex .
A n o had a e the MS . an d a e the s r ld cc ss to , g v mo t
o o u es r on o f a had et a ea ed. B ut th r gh d c ipti it th t y pp r , ran e en u h e n o t a e h a o f st g ly o gh, did m k it t e b sis his ’ e edition . H speaks of a partial collation o f the MS
eor w c th e au or con n ue to re ar as ar al A th y hi h th ti d g d p ti ly tenable. es on B eowu l ee N ot on on . 1 1 . S f ( L d , p 4 9 Con ras s w t the e on s of e n . 6 . t t thi i h diti H y e See p. 4 8 u ra . . See s p , p 33
s . See upra, p. 49
74 The Translations of Beowulf
fe en e th e of e ne an d n ra es n n e o f re r c to work H y , i corpo t o ’ n n H a er o e re n 1 86 e his eme datio s . e lso ov l ok d G i s 7 t xt, A no d which con tain ed new readings an d a glossary. r l himself did no t emen d the text in a sin gle instan ce .
E XTRACT .
VIII .
H un ferth s a the son of Ec laf who sat at the fee of the as er p ke, g , t m t n The of th e Scyldi gs ; he unboun d the secret coun sel of his malice . e e on of Beowu f the a an ar n er was to a rea cau se xp diti l , v li t m i , him g t of offen ce ; for that h e allowed n ot that an y other m an on the earth should ever appropriate more deeds of fame un der heaven than h e r ou a B wu f who ro Br in a himself. A t th th t eo l st ve again st eca swimm in g-match on the broad sea ? where ye two for emulation ore the wa es an d for foo s oas n en ure our es in expl d v , li h b ti g v t d y liv the ee wa er. N or cou an man e er fr en or foe warn ou d p t ld y , ith i d , y
off fro our er ous a en ur . n e two rowe on the sea m y p il dv t e The y d , w ere w our ar s ou r h o n - rea h ith y m [ tsp ead! ye covered t e cea st m, easure the sea-wa s c urn e u w our an s m d y , h d p [the water! ith y h d , e o er the ee the sea was oss n wa es the ic w n r glid d v d p ; t i g with v , y i t y Ye two o e f r s n r sea. t il d o eve n ights in the watery realm ; he ove came ee in th e a c he had ore s ren en at awn of orn the th m t h, m t gth . Th , d m , sea cas u on the coas of th H atho m as en ce he ear t him p [ t ! e e rea ; th , d in the s of his eo e sou his o n a e so the an of the ight p pl , ght l ved tiv il, l d Bron din s th e fa r safe ur w ere he was th ow r of fo ur g , i b gh h e n e lk, b gh, ’— and rec ous ewe s. Pa es 8. p i j l g 37, 3
Cr iticzsm o the Tr nsla tion f a .
The an a ion is e a an d its a ue is e ef e in tr sl t lit r l, v l th r or e a the a ue of the e w has een dir ct r tio to v l t xt, hich b u s disc s ed above. ’ Botkins s Tr anslation
BO TK INE ’S TRA NSLAT I O N
- Beo wu f E ee An Sa onn e . T a u e en f an a s l , pop glo x r d it r c i , '
u la e ere fo a es le e e o na ar . Bo t po r pr mi is, d pr t xt rigi l p L ’ in e e e de la So éé Na o na e havraise d Etudes k , M mbr ci t ti l 8 8 e e . a e Le elleti r 1 10 . div rs s H vr : p e , 77 . pp.
n T e . First Fre ch ranslation . Pros
O ld E nglish S tudies in Fr a nce. The on ly atten tion that B eowulf had received in Fran ce to e was in the wo r o f San ras De Car min i prior this tim k d , ‘ bus Ca dmon i adiudicatis e o ar if e e o e . Oth r sch l s, th y d v t d e e es En s at all u e e th e ate th ms lv to gli h , st di d chi fly l r 3 e of th e u In 1 86 the au or of the p riods literat re . 7 th ’ a e o n Beowu l in a u e D n a ul sa rticl f L ro ss s ictio ry co d y, ‘ ’ ’ L e n 18 6 Bo e poem n est pas con n u en Fran ce . I 7 tkin e u 3 p blished a historical and critical analysis of th e poem . This was the first scholarly atten tion that the po em ’ e e in a h B kin s rec iv d Fr n ce. In t e following year ot e an a on a ea e tr sl ti pp r d . Fran ce has added n othin g to ou r kn owledge of Beowulf ; er e has ne e een an o e r an a on n or e en a e n th v r b th tr sl ti , v r pri t ’ of Botkin s T e e h n fu e a w e . h r as been o rth r schol rly ork on e o n the e an d th e n e a n o e of d po m ; pri cipal lit r ry tic s it, ’ ’ u as Ta ne an d usseran a e een n o o o u s ch i s J d s, h v b t ri sly u n s a c The en u of E n s e at ymp theti . g i s Old gli h po try is
th e furthest possible remove from th at o f th e Fren ch .
A th l t im of e Tr ans a ion . It will b e m ad e eviden t in the section that follows on the ’ nature o f Botkin e s translation that his work cou ld never
ee nfra . 12 S i , p 3. ' a un of s w r m a be f un Wiilker 3 S ve Michel . An acco t hi o k y o d m
ct lo /n n e Par s erou 18 6. g w o . i , L x, 7 76 The Translatzbns q eonndf
a e een n e n e fo r la . Had een n en e h v b i t d d scho rs it b so i t d d , th an a w u a e e n ere e a e tr sl tor o ld h v r d d mor liter lly. His ‘ i ntrodu ction pro ves that the bo ok was addressed to the n u gen eral reader rather tha th e st den t o f Old E nglish . The I ntroduction deals with the nature o f Old E nglish e an d a es ri a an d a e a s on the po try , m k histo c l critic l r m rk Be u T e re n l n e f ow lf. h re a occasio a otes xplanatory o the e t xt . In his critical work the author is chiefly i ndebted to n e 3 Grein a d H yne .
N a tu re o the Tr an s a tion f l .
The an a n w in r e a a e e as the tr sl tio , hich is p os , is ch r ct riz d , u elf a e e e f ee an d a n a a thor hims dmits, by xtr m r dom occ sio l ’ o mission of wo rds an d phrases. The author s defen ce o f these may b e given here
e cro e o r me scu er en s n an J is d v i di lp , prée t t cette premiére traduction ' ra B eowu f du ou e re roc e ui f ncaise de l , d bl p h q pourrait m etre adressé ' ’ d avoir supprimédes passages dn poéme et de n en avoir pas sumsam é D‘ i ’ men t respect la lettre. abord je dois d re que les passages que j ai ' f on res o it su pprimés (il y en 3. ort pen) son t t bscurs on d nn e snperfln é ’ ’ uan e . nsu e il m a se e u en onnan un e cer aine erté choq t E it , mbl q d t t lib ’ a ma traduction et en évitan t autan t que possible d ymettre les redites ’ t l er ras s de or na a o-sa on e la ren ra s ei eure et e es p iph e l igi l ngl x , j d i m ll ' ' or e al es rit veritab l de l uvre Est-cc sacrifi r du res e plus con f m p e oe . e t ' ’ la fidelitéd un e traduc tion que d épargner nu publi c In lecture de details ’ - le plus souven t bizarres et in in telligibles ? N est il pas plus logique ’ d en fin ir de suite avec des artifices poétiques inconnus a n os litters ’ s rn ln t u d u o r s rimer en a n al s e ro u re ture mode es, p to q e e vo l i esc v i e r p d i ’ ’ en franqais ? Et alors meme qu on poursu ivrait jusqu au bout nne tache ’ n ra e ourra -on at er en fin de co e d a r con r éan si i g t , p it se fl t mpt voi se v ’ ’ m son cac d o inalit ? N — ver poé e het si in discutable rig é on certes . A
‘ ' l n fau as l er ue la an ue fran a se diflérant te l e t p oub i q , l g c i complé
See supra p. 55. 3 See su ra p , p . 63. ' ’ B oah ne s Tran slation 7 7
‘ ’ ' men t par ses mcines de langlo m il ne m a pas étépermis d éluder ’ les diflicultés de l origin al oomme on a pn le faire parfois en an glais et ’ en a m a — o lle n d. N te, p. 4.
It has b een customar in s eakin y , p g of the work of Bo tkin ca l a ten n he n u us e t e o . M . , to l t tio to m ro missions
This is misleading . The passa ges which th e translator has o i e are not the o u e e e the l n re s on m tt d bsc r pisod s or o g dig s i s , b ut th e e a o s the a en et a ase an d e e a m t ph r , p r th ic l phr s, sp ci lly
kenn in gs an d similar appositives. For e a e the na has x mpl , origi l - pér a t hide st6d bringed stefna {si ond fit-me 2 L g . (l. 3 ) which Botkin e ren ders
n la ort se trouvait nne bar i Da s p e q ue bien éqn pée. The prin cipal passages which Botkine omits en tirely are 100 -10 0 8 10 b —10 62 126 -1 6 16 - 1686 2 b a ; 57 ; 3 27 ; 79 .
The author seems to have been well acquai n ted with the
scholarly work done on Beowulf up to his tim e. He men n n N e th n e e a on of e n Gru n dtvi tio s i his ot s e i t rpr t ti s Gr i , g 3 Ettmtiller T o e and e e He a ea to fo w h rp , K mbl pp rs llo ,
in ene al the e t of e ne not we e n a ia . g r , t x H y , , ho v r, i v r bly
EXTRACT .
IX.
’ th fils d Ee laf ui éa ass s aux eds du rince des Hunfer , g , q t it i pi p ’ ‘ n s lex dition de Beowu f le ren lissa it de Scyldi ga , parla ain i ( pé l m ’ ’ c a r n arc u n ou a as con en r u ancun o me efit us h g i , p e q il e v l it p v i q h m pl de gloire que lui-méme) ‘ ’ - N es tu pas le Beowulf qui essaya ses foroes a la nage sur la
su a 22 See su ra . . See pr , p. . p , p 37
u ra . . ce so . See s p , p 49 S 33 ' ‘ O mxts modges O m1ts un er h o Omits d e fen um. 78 The Translation s ( J Beowulf mer men se a ec Breca uan ar ra a e ous a e en téles flats im v q d, p b v d , v v z t ' et que vou s avez follemen t hasardé votre Vie dans l ean profon de ? ’ ’ ucun o m e u ffit ami ou en ne ne ut vous em éch er en re A h m , q il mi , p p d t — pren dre cc triste voyage Vous avez nage alors sur la m er vous ’ ’hi avez su ivi les sen tiers de l ooéan . L ver agitait les vagues Vous se an n u s sou s l u ssan des a s étes restés en détres pend t sept it a p i oe fl t , ’ ’ e r u u i mais il t a va incu dans la jout pa oe q il avait plus de force q e to . Le a n le fiot le o rts sur Heatho-rz mas et il a a s er sa c ére m ti , p ll vi it h e l s d s Bron din as oi1 il ossé a lo u l une e et patri e pay e g , p d it pe p e, vill des réso rs Le 615 de Bean stan accom en tiérem en t la ro ess t . plit p m e ’ ' ’ a qu il t av it faite.
If the an a o n is o a e w the e the rea e tr sl ti c mp r d ith t xt, d r will b e stru ck by th e characteristic beauty o f th e words omitted . We m ay agree with the tran slato r regarding th e ffi u o f en e n un and enn n n o en di c lty r d ri g compo d k i g i t Fr ch , and yet the very absen ce of an attempt to do this j eopardizes the val ue of the tran slation more than th e io n o f an e e fo r n an e u n ea omiss m y pisod s, it bri gs it d g ro sly r ‘ a a a e. V u a e n a é a o sur la mer u to p r phr s o s v z g l rs , vo s ’ ’ a e u les en e de o ean ann b e a e v z s ivi s ti rs l c , c ot possibly c ll d a translatio n o f pa git on sund réon ; ér en or-stréam earm nm ehton p git g b ,
‘ mieton mere straéta un u b ru don , m d m g ,
lido n . l g n ofer gi secg l . 5 12, if.
A part o f the sto ry has been thrown away with the adjec
tives . The fo e an d of h a e are o ne rc beauty t e pass g g . B u e e n t th r is a other dan ger in this paraphrastic m ethod . In n w r and a e th e ran a o often omitti g o ds phr s s , t sl t r will n e et his a T is e a ue of misi t rpr origi n l . his speci lly tr ’ B otkin e s work in th e obscu re episodes where he wishes a e the m ean n e fe ea In a e in to m k i g p r ctly cl r . tt mpt g to f the n s he e a f the o n a simpli y Old E gli h, d p rts rom rigi l
O mns hnes 1 I 5 3 S S s s wmtrys wylum . ‘ CJniits léof his leodguet ’ B othine s Translatron 79 sen e n an s . I st ces of this may be brought forward from the Finn episode Folcwaldan sun u o ra ehw lee en e weor ode d g g y D p , Hen estes héa hrin u w g p g m en ede, - efne swa swine sin c gestréon um fé ttan o es swa he Frésen a c n g ld , y - on ear se e b ldan wo e . 0 b l y ld ll . 1 89
’ The idea is misinterpreted in Botkine s
' Le fils de Folcwalda ( stipu lait qu il) leur ferait chaque jour une s r u on de r ors di t ib ti t és . (p .
A a n at n e 11 1 a of the a g i , li 7 it is s id l dy
cam e on eaxle m ode ides gn o , mean in g that th e l ady stood by the body (shoulder) o f the e as l n o f corps it ay o th e pyre . Botkine makes this
‘ ’ Elle poussait des lamen tations en s appuyan t sur le bras de son ’ ls. fi (p .
The ren e in n ot w u a u n fea u e e d r g is itho t its m si g t r s, chi fly ill ustration s of the in ability o f the French lan guage to a a e e f to a e an ex r n ccommod t its l typic lly G rm ic p essio s . Thus when Hrothgar says what is th e equ ivalent o f ‘ ’ T an b e fo r e e s Bo no u s h ks to God this bl ss d ight, tki p t - i nto his mouth the wo rds : Que le Tou t Puissan t reco ive ’— mes profo nds rem erciments pour cc spectacle l which n m ight have been taken fro m a diplomatic ote.
LUMSD E N ’S T RA NSLATI ON
Be wu f an n Poe an a e n e n o l , Old E glish m , tr sl t d i to Mod r - ‘ R e eu t C o ne . . u en . n o n hym s, by Li ol l H W L msd Lo d
881 . 1 1 an au 81 Cc . 1 . . C. Keg P l , pp xx, 4
’ ’ en rans a ion of th e Ba e of a on M acmillan s Col. Lumsd s t l t ttl M ld ,
M az ine : 1 has een enera ad re . ag , 55 37 , b g lly mi d 80 The Tm n slatibns q eom olf
Beowu f an n P em ansla e n o e rn l , Old E glish o , tr t d i t Mod - R e eu . Co ne . . u en a e Ro a hym s , by Li t lo l H W L msd , l t y l
A e . Se n e n e e an d c e e . o n n rtill ry co d ditio , r vis d orr ct d L do 8 . 18 . . 1 e an Pau T en an d Cc . K g l , r ch , 3 pp xxx, 79
Ba r . Fifth English Transla tio n . llad Measu es
' D sren bet the two E ditions and Indebte s lfi ces wm , dnes to P recedin Schola rs g .
In the first edition o f the tran slation a n u mber o f passages we e e of e e o n s were o w n t r omitted . Som th s missio i g o u e e e e e o s u of the o i na an corr pt t xt, som to xtr m b c rity r gi l , d some merely to the fact that the o riginal was deemed e T n o n we 8 -86 uni nt resti ng. he pri cipal missio s re : 3 ; 767-770 ; 1 724- 1758; 193 1-1963 ; 20 61- 20 62 ; 2214-223 1 ; - - 6 T e 2475 ; 2930 2932 3 150 3 15 . h se passages were e in th e on e n ins rted e s c d ditio .
‘ In this editi on I have endeavoured to rem ove som e of the blunders is e its r ssor o ar s a i which d figur d p edece . S me p t h ve been en t rely r wr n and th asm s for er o e a e itte , e p ge m ly mitt d h ve been in serted . A few n otes have been added ; and the in troduction has been materially ’- r d o r ve . Pr ac to th o n e e an e im o ef e n o . alt d , I h p , p d e Sec d Editi , p v .
’ Lu msden s desire was to prod uce a readable versio n o f ‘ u r f r a the poem . Th s his wo k resembles that o Wacke b rth ; an d i e a er a h e u e an a o n in a a , l k W ck b rth, co ch d his tr sl ti b ll d
ea u e . u en e no t a ea u e b ut re m s r s L msd do s v ry his m s r , p e e h e r u u ne e s rv s t iambic heptameter th o gho t . His li s rim i ou n c plets . No attempt is made to preserve alliteration or archaic
The In trodu ction and Notes con tain popular expositions
o f the work of precedin g scholars . Several o f the No tes
are n a and we wo w e see N e A C . origi l ll rth hil ( ot s , , G , M)
ee S supra. p. 45
The Translations of Beowu lf passages that do n ot eas ily len d themselves to tran slation
cf. n es 1 1 1 2 . A t n e 22 8 u en an a e li , li 5 L msd tr sl t s
The mail that bite of sword ’ O er clashin g shield in fight withstood must follow its dead lord . N ever again shall corselet rin g as help the warriors bear T o ra f o c m des ar.
The Old English from which this passage is taken reads sw lce o ere- ad 310 a t e eb ad ge y se h p , hild g of or a b rmc e irena er b d ge bit , b rosn ad seiter boom e ; n e m a g byraan hring aafter wig-fruman wide fEran
h a ledum be healfe .
The a a e is e a n u e and th e ea n are n o t p ss g c rt i ly obsc r , r di gs all u n o u e b ut the w can n e e b e o u e n o d bt d , ords v r t rt r d i t mean ing what Lumsden tries to make them mean . B ut it wo u ld b e man ifestly un fair to j udge a translation s add re sed to the gen eral reader merely by scholarly tests . The w r u a e a ea as a erar n e n o k m st m k its pp l lit y re d ri g. The propriety of adoptin g a ballad measu re m ay b e question ed . P robably n o measure could b e fo u n d more
un e the n n e . re e eason of lik Old E glish li s Mo ov r, by r its o n a o a n w u e o u a oe n an l g ss ci tio ith p r ly p p l r p try, it co st tly su e o n h r Bu a ll s the o a e an d t e a . t o e a gg st c mm pl c t ivi l b v , it is re min iscent of a medievalism wholly differen t from a of B eowu th t lf. Th e sav in g grace of the ballad measu re is its readable
n e . is ra e effe e in a a e n ot too n fie ss It th r ctiv p ss g s dig i d , a n fo B i e c lli g r action . ut n passag s o f elevation the lin e is foun d wan tin g
e ourne e r n an d c an e r e and uc of e Th y m d th i ki g h t d di g , m h him th y said ;
His wor n ess e ra se an d u e his ee s w en er rea . thi th y p i d, j dg d d d ith t d d d
’ ’ Bu t e a er ar u en an a n had the , lik W ck b th s , L msd s tr sl tio r da e advan tage o f being ea bl . ’ Garn ett s Translation 83
GARNETT ’S T RANSLAT I O N
Be wu f : A n An -Sa on o e an d the at o l glo x P m, Fight
a e e . M . A . Fin nsb u r n a a a ne . g, tr sl t d by J m s M G r tt, , LL . D , 8 Bo o n u e n n ea Co . 1 8 2 . st , p blish d by Gi , H th, ,
10 . pp . xl , 7
S e n on n n ea Co . 1 88 . . co d Editi , Gi , H th, , 5 pp xlvi ,
110 .
T n n n Co . 1 8 2 . Re n ed 1 8 . hird Editio , Gi , 9 pri t 99
. 1 10 . pp liii ,
ou n 1 00 . F rth Editio , 9
n n . a Sixth En glish Tra slatio Imit tive Measu res .
' D ence be een he zfier s tw t E ditions .
In th e secon d edition the tran slation was collated with th e e n -W iilker e t an d w e e e n e e a w the Gr i t x , h r v r c ss ry, ith i A u Zup tz a totypes. Addition s were made to the biblio graphy :
‘ a e re se cer a n assa es w a ew to rea er accurac I h v vi d t i p g ith vi g t y, b ut a e n ot c an e the an of the w r for a wou a e I h v h g d pl o k, th t ld h v ’ necess a e the t -wr n of the w o e ran s a on — Preface to the it t d e iti g h l t l ti . n o seco d editi n .
The r and f u e on are e re r n w thi d o rth diti s simpl p i ts, ith e h some addition s to th bibliograp y.
t n e o u Circums a c s f P blication .
A s has been poin ted o ut above in the section s on l 2 A no and u en n o a sfa era ran a n r ld L msd , s ti ctory lit l t sl tio
of B eowu e e in n s . u e e an A er an lf xist d E gli h F rth rmor , m ic n n e a ear was w a ew to tra slatio had n ev r pp ed . It ith vi presen tin g th e latest German in terpretation s of the po em
1 Se ra . ee su ra . . e sup , p. 7 1 S p , p 79 84 The Translations of Beowulf
a a ne e a e era e n of the oe The th t G r tt pr p r d his lit l v rsio p m . ’ na raf o f the ran n w s S n origi l d t t slatio a made at t. Joh s - — Co e e . in th e e n of 1 8 8 . efa e fir ll g , Md , s ssio 7 79 Pr c to st o editi n .
Texts Used.
’ Th e an a a n r n e f 186 N e tr sl tion is b sed o G ei s t xt o 7 . ot s ’ are a n the ar n f o ne e of 1 8 dded showi g v ia ts rom H y s t xt 79. In the secon d editio n no tes are added showing the varian ts f the e n -W iilker e of 1 88 rom Gr i t xt 3 .
M et/ d o Tr anslat on zo f i .
‘ ’ The tran slation is in ten ded fo r the gen eral reader and ’ h — P efa e e n for t e aid of studen ts of the poem . r c to s co d e on diti . l - - n f Th e translation is a iteral line for line versio . O this featu re of his wo rk Professor Garn ett says
u n rs n d oc as on a o scur This i n volves naturally m ch i ve ion a c i l b ity, an d lacks smoothn ess ; b ut it seemed to me to give the gen eral reader a e er e f e o an a re rose ran s a on wou do in b tt id a o th p em th me p t l ti ld , a on to th a n e o ra n ess h e wou a e een eas dditi e dva tag f lite l . W il it ld h v b y, s of d r r ran s a on to n so e of the by mean periphrasis an f ee t l ti , me d m efec s c ar ea to h n e-f r- n e for h ran s a on wou a e d t h g ble t e li o li m, t e t l ti ld h v ’ c e era n w c r ar as th e os or an o ec . la k d lit l ess, hi h I eg ded m t imp t t bj t th on Preface to e first editi .
N ature of tbe Verse or rn .
In res ec to the r ca for a e en ea ore to reser e p t hythmi l m, I h v d v d p v two accen s to eac a f- n e w caesura an d w e n ot see n t h h l li , ith , hil ki g a era on a e e w e r rea resen llit ti , h v mployed it purposely her ve it dily p ted on s f w r itself. I c idered that it mattered little whether the eet e e iambi or roc ees ana a sts or act s th e reser a on of the two accen s t h , p d yl , p v ti t n the a n o n an fr a use of all the usual cen ces bei g m i p i t, d have eely m de li in ar n s r e To a n s o n a e so e es E ly E gli h ve s . att i thi p i t I h v m tim foun necessar to un e a c wor s n accen e os on s d it y place mph ti d i t d p iti , n d wor s usua accen in n accen w c cen ce can a d lly ted u ted ones, hi h li n r o rn also be fou d in Early En glish ve se. While the reader f mode En glish verse may sometimes b e offen ded by the ruggedness of the ’ Carn ett s Translation 85
r is o e a the n - n s w a e a owan ce hythm, it h p d th t A glo Saxo cholar ill m k ll s for the fficu of re ro uc n n ro a h r of h di lty p d i g, eve app xim tely, t e hythm t e T r o origin al . he epr duction of the sen se as closely as possible had to b e e con s an in ew e en to the e r n of he o n ess f k pt t tly vi , v d t ime t t smo th o ’— the r . Prefa to he rs n hythm ce t fi t editio .
EXTRACT.
I I I . ’ - Hunferth s aun . The sw n a c w Brec t t immi g m t h ith a. o J y in Heorot.
H unferth en s o e the son of E c laf IX th p k , g , 00 Wh o at th e fee sat of the or of the c ldin s 5 t l d S y g , n loose his war secret was the co n of B owu f U d z ( mi g e l , The rou sea-farer to c e r ef p d , him mi kl g i , For that b e gran ted n ot that an y m an else Ever more hon or of this mid-earth 50 5 Should gain un der heaven s than he himself) ‘ Art thou that Beowulf who strove with B reca O n th e roa sea in swi n - a c b d mmi g m t h, When ye two for pride the billows tried An d for vain boastin g in the deep water
10 s e our es. You two n o m an 5 Ri k d y liv , N or fr en n or foe s a i d , might then dis u de ro sorrowfu en ure w en e on h e s a w F m l v t , h y t e s am, en e the sea-wa es w ur ar s o r Wh y v ith yo m c ve ed, easure the sea-wa s s ruc w our an s M d y , t k ith y h d , ’ 515 Glided o er ocean ; with its great billows ’ u w n r o In t w f th w r Welled p i te s fl od . he po er o e ate s Ye se en n s s ro e : he in sw n ee con uere v ight t v immi g th q d, h n h He ad greater might. Then him i t e morn in g ’ O n the Heathoremes an the ocean ore u l d b p, 20 Wh en ce he see his easan o e 5 did k pl t h m , ear to his eo e the an of th e Bron din s D p pl , l d g His fa r s ron c t w ere e h ad eo e i t g i y, h h p pl , his oas a n A city an d rings. All b t gai st thee ’ The son of Bean stan truly fulfilled .
e T an t n Cr iticism of t/z r sla io .
The an s a on in its re e f is u u a tr l ti , vis d orm , thro gho t ’ e n f e or n l The fau of Garn ett s faithfu l v rsio o th igi a text. lt 86 The Translations of Beowu lf tran slation is the fault o f all merely literal translations inadequ acy to ren der fully the con tent of the origina l . The ren er n ma b e w for w r b ut w l n ot b e d i g y ord o d, it i l a f n m en idea for idea. Ex mples o this i adequacy ay b e giv ’ h a ef in n e 0 2 a e from t e printed extr ct . Gri li 5 is v ry n uffi en en e n of e - unca a un ue w w h i s ci t r d ri g f fi , iq ord hic
u e at n e e a n m ortification an d ea o us . s gg sts o c v x tio , , j l y Had the poet simply mean t to express the n otion o f r ie h e w u a e u e sarh cear u o e e g f , o ld h v s d , , or s m oth r ’ n r In ne 0 8 ‘ e a e fu e res co mmo wo d. li 5 prid h rdly giv s ll xp s on to the ea of wlence w n fie not n r ide i id , hich sig i s o ly p ,
' b ut va in n dc o em t end. In ne 1 n uere is p , f p y li 5 7 co q d
' nsuffi en as a an a n of o ee at w ean s i ci t tr sl tio f fi , hich m to
vercome in swimmin to ou tswim . o g, Examples of this sort can b e brou ght forward fro m an y
part of the poe m . At lin e 2544 Garn ett translates
ru es of a e w en warr ors c n en e St ggl b ttl h i o t d d,
a tran slation of
Gfida pon n e hn itan fedan
H ere hn itan fedan refers to the swift clash in battle of two a e a n n w e t rm d hosts , otio hich is ill born ou by th e ’ r u e wa r an d dist ib tiv r iors the vague conten ded . A t lin e 2598 we find
they to wood wen t
b on b ol u o y t b g n ,
’ w w a e e he the ean n of u n u re a hich, h t v r m i g b go , is s ly mis ea n an a n l di g tr sl tio . The n atu re of the verse has been sufficien tly illustrated ’ the u a n f the au o f u by q ot tio s rom th r s pre ace. It wo ld seem from the way in which the measure is used that it was a n of e n u n en u n th e use of ki d s co d tho ght, i cid t po a n e-for- n ran n li li e t slatio . It is hard to read th e lin es as ’ Garn ett s Translation 87
an n b ut e an d if e a eare in an e ythi g pros , , th y pp d y oth r f u n the a e is to b e ue n e w e er an orm po p g , it q stio d h th y on e would have guessed that they were i nten ded to b e at e imit iv .
’ Rece tion o Gar nett Tr nslat p f s a ion .
’ Garn ett s u e h d a r r n The vol m a flatte in g eceptio . book e he r rec ived lon g an d respectful reviews from t Ge man s . Professor Child an d H en ry Sweet expressed their approb a n Th h s ss u f u on T e o a a e e . tio . b ok p d thro gh o r diti s his cordial welcome has been due in large measu re to the in creasin g atten tion given the poem in A merican co lleges n d n B n r er he has a se a s o . e a t co d ry ch ols i g st ictly lit l, book een f e r r n the e b o val u as a mean s of in te p eti g po m .
GRI ON ’S T RANSLAT I ON
B eovulf e a e an a n e del vn e tra , po m pico glos sso s colo, Grion o dal D . Cav. u S dotto e illustrato ott Gi sto , cio r O dinario. e a Rea e A a e a u e e S en e In Atti d ll l cc d mi L cch s di ci z ,
T . u a : Ti o rafia u Lettere ed Arti . omo XXII L cc p g Gi sti, - 8 1 . 1 8 3 . pp . 97 379
n a e ea u e . First Italian Tran slatio . Imit tiv M s r s
e a u a Fu ll discu ssion s of ( 1) Mito ; (2) Storia ; (3) Lett r t r . The latter is a fairly compl ete bibliography of what had e been don e on Beowulf up to this tim . 88 The Translations of Beowulf
’ A u thor s P r elimin ar Remar ks y .
Il poema con siste di 3 183 versi fra cui alcu n i in frammen ti che n oi r o co ar abbiamo ce cat di mplet e sen za alterare lettera del testo. Un a
o reoen te lo ha v so in can e in a s . fitte n e n o a o man di i 43 ti , d tti g ; ti m ' n u ero an c e ne a ers on e ers ch e il Miillen h ofi r u a n r il m h ll v i . I v i ep t i te olati son o s o s in n ee r en ran ue a r u ad or an o p , di p ti li i t ti q lli tt ib ti A p t iix ues a e era n e a ers on e n os r n er neare che se u la di p q t l tt ll v i t a i t li , g e ro d l es o in an era da an en er an c e la s n ass e si h pa la e t t m i m t vi h i t i, c e ’ ’ n sun a aro a d un erso ren a os o in un a ra r a L aren e es p l v p d p t lt ig . e p t si r se n an o n el es o r e ur a un e a r on e quad e g t t i mpit e di l c e . N ll ve si ’— son o ues e se n a e er e ere cors e. Prefa on e . 2 1. q t g t p l tt iv zi , p 5
Texts Used.
The translator makes use of all the texts an d co mmen a e a had a eare u his e an d e en oe t ri s th t pp d p to tim , v g s so far e n he e for e f f as to e t c . n es 6 66 1 10 m d t xt hims l ( li 5, 5 , 7 ,
The N o es are ra er fu T e ar t th ll . h y e so metimes merely
e an a o o e e ere are u on of the M xpl t ry ; s m tim s th disc ssi s S . n of r se e n a n f ea e o t &c. r di gs, p opo d m d tio s, history, my h ,
M ethod o Tr an sla f tion .
The tran slation is literal ; the mediu m an imitative easure o f fou r n al re e ar e m r p i cip st ss s, v i d occasionally by
he e an e n e. he n t xp d d li T dictio is simple.
EXTRACT.
VI II .
Hunferd sse il n a o E claf di , t di , ’ ’ che a e sedea del ren ce de Schildin hi pi di p g , s r o accen con es a ot a la a B b igli ti di t t gli git di eovulf, del cora oso n a a ore o o a fas o ggi vig t , m lt tidi , erc é n on a a a che un a ro uo o p h m v , lt m ’ vieppih di gloria n ell orbe di mezzo avesse sotto il cielo ch e lui stesso Sei tu ue Beovulf che con reca n h q l , B a ot
90 The Translatxbns q eowuy
W ICKBE RG’S TRA NSLAT I O N
Be wu f en fornen elsk h eltedikt ofversatt af Ru f o l , g j , dol W i k r W e t k 1 88 c b e . s ervi k : C . C. . a 8 g , O E bl d omp , 9 8 u e u n . pp . 4 , do bl col m s
r a ea u e . Fi st Swedish Translatio n . Imit tive M s r s
Aim of the Volu me .
The translator begins his i n trod uction with a discussion o f th e importan ce of Beowulf as a historical docu men t . For this reason he is especially interested in the episodes
‘ This importan t historical interest may then explain the reason for rans a h o n w is an d a so ser e as an e cuse fo r t l tin g t e p em i to S ed h, l v x the fact tha t in th e tran slation the poetic form has not been con sidere d ’— of rs or an ce. ln ledn in . fi t imp t g, p 3.
N a tur e of the Tr anslation .
In the tran slation I have en deavored to make the lan guage rea a e an d mo ern ran s a on ou t of an an c en ton ue ou d bl d . A t l ti i t g ght n e er to s r e arc a c a or in o n of wor and r s v t ive aft r h i fl v p i t ds exp e sion s. n ce the oe wro e in th e an ua e of his da the ran s a on o Si p t t l g g y, t l ti ught al so to use con temporary have tried to follow the
or na fa t fu but n ot s a s . For the sa e of c earness he igi l i h lly, l vi hly k l t half-lin es have often been transposed The rhythm is still mo re rre u ar era on has n l i g l than the Old En glish. Allit ti ge era ly been ’ — a o e n l in . . v id d. I edn g, p 6
He e a n 6 The au thor constructs his o wn text. xpl i s (p . ) f his that h e has in gen eral taken the MS . as the basis o He h as e en e a n e an e w text . m d d by m ki g thos ch g s hich ’ ‘ In a e seem ed most n ecessary or most probable. pl c s u f M has een a e he e a e the S. where this d p rt r rom b m d , n n italiciz es th e words of his tra slatio . ’ W ichberg s Translation 91
E A XTR CT . 8 .
E cglafs son Hunferd talade ; Sc ldin afurst n s fotter sa b an Vid y g e tt , — Loste stridsrun an den m odige sjofaranden B eovulfs resa fortrot n m cket ho om y , or b an un n ade e t n a oa an n an m an F ty j, a t g Un der himlen skulle n agon sin vinna Storre ara pa jorden an b an sjelf Ar du den B eovulf som a e si m ed reca , m tt g B I k a simn in f t a h afvet pp g o ver de vid , Der I ofvermodigt profvaden vi gorn a O ch for djerft sk ryt végaden lifvet det u a vattn E n e n a oa man I dj p et ? j ku d g , L uf e er led for a afsta j ll , ma eder tt ran den sor fulla f n e an su en I hafvet F g arde . S d mm i , D er I m ed arm am a fam n aden b afsstrb mmen ,
’ M altten b afsva orn a v n handerna g , s an gde , Gloden bfver hafsytan ; vin tersvallet
’ S od vi rn I n a er j i go a. stralfvaden sju tt hafvets a b an fv rvan n simn in I v ld ; o e dig i g, a e s orre st rk e a mor on tiden H d t y a. S d n vid g B ar b fv a a et upp hon om till de krigiska ramern . D erifran u sokte han d t for de s n a pp , y i , ara o a b ron din arn es an Sitt k d l i g l d, Den fa ra fridsb or en der b an b ade fo g g , lk, B er och t n ar e a s vad m ed g i g . H l itt dig ’ ull orde n o a Bean s ns son F gj g ta .
EARLE ’S TRANSLAT I O N
The Dee of Be wu f an n s of the ds o l , E gli h Epic Eighth Cen u n e n o e n e w an n u n an d t ry, do i t Mod r Pros , ith I trod ctio f ick Rawlin N n Ea M .A r r o n o e r e . e Swa sw t s by j oh l , , cto , - f sonian P rofessor of A n glo Saxon in th e Un iversity ofOx ord .
A th C a en n Pres 1 8 e rua . 20 . t e o 2 . l r d s, 9 (F b ry) pp c, 3
Seventh En glish Translation . Prose. 92 The Translations of Beowulf
Circu msta nces of P ublica tion .
Sixteen years had elapsed sin ce the pu blication of a — ’ 1 scholarly translation in En gland for Lu msden s can ’ hardly b e said to cou n t as such . In the mean time Heyn e s 2 ’ text had passed in to a fifth edition W ulker s ’ revision o f Grein s B ibliothek had appeared with a n ew ’ u i A u e f th e M text of B eowu lf Z p tz a s totyp s o S . h ad a eare 1882 a n e a er a n e a l pp d , m ki g it possibl to sc t i x ct y what was in the o rigin al text o f the poem ; the studies of 3 4 5 6 S e e Cosi n u e an d B u e had een ub i v rs , j , Kl g , gg b p
lished n a n n a e s u s n o f e re s on . , co t i i g m st rly di c sio s t xt vi i Some of these m aterials had been u sed by Garn ett in his
an a on b ut the a of e were of a e a e . tr sl ti , m jority th m l t r d t
A im of the Tr an sla tion .
No thin g is said in th e introdu ction respecting the aim o f the tran slation ; b ut it is evident from the Notes that the purpose was twofold— to presen t the latest interpretation
of the e and aff a era e s n o f the e . t xt, to ord lit ry v r io po m
Texts Used.
This tran slation was origin ally made from the Fourth Edition of ’ or o n e s e . His f on ca e out in 18 8 an d I n M itz H y t xt Fi th Editi m 8 , thi k I have used it en ough to become acquain ted with all the chan ges that
Dr. o f oc a the n ew e or has n ro uce . ere e a e Ad l S i , dit , i t d d Wh th y h v a eare to me to b e ro emen s a e o e ran s a on pp d imp v t , I h v m difi d my t l ti ’— a or n Pref ce. cc di gly. a
B u t the tran slator does n ot depen d slavishly u pon his
text . He frequen tly u ses emendatio n s suggested by the s a en on e a e es e a o e of rofe chol rs m ti d bov , p ci lly th s P ssor
1 9 See su ra . . su ra . . p , p 79 See p , p 64 3 ’ Pau un d raun e s B eitra 'e I 28 Au . 1 l B g , XI , 3 ; g X V, 33. B eitri ’e I 8 A an te h 6 e en in en e en 18 1. ig , VI I , 5 ; g , L id 9 5 ’ B eitra e I 18 I I I 2. jg , X, 7 ; V , 53 ' B eitra e I 1 S tudien icber das B o u se g , X , e w lf pos. 93
‘ SO phus Bugge in S tudien fiber das B eowulfsepos ; see ne 8 1 0 0 26 1 8 2 2 li s 457 . 7 . 9 . 9 . 75 . 75 The In troduction presen ts a n ew theo ry o f the origin o f the oe The n s p m . ote are especially interesting b ecause o f th e large bo dy o f quotati ons cited fo r literary com parison an d fo r the light they throw on Old Germanic an d e e a m di v l customs .
EXTRACT .
vm .
’
( 178 the kin s orator is ealous. H e baits the ou n adventurer t g j y g , and in a sco in s eech dares him to a ni ht-watch or p g p g f Gr endel. B eowu is an er ed and thus he is drawn ou t to boast o his outh e lf g , f y fi l eats f . ’ Unferth a e a s eec Ec laf s son he wh o sate at the f of th m d p h, g ; eet e ’ Sc ldin s or roac e a uarre so e e e— the ven ure of y g l d, b h d q l m th m ad t Beowu f the -sou e o a er was rea es e to ecause h e l high l d v y g g t d pit him, b grudged tha t an y o ther m an should ever in the world achieve more e o s un er ea en an he se f Art ou that Beowu f h e xpl it d h v th him l th l , who s ro e w Breca on o en sea in sw n - a c w ere e t v ith p immi g m t h, h y wain ou t of ra a o e ore th e oo s an d foo ar in ee t b v d xpl d fl d , lh dily d p wa er eo ar e our es ? n or cou an m an fr en or foe urn the t j p d d y liv ld y , i d , t pair of you from the dismal adven ture ! What time ye twain plied in sw m n w ere e wa n co vere w our ar s the awfii l s rea i mi g , h y t i d ith y m t m, . e e the sen -s ree s uffete w an s s o over ocean the ee m t d t t , b d ith h d , h t ; d p
b oiled with wav s a win tr u r e. Ye wa n in the rea of waters e , y s g t i lm ’ oi e a se nni h a n ou e ee ha d rea er forc . t l d ght ; e t swimmi g tvi d th , g t e Then in mornin g hour the swell cast him ashore on the Heath oram eo e w ence he a e for his own a r on ear to his ee s b p pl , h m d p t im y, d L d e a e for the an of Bron in s a fa r s ron o w ere h m d l d the d g , i t gh ld, h e was ' or of fo of c an d o f rin s his oas to ee-war Bean stan l d lk, ity, g . All b t th d, s son o fu r f r an c a e for ee wo so thly lfilled . Whe e o e I ti ip t th rse luck t ou ou wen e r w re ou in a e-s oc s in r w h gh th ve y he d ghty b ttl h k , g im ar ’ ’ u — r w n - n t g ii thou darest bide in G en dels ay a ight lo g space .
A s a w e the la n ma fa b e a e fa fu . hol , trans tio y irly c ll d ith l The emen dation s from which Pro fessor Earle sometim es 94 The Translations of Beowulf
en e are a wa s a efu sen an d th e u n of r d rs l y c r lly cho , disc ssio s obscure lin es in the poem are o f real scholarly in terest . But this is n ot always true of the simpler passages of the f n r n e u w poem . These are o te st ai d to make them sq are ith ’ the an a e n a n on . u at n e 1 2 tr sl tor s p rso l oti s Th s, li 7 3 , Earle reads for
[c b is gid be pé awr aec is a ou ee a have o s a e It b t th th t I t ld thi t l ,
‘ a n in a n e In a a e the n e e ddi g ot , ( this p ss g ) livi g po t st ps f wa out of his r ar an d u rn e e th e or rd H othg , t s his y s to ’ Now prin ce fo r whom he made it up (p. this is n othi ng more than an attempt on the part of the translato r to wring from the Old En glish lin es so me scrap o f proof for the peculiar theo ry that he holds of the origin of the e po m . S a he f en ea n o a s n e w r e an imil rly, o t r ds i t i gl o d mor th it can ea A t ne 1 h e an a e possibly b r. li 37 tr sl t s
H rath ar helm S ldin a g , cy g ,
ro h ar crown of Sc ldin s. H t g , y g
‘ ’ B u t r wn an s e en e n o f e w c o is impo sibl r d ri g h lm , hich 1 ere u e fi u ra e en o e th e ea o f e ti n is h s d g tiv ly to d t id prot c o , n he of he r n or f n rather tha t idea t c ow in g gl y o ki gship. u er in the a e as a e —6 hear d ca ar a F rth , s m p s g , 375 , j (bold - ’ son is w en e n ean n r wn U son . T ese ), r ch d i to m i g g o p h are b ut two examples of what is co mmon throughout the an a on tr sl ti .
Diction .
The archaic style u sed by Professo r Earle can n ot b e e ar e as fe u n e es the n r g d d highly licito s, si c it mix dictio o f various ages . H ere are Old English archaisms like
1 See the ossar es of r n an d a gl i G ei Wy tt . ’ Earle s Translation 95
’ ’ ee and u m c e e are e e on e e ea L ds h i h r xpr ssi s lik sch t, ’ ’ a e a en an e r e a in n - es e p g ( tt d t), mp iz , bomb rd (dr ki g v s l) ‘ ’ ‘ a . e e are su e al e wo as a o n chiv lry H r ch sp ci iz d rds h rp o , ‘ ’ e eren c e - on e and na on e b at b llig t, po k t m y, combi ti s lik ' tailo u s grip ; while throughout th e en tire tran sl ation are ‘ ‘ ’ a e e e n ll u al e e u e sc tt r d mod r co oq i isms lik boss (mast r), t ssl , w - ’ ar tu g. — The reason fo r these an o m alies is eviden t the tran s lato r wishes to imitate the remoteness of the origi nal — style . The style is certainly remote at times almo st as — rem o te from the language o f to day as is th e style of Beowul f f itsel .
a H ' T T J. ALL S RANSLA I O N
Beowu lf an An o -Sa n oe an a e n , gl xo Epic P m , tr sl t d by j oh 8 . ea an d 1 2 M a e sl e al . B n : C. Co . L s i H l osto D H th , 9 ( y
R n e 1 0 0 . . 1 10 . epri t d 9 pp xviii ,
n . a e ea u e Eighth English Tran slatio Imit tiv M s r s .
Presented to the Philo sophical Faculty o f John s Hop kin s Un iversity in can didacy fo r the degree o f Docto r o f os n e e a a e o fes in the Phil ophy by Joh L ssli H ll , l t Pr sor
college o f William an d Mary .
‘ The work is addressed to two classes o f Saxon scholar he [the tran slator! hopes to please by a dherin g faith r fully to the original . The stu den t of En glish lite ature h e aims to n eres in in o ern ar the os anc en e c of ou r i t t by giv g him , m d g b, m t i t pi ’— race. Prefac . e, vii 96 The Translations of Beowu lf
N a tur e o the Tran sla t f ion .
The tran slation is in imitative measures an d in archaic e styl .
The effort has been made to give a decided flavor of ar chaism to wor s n o in e n w h the tran slation . All d t ke pi g ith t e spirit of the poem
a e een a o e . a n ou an arc a c wor s a n h v b v id d Ag i , th gh m y h i d h ve bee use ere are n on e is e e e wh c are n ot foun in d, th , it b li v d, i h d stan dard
modern poetry. ‘ The measure used in the presen t tran slation is believed to be as near a reproduction of th e original as modern E n glish affords The four s resses of the n o- a on erse are re a ne an d as uc t A gl S x v t i d, m h is an d an acrus s is a owe as is con s s en w a re u ar ca en ce thes i ll d i t t ith g l d . Alliteration has been u sed to a large exten t b ut it was thought that ar o ra in e er n e E n d- modern cars would h dly t le te it v y li . rhyme has
n ccas ona n ern a r e s ora ca . bee used o i lly ; i t l hym , p di lly ‘ “ - ” What Gummere calls th e rime giver h as been studiously kept ; - . th e rs accen te s a e in the secon a f erse alwa s carr es viz , fi t d yll bl d h l v y i the alliteration an d the last accen ted syllable alliterates only ra spo dically . N o two accen e s a es a e een rou o t d yll bl h v b b ght t gether, except
occas on al af er a caesura ause . O r sc en cal s ea n i ly t l p , i tifi ly p ki g, ’ Sievers s C type has been avoided as n ot consonan t with the plan of ’— s o . Preface . tran lati n , viii, ix
The e n e-Socin e an d ossar a e een c ose fo w H y t xt gl y h v b l ly llo ed . ccas on a a e a on h as e a n in w O i lly d vi ti be n m de . O ce a hile (the tran slator) has added a conj ecture of his own to the emen dation s ’ uo e fro th cr c s of o er u en b o — P e s s s of t e e . refa q t d m iti i m th t d t p m ce, vii .
The footn otes which con tain the conj ectu ral readin gs are n ere n an d in o n e two ases a ua le a i t sti g, or c v l b ddition s to
f. 1 th e u e e e en a on c . . 10 n e s gg st d m d ti s ( p 5 p 3, ot
’ 98 The Translations of B eown y
Th i f fu b u t t l l The f e ans a n a no e a . c e tr l t o is ith l, it r hi ffe en e for e a e e ween s and the a ns a on di r c , x mpl , b t thi tr l ti by Garnett is that H all makes an attempt to preserve the poetic val ue o f the Old English words . He is n ever satis fied with the diction ary equivalen t o f an Old E n glish ‘ e e s o n . T u in the e t ra en a o e f m xpr s i h s, x ct giv b v , ro ’ vain est vau nting is given as a tran slatio n o f do! ’ ’ a ea e en o e Garn ett s en e n for e . gr t improv m t v r r d ri g , prid ’ S la in and r n is en as a an la o n imi rly, mix g stir i g giv tr s ti of mnnd b a n T e f en ea s the ans mn r gdo . his m thod o t l d tr a o e an e e a too ea a s an e f o th e l tor s m dist c , p rh ps gr t di t c , r m n s The w n ma e e as e a le of Old E gli h . follo i g y s rv x mp s th e heightened color that Hall gives to th e Old En glish
‘ ’ 8 th e n o -w n w s e fie e in ou r fa e for 54 , rth i d hi tl d , rc c s,
’ - l e en a e fo r kilde oi le . 557 . my ob di t bl d , ’ 68 f a - a n ur en fo r bron tne ord: 5 , o m d shi g c r ts, f ‘ 8 w - ea e ue u e 5 7 , ith cold h rt d cr lty tho kill dst thy bro thers! fo r dz?fi n mn ar m ”. to be am: war de. ’ 6 in a i-zo ed 0 6 th e sun its e e ro e for sun ne m n . , th r b s, g ’ 8 8 in the of the nin for on mor en . 3 , mist mor g, g ‘ ’ 1 1 1 A s da was awn n in the u o f the n n 3 , y d i g d sk mor i g, f - ‘ or i r dage.
e a a l P rh ps th ese paraphrastic renderings are wha t Dr. H l efe in w en he sa in his reface e a n th e is r rr g to h ys p , r g rdi g n a u e of th e an a n a o na so e l has een t r tr sl tio , Occ si lly m oss b u a ne b ut o n the o er an a a n has e e and s st i d ; , th h d, g i h r ’ e e een th r b made. As for the a ai a we en for o e who rch sm , th t is ll ough th s
ke . n eve so s an e as a o f ar e o r the li it It is r tr g th t E l ,
a e o u on of a o i . But not e e m rv l s dicti Willi m M rr s it is , th r ’ L H a ll s Translati f . . on 99 f e i n fie o r ea H . ow u n an d ar a or , d g i d cl r m ch dig ity cl ity tran slator has a right to in trod u ce i nto his ren deri ng is a a e o f m tt r opin ion . Mr. H all was quite con scious o f what he was n an d u e re a e his on as we l doi g, do btl ss g rd d dicti l u e on e the r inal B u f r s it d to c v y o ig eo w l spi it . The chief criticism o f the ve rse is that it is often n ot ve a l rse t a l. Many passages are indistin guishable fro m e pros . This is a stricture that cann ot b e passed o n the
n l s nor o n th e e e n a n o f . Old E g i h , b st mod r imit tio s it
The atheling of Geatm en uttered these words and — ero c asten Pa e 1 n e 1 . H i did h g 5 , li 9 ‘ In war neath the water the work with great pain$ I — erfor ed a e n e 6. P m P g 57 , li Gave me willin gly to see on the wall a - — ea old an swor . P e ne i t H vy h d d ag 57 , li . The man was so dear that he failed to suppress the - m o on s a o e . Pa 6 ne . E ti th t m v d him ge 4 , li 59
There might b e an excuse for som e o f this freedom in an e e b ut in ea u e a e o f the n is bl k v rs , m s r s imit tiv Old E gl h it t a er s a a a se at he end o f is u tterly o u o f pl c e . Th e i lways p u t n in - e n o n T e e a li e Old En glish ; ru n on lin es ar u co mm . h r is n ot an ex am ple in Beowulf of an en din g so light as
‘ ’ the o r a in the verses quoted above .
H OFFMAN N 'S TRA NSLATI ON
l est e e en e . Aus dem Beowulf. A e t es deutsch s H ld g dicht '
n si hen b e t a von P . Hoflman n u a . A gelsach sc fi r r gen . Z llich u
Ver a von erm . e 1 8 . iii 1 8 . l g H Li bich ( 93 pp , 3 * A e an n o er e 1 0 0 we e u a S a . Z it sg b , H v , ch p r, 9
e u en ea u e . Sixth German Translation . Nib l ng M s r s G 2 10 0 The Translations of Beowulf
The Tr an sla tor .
In M iner va ff an n e e as 0 rd. Pro P . Ho m is r cord d fessor o f Philosophy an d Pedagogy at Gen t .
Aim of the Volu me.
The tran slator desired to presen t a ren dering o f the
oe ou a the n e a ea e He e a e p m that sh ld ttract ge r l r d r. r g rd d ’ 1 Sim ro ck s e on as too e a an d arc a the er n v rsi lit r l h ic , v sio 2 of von W olz o n as n ot uffi en ea an d eau fu ge s ci tly cl r b ti l , an d th e versio n o f H eyn e as n ot su fficien tly varied in 3 fo r Vo wo . He e ar the B eowul as o f ea m ( r rt, i) r g ds f gr t impo rtan ce in in spiri n g patriotism— he always calls th e — poem German an d even o ffers a comparison of B eowu lf w r o ar of ith Empero William I . With the sch l ship his s he u ubject t a thor hardly seems con cern ed .
Text and Relation o P r t , f a s .
’ 4 The an s a n is fou n e on re n f 186 tr l tio d d G i s text o 7 . In a on to the an s a on the o u e on a n dditi tr l ti , v l m c t i s a e on the of the e n the e an rticl s history t xt , origi , G rm ic e o- a e th e e es the e e a u e of th e oe h r t l s, pisod , sth tic v l p m . These are decidedly su bordinate in in terest to the trans lation .
N tu a r e of the Tr an slation .
The an a n is in the so- a e N e u n en e tr sl tio c ll d ib l g m asu res . A c a s an d u nna u a ou n are a e r h i ms t r l comp ds void d . The Fin n sb u rg fragment is in serted in the text at lin e
10 68 . o f the o u e . The e e is fu n e , p 44 v l m pisod r ish d with a e n n n and en n r n a w o ff an n b gi i g di g o igi l ith H m .
1 2 See su ra . . See su ra . p , p 59 p , p 68. 4 su ra . 6 . See su ra . See p , p 3 p , p 56.
102 The Translations of Beowulf n ever been m ade ; b ut that a German tran slator shou ld ign ore the version of Grein is a revelation in deed . Even though a translato r m ay not care to embody in w an n ew n e eta on n e e e e his ork y i t rpr ti s, it is v rth l ss his d uty to base his tran slation o n the best text that h e can fin d Bu a en ff an n had n e e ear of th e . t app r tly Ho m v r h d e n e e n of the e n or of the e n -Wiilker H y ditio s t xt, Gr i ’ B ibliothek He a e his an a n on e n e of . b s s tr sl tio Gr i s t xt 1 86 H n r ffi n eco m 7 . e eviden tly co side ed it a su cie t r m en da n of wo k to as a e w h the na e o f re n n ot tio his r soci t it it m G i , troubling himself to discover what advan ce had been made u n th f a la po e work o th t scho r. Examples of an tiquated ren derings may b e bro ught
n Wi o Ruhm e ha n . 1 e I e e st te . P , li , gr ss 2 ne 1 So mit a en we en im Vaterhause , li , soll G b rb
schon . 21 ne 1 see ra Vo m n e u r e e en , li 5 ( Ext ct), Wi t rst m g tri b auf die e en s hau m en Hoch W ll c t .
8 n e Mothr tho . 4, li 3, y
Petty in accuracies due to the nature of the translation
a so a ea . A n e a e of seen on a e at the l pp r x mpl this is p g 3 , open in g of the first can to
Ueber B urg und Mannen n un herrschte man ches Jahr B e6wulf r n W i n war de Schildi g. e hold dem Ko ig Sein Volk ! in allen Lan den sein en Ruhm man pries Als an s n s n a r v n r n e l ge cho ei V te o diese Erde Lebe li ss.
1 The tran slation resembles the work of Lu msden an d 2 Wackerbarth in affordin g a version of the tale easily e a e A nd h r ad bl . t e same criticism may b e passed on th e w of ff an n a was a se on h o E n n ork Ho m th t p s d t e tw glishme .
3 Se . . e p 79 See p. 45. ' ’ Hqflma n n s Transla tion 103
Th e style an d mediu m chosen are n ot well fitted to ren der th e s ir o f th e oe Th N lun l i a o e f p it p m . e ibe gen ied s p m o the e f late tw l th cen tu ry . The B eowulf at latest belongs to the e . To c oo e for the an s a o n of Beowul ighth h s tr l ti f , e efo e a e u surc a e w e n en of a i e th r r , m di m h rg d ith r mi isc ce t m ,
’ a e an d s e u e difie ren t fr o e of the o n a pl c , tyl q it om th s rigi l is a ere certa in ly an error . It m y fin d an audience wh an other an d more faithfu l ren derin g wo u ld fail ; b ut it will n e er n e v wi th esteem of scholars . In his in trod uction ’ H o ffman n calls atten tion to the lack o f variety in blan k e e b u t su e es n o t a e the n o n n e en v rs , r ly it do h v mo ot y i h r t in r a ecurri ng rime an d stro phe . A a n r e and o e fo e u n the au th e u se g i , im str ph rc po thor of words an d phrases n ee ded to pad o ut the verse o r s a A n n u e fa t a the tan z . tte tio m st also be ca ll ed to th ct h t o rigin al seldo m a ffo rds a natural pause at the exact min t he e of deman ded by th e use o f a strophic fo rm . See t clos the f ow n an a in the E a : IV V . O ne oll i g st z s xtr ct I , III , , effect of the forced pause is that there is confusion in the use o f enn n s w f en a e to u as u e in k i g , hich o t h v do d ty s bj ct n e s an n c i n a o t za a d as obje t n an o ther sta z . Co o n a e e re ns n en e a s u o n the mm pl c xp ssio , i cid t p rh p p
use o f th e easu re are n o t u n fre u en . T u m , q t h s Gesagt ! gethan ! tran slates 0n d pe t gezefn don swa (line
Traces o f this are also fo un d in th e extract see begin n ing o f a a n a l st st z . ' ’ In on c u s n m a b e a a Ho fiman n s e n c l io , it y s id th t v rsio ar an a an e in o ne wa n ea a ene an d m ks dv c y o ly, r d bl ss ; ’ in th is a u e o r to He ne s rende n w it is h rdly s p ri y ri g, hich h f a has t e advantage o schol rship . 10 4
MORRI S AN D W Y ATT’ S TRANSLAT I O N
Colophon : Here en deth the sto ry of Beowulf don e o u t
A . of the old English ton gu e by William Morris an d J . a an d n e a a or at the e o Wy tt , pri t d by s id Willi m M ris K lmsc tt ess U erm all a e in th e ou n of e Pr , pp , H mm rsmith , c ty Middl
sex an d fin e o n the en da of an ua 1 8 . , ish d t th y J ry, 95 a e 1 1 L rg pp . vi , 9. o n e 0 0 e on a e an d Troy type . Editi limit d to 3 copi s p p r e ight on vellu m . e n e o n Th e Ta e of Be wu f S e e n o f S co d diti . l o l , om tim Ki g th e of the e e ea an a e a o r Folk W d r G ts, tr sl t d by Willi m M r is N e : Lon man s an d A . . a . o n n an d w o J Wy tt L do Y rk g , 8 een 81 Co . 1 . . 1 1. Gr , , 95 pp x, 9
N n n T an a n a e ea u e . i th E glish r sl tio . Imit tiv M s r s
' Diflerences between the Fir st an d S econd E ditions .
I h e n e n a e- a e a The u n n n n t e s co d ditio titl p g is dded . r i g o en a n e in u r on the ar n of the fi s c mm t ry, pri t d r b ic m gi r t
e n is ed. ditio , omitt
Text Used.
’ The an a n is in en e a n f e to a tr sl tio , g r l , co orm d Wy tt s e of 1 8 e a n f o in o n a few un an t xt 94, d p rti g r m it ly import t l detai s .
P ar t Taheu in the Wor k by M or r is and Wyatt
r espectively.
Th e matter is fortun ately made perfectly clear in Mac ’ L e o W l M l m i . 8 a i ia r r s . o . 2 k il s if f , vol ii p 4
orr s was n ot an n o- a on sc o ar an d to e in (M i ) A gl S x h l , h lp him fol ow n the or n a he u s th e aid o a r r n n l i g igi l, ed f p ose t a slatio made ’ for Mr. . . a of C r s s Co e e Ca r e w him by A J Wy tt, h i t ll g , mb idg , ith w o he had a so r rou th r T n f n h m l ead th gh e o igin al. he pla o their joi t
10 6 The Translatzb ns q eowulf
e . o u e a o f n . t e th a a e a g , s gg st rch ic fl vor Hom r by dopti g a diction that bore the same relation to modern English that the language o f Homer bo re to that o f the age of
Pericles . The ar chaism of the En glish would represen t the s of th ee T i he u e in archai m e Gr k . h s method s d en e n Ve an d o e r d ri g rgil H m r. B ut w en he a a e the an a on of B eowu h e h ppro ch d tr sl ti lf, s n f n e w wa co ron ted by a w problem . It as eviden t that fifteen th-cen tu ry En glish was ill-adapted to co nvey a ny - r j ust n otio n of eighth cen tury English . B eowulf equired o n e an a o f S T o as a o C au er a dicti old r th th t ir h m M l ry or h c . en e e a e ne e a to s ar the e r a o e e H c it b c m c ss ry di c d th o y lt g th r, or else to prod uce ano ther style which sho u ld in some true
sen se he imitative of B eowu lf. This latter Mo rris tri ed to accomplish by in creasing the archaism o f his style by every f means in his power . This eatu re is disc ussed in the follow i o ng secti n .
The translation o f Beowulf is written in extremely a a a ua e An a e ea u e of fo u n a rch ic l n g g . imit tiv m s r r pri cip l W e b n e e u e . e e o e the str ss s is s d h r v r p ssi l , Old E glish syn ta x has been preserved (see lin e the wo rd r e r o f th e n a ta ne Th e a a an u a e o d origi l is re i d . rch ic l g g is In the fi wrought o f several differe nt kinds o f words . rst ‘ ’ ‘ ’ a e ere is the e a e a a u as ic e pl c , th l gitim t rch ism , s ch m kl , ‘ ’ ‘ ’ u a n e e are fo w are o e o el b rg, b ir th r rms hich . m r cl s y a a e w the an a o n of n su as ssoci t d ith tr sl ti Old E glish, ch ’ ’ e- a n - e T ere are e n wo s u se middl g rth, ri g st m . h mod r rd d w the s n fi a on u as n in the en e o f ith old ig i c ti , s ch ki dly ( s s ‘ ’ ‘ the same won war (in the sen se wage ’ ‘ f e in the sen e eat n a e e are fo w r t ( s Fi lly, th r rms hich ‘ are literally translated fro m Old English : the sight seen ’ ’ ‘ nc e n f o ans u face 2 1 ea an f o arsee o o ly r m y , , 5 sp rm r m g g, ’ cean see e a t if - a f -scea tt f of n e o ( xtr c ), g t sc t rom gif , gi t mo y , ' 11m an d "30 11 s Trun slatrb n 10 7
’ ’ 8 h Mak er o wn m ak in fro m M -scea t o 3 7 t e s g m f , d om ,
1 1 wo s r e xc u e w en ever ss e . 80 . Ro man ce rd a e l d d h po ibl A glosm ry o f so m e wo rds n ot com m only u sed n ow is inc u e in th e o ok b u t n on e of the w rd ci e a e l d d b , o s t d bov , ’ save ur is fo un in . b g, d it
Exm c r .
- ‘ x w rm s wrrn Beow u . r corn an n a n 1. u IX. U n o
a e out t en Un ferth at haim was of E c laf Sp k h th g , of ldin An d he sat at the feet of the lo rd the Scy gs,
b attle run e was Beowulf s farin He un M d the ; g,
’ Whereas he b egm dgd it of an y man oth er That h e glories more m ighty the middle-gar th over Should ho ld un der hea ven than h e himself held Art th ou that Beown lf who wo n strife with Breca
the wi e sea con en din in sw n O n d t g immi g, ’ ’ Wh en ye two for pride s sa ke search d out the floods ’ An d for a dolt s cry in to deep wa ter Thmst o our life~ da s ? N o man the wa n of o 10 b th y y t i y u, 5 f or ot were h e mi la w te to s a u Lie l h , ght y y t y yo ’ our sorrowfu ourn e w en on th e sea t ow e Y l j y, h d y ; ’ en w en th e ocean -s rea e w our arms deck d Th h t m y ith y , ’ Me e th e mere stree s t ere our h an s b ran dish d ! t d t , h y d ’ ’ r h m n e l e th w wa welter d O e t e Spw a y g id d ; e sea ith ves , ’ Y a n w The surge of the win ter . e tw i in th e aves might ’ For a se en n i s swink d. He o in sw m n v ght u tdid thee i mi g, An d the more was his might ; b ut him in the m om -tide ’ To the Heatho- e es an th e o o as or R m l d h lm b re h e, An d en ce awa sou he to his ear an an d o e 20 th y ght d l d l v ly, 5 The l ef to his eo e sou the an of th e Bron din s i p pl ght l d g , Th e fa r ur eace-war n w ere he the fol own ed i b g p di g, h k , The ur an d the o r n a to th eeward h oas b g g ld i gs. Wh t e b ted, ’ Bean stan s son for ee soot h e rou a ou , th hly b ght it b t.
The - a ans a on is o ou a u a e Morris Wy tt tr l ti th r ghly cc r t , an d so eak an ofiicial en a on the e is, to sp , comm t ry t xt 10 8 The Translations of Beowu lf
’ r f e f n h o f Wyatt s edition . It is the e or o importa ce to t e u en of he B eowu st d t t lf. e a n e n the an a n a n n A s a lit r ry re d ri g tr sl tio is dis ppoi ti g . In th e fir a e u be fran a we a the o n st pl c , it m st kly vo d th t dicti is frequently so stran ge that it s eems to modern readers we -n u u T e e are e a n en en ces w ll igh ridic lo s . h r c rt i s t hich r a r can not b u t evoke a smil e . Su ch a e : (he) Spo ke wo d ’ ‘ a wa ne 1 e a in Scan e ea o ut the b ck rd , li 3 5 ; th m th t y d lt ’ 1686 a n e . sc t, li
Se n the an a on u n ea a e . T ere is an co dly, tr sl ti is r d bl h n of a n e e a e of the e e e avala che rchaisms . O x mpl xtr m obscu rity may b e given
’ en ra e was b eroom d as the r c one was n Th th , i h biddi g, ’ a-foo n th r w n war For the guests t goi g e floo all ithi d. — 76.
’ ’ wo u ee a th e u en of a e b eroo m ed and It ld s m th t b rd r th , , ’ w n war we e uffi en for an en en e to a b u t ithi d, r s ci t y s t c c rry, we are l eft to discover fo r o u rselves that rich on e does ’ n ot ean one b ut ru er a the is n ot a o m rich , l , th t floor flo r b ut a a an d a th e ue are n ot ue b ut th e h ll, th t g sts g sts, ’ ruler s o wn men . Morris himself was con sciou s of the obscu rity of th e wo rk
For the lan guage of his version Morris on ce felt it n ecessary to a e an a o o . ce a few wor s he a h w m k p l gy Ex pt d , s id, t e ords u sed in it were such as he would n ot hesitate to use in an origin al poem of his own . He n ot add owe er a e r eff c if s did , h v , th t th i e t, lipped sparin gly in amid his own pelluc id con struction an d facile n arrative e o wou b e er fferen fro e r m th d, ld v y di t m th i habitual use in a tran sla on As th e wor a an ce he seems to a e fe s ti k dv d, h v lt thi himself, ’ ’ an d h is easure in th o n f — M - e o fe off. ackail s L e . 28 pl d i g it ll if , ii 4 5 .
n a h s n t e e o oe n ot tr anslate. r Fi lly, v r i d s Wo ds like
S ear an for O cean an d o n a n e he s p m , c mbi tio s lik t ight ’ een on e n for the ace can b e u n er oo o n s c o ly f , d st d ly by the n a e u en o f O ld En e r an d ere i tim t st d t glish po t y, th is n o reason why such a person shou ld n ot peruse Beowulf in
1 10 The Translations of Beowu lf
e en a e en V e os Geschieden is t ea as H ld s g olks p , , My hos , G t , N ation aliteit van den Beo wu f Ti d van V oltoo iin Het l , j g, an s f De V ersb ou w s e S In n erli k e Ge H d chri t, , Epi ch tijl , j schiedn is na o n . Expla t ry a d critical co mmen t is given in the fo o n e and e ua r s in the N es at the t ot s , t xt l c itici m ot en d o f the o u e v l m .
Te e xt Us d.
‘ I have followed the text of Socin where I have preferred to give an other readin g I have justified my proceedin g in the Notes ’— at the n d of th w . Een or e e ork Wo d Vooraf.
N atur e of the Tr ansla tion .
i r n n It s a lite al tra slatio in iambic pen tameter .
O f th e ran s a on n o n in art cu ar n ee s to b e sa a e t l ti thi g p i l d id . I h v ’— fo owe or n a as close as oss e . Een oor oor f ll d my igi l ly p ibl W d V a .
He a s a s was n o ea a as u e n o t dd th t thi sy t sk, D tch do s affo the sa e ar e of e as th e n s rd m v i ty simil Old E gli h. A page is then given to the discussion of th e n atu re of He firs e his ea n f r f r n his verse. t giv s r so s o pre er i g iambic ’ en a e e the Rein artsvers w e n p t m t r to , hich som might thi k
best to use .
oreo er the a c en a e er en s se f we to s on n o M v , i mbi p t m t l d it l ll divi i i t em s c s the r n c a c arac er s c of the an c en e c versifica h i ti h , p i ip l h t i ti i t pi ’— n E n oor Vooraf. tio . e W d
H e has of en efe e the e a e a o n aa bb t pr rr d simpl llit r ti ( , ) to 2 the Old English system
EXTRACT .
IX .
En Hun ferd z eide oen de oon van Ec laf t , z g , D ie aan die oe en z at des Sch ldin vorst n v t y g e , Het k am eheim on tkeetn en d : eowu fs aan o s pg (B l k m t,
1 ’ f e on of He n e s ex 1888. Fi th diti y t t, 2 s o n on s s ea s as if ab ab were the co on At thi p i t Sim p k , , mm f n o a era on i n s w ereas is ra er un co on . llit ti Old E gli h, h it th mm ’ S imons s Tran slation 1 1 1
Des oen n ol va r af h em r n t k e g f a t g g ooten aa stoo , O rndat hij geen sz ins aan een ander gunde Der an nen meerder roe o aar te ra en m , m p d p ,
Ben eén de wolloen dan h em was ewor en . , g d ) ‘ Zi t die Beowu f die m et Brecca aan b on d j gij l , ’ Den wedstri d o de wi de t ee i t z n j p j , n wemme Met dezen streven o rs oen ou e en d t, t b d gij b id N avorsch tet in den vloed en gij n it grootspraak Uw leven waagdet in het diepe water ? een stervlin was in s aa n oc vriend n oc vi an d G g t t, h h j , D e k looz e u t roe e reis af e raden . Toen braakt gij beiden roeien d door de baren En eh u on er u wen arm de dein n d t t d i g, Gi meat de zeebahn z waaien d m de an en j , et h d , Door l dt de waterwielin sc o on met lven g ee g, h go D il w ran n e k 0 pklotste bij des i n ters b di g. O p deze wijze wurmdet gij te gader ’ We! s en c en in i r ev na ht t bez t de zeeén . Doc h gene ging in vaart u ver te boven ; m c D s wde Hij h ad toch eerder ma ht. e trooming stu Hem met den o en b een ten H adoraem m rg e en , Van waar weder vond de volks evierde hij , g , Het e e stamb edt het lan der Bron din li v , d gs, De schoone scb atb ur waar wa enlieden g, hij p En oe en u becat De oon van Bean s an g d go d . z t ’ e u Hi ld tegen geheel z ijn woord in waarheid.
Cr itici sm of the Tr an sla tion .
The ran a n see aim e at a u ra w t sl tio ms to chi fly cc cy, hich a ccoun ts fo r the rather large n u mber o f n otes con tai nin g e n The r adi gs suggested by various commentators. trans lator u ses freely compou nds an d metapho rs similar to those h T e in t e origi nal text . his se ms occasio nally to militate a a n cl s o he wo r fu th e eam es f t . T u o u g i st k h s , it is d bt l whethe r kampgeh eim o ntkeetn end of the extract co nveys to the modern Dutch reader any n otion similar to that of the n s beadu -r unen on band Old E gli h . The presen t writer is u n able to offer any literary criticism o f th e an a n tr sl tio . 1 12 The Translations of Beowu lf
STE INECK’S TRA NSLATI O N
A en e un en Be wu f E ene u . a . in lt glisch Dicht g ( o l , l , ) w r e eue Ueb ersetz un von Steineck . e o tg tr r g H . L ipzig, 1 8 8 R R l — . . eis an d. Be u f 1 10 2. w . 9 , O o l , pp
Se en an n . n f v th Germ Translatio Li e o r lin e .
A im o the Volu me and N a ture o the Trans tion . f , f la
‘ Die vorliegen de Uebersetzung ist aus dem Bediirfn is einer wort reu r D w get en Wiedergabe altenglische enkmiiler en tstan den . S o eit es der nn u ess ist das es re en a n e an en fur e es Si z li , B t b d hi g g g , j d a en or das e m o o c en s r c en e n eu oc eu sc e lt glische W t ty l gis h t p e h d h hd t h ,
wen n or an en e n u n . o ist i tz un u e c in v h d , i z setze S d e Ueberse g z gl i h e ’— s rac esc c c es er orwor . p hg hi htli h W k. V t
Text Used.
’ 1 The tran slation is based on Heyn e s text of 1863
V rw . a en r a ar ( o ort) Fr gm ta y pass ges e n ot restored .
EXTRACT.
IX.
0 0 Hunferd s rac des Ec laf o n 5 p h, g S h , Welcher z u Fiissen sass des H erren der Scyldin ge ; Er s e der re er Geheimn iss— war eowu fs a r lo t St it ihm B l F h t, Des u en M r ahrers z u rosse eid m tig ee f , g m N , e er n c oun e ass r en ein an erer W il i ht g t , d i g d d Jemals n un mehr Ruhmesthaten Un ter dem Himmel der Erde erwarb als er selbst B s du Beowu f der du reca kam ftest i t l , mit B p Auf we er See in e n e sc w en it i em W tt h imm , D ort durchforschtet ihr beide aus Stolz die Fluten Un d wagtet aus verwegen er Ru hmsucht im tiefen Wasser 10 uer e en ? uc e en on n e e ner 5 E L b E h b id k t k i , r reun d noc e n orw rf n Wede F h F i d, v e e
1 See su ra 6 p , p . 4.
1 14 The Translations of Beowulf au thor is apparen tly un able to tran sliterate properly the n s n a e T u he has V ealh eon an d V ealh eo Old E gli h m s. h s p p for W ealhtheow Ec eo w Halbdaen e for Healfdene ( ), gp , ( ), E rm r h & . ana ic , c
In his a e u e an e o a u en tt mpt to prod c tymol gic l doc m t , the tran slato r u ses man y co mpounds su ch as even the German lan guage might b e bett er withou t ; such are Si enschar sib b e edriht 0 Schattenwan dler sceadu pp ( g ), 73 ( en a 0 W an en olster hléo r- e 68 e g g ), 7 4 ; g p ( bolst r), 9 ; L ib - aln z er lic s rce 0 . A s ou n s ese ma n ot b e p ( y ), 55 comp d th y o ffen sive to a German ; b u t the trouble with them is that n ea they do n ot tran slate the Old E glish id s. na m a b e a e wh a an s a n a a ea Fi lly, it y sk d y tr l tio th t pp ls o n s a ra r en er n o u n o t b e e a ly a lite l d i g sh ld strictly lit r l , n o n its e e ar a on f o the n a a n ti g v ry v i ti r m origi l , it licizi g - u e w r s n to the or n a w r or e . s ppli d o d , holdi g igi l o d d r ’ Stein eck s tran slatio n did n ot advan ce the in terpreta f f r th e tion o B eowu lf a whit . In poin t o accu acy book is n ot worthy to stan d with good tran slations thirty years old .
’
R . H T T J . . C ALL S RANSLA I O N
Be wu f an d the at in n sb u r a an a n n o l , Fight F g, tr sl tio i to o ern En s rose w an n r u on an d No e m d gli h p , ith I t od cti t s, by
l M . Ph . R r A . D n . C a a . we e u ra Joh l k H l , , With t lv ill st 1 on . on o n : Swan S on n en e n an d n C a . ti s L d sch i omp y, Lim ,
1 0 1 . 0 9 . pp xlv, 2 3 .
l T n n r se. Ten th Eng ish ra slatio . P o
1 Chiefl f n o- a n u s y o A gl S xo an tiq itie . ’
R. H s Tr t 11 j . C. all ansla ion 5
th Hitherto Dr . Hall had been chiefly known to e learn ed world for his exce llen t A nglo-S aran Dictionary
Up to this time n o prose tran slation had appeared in ’ 1 n an s n e 18 6 a e ar e w for the e e enta E gl d i c 7 , s v E l s , hich l m ry
u en was a ti a l u ele . o e e s rans a i n st d t pr c c l y s ss M r ov r, thi t l t o was the first to embody the resu lts of various studies on th e poem during th e past decade
Un e the e e n wo s o n Beowu ma b e a lik pr c di g rk lf, it y s id that the in trodu cto ry an d illustrative m atter in this book l n The is o f qu ite as m u ch importan ce as the tran s atio .
‘ Th e followin g pages compri se a short statemen t of what is actually known with respect to the poem of B eowulf; another statemen t of what seems to me most likely to be true am on gst the almost inn umer a le a ers of con ec ure con cernin an d a fe w wor s of i erar b m tt j t g it, d l t y ’ - a recia on n ro uc on . pp ti . I t d ti , p ix.
Statements similar to these have been put forth by other an a of the oe b ut th e a e a o f e o u e tr sl tors p m , m t ri l th ir v l m n u he u s o f h e oe has ot always born e them o t. T st die t p m in th e In trod u ction are suflicien t for a school edition o f Beowulf — a similar body o f in formation is n ot foun d in — any o f the existin g editions whil e an notation s o f some impo rtan ce to the elemen tary student are fo und in th e The n e an d unnin en . n ain e e ot s r g comm t book co t s, b sid the an a n a u n o f the fo an ua e eo tr sl tio , disc ssio rm , l g g , g a a a us n a e and n of the e as gr phic l ll io s, d t , compositio po m , ‘1 we l as a u efu u na u a e a l s l, tho gh i cc r t , bibliogr phy
omin g re view of the book in the j ourn al of Germanic 1 16 The Translations of Beowu lf
Text Used.
The an a on fou n e on the e o f A . a t tr sl ti is d d t xt . J Wy t ,
Ca e 18 . Dr. a o es n ot a wa f w th e mbridg , 94 H ll d l ys ollo ’ n er e a i ns en in a o sar n or th e i t pr t t o giv Wy tt s gl s y, is pu n ctuation o f the tran slation con fo rmed to that o f th e
Old English text .
ed n l Indebt ness to P r ecedi g Scho ar s .
b e In his tran slatio n Dr. Hall see ms to e most in d bted to l the w o f ofess ar e see nes 1 1 8 2 8 0 ork Pr or E l ( li 4 , 7 , 5 7 , 5 , 7 , 26 6 1 2 1 1 0 20 2 1 0 9 , 99 , 3, 5 7 , , 3 34, e uen eferen e al o a e the w of Cosr n Fr q t r c is s m d to ork j , Aan teeken ingen op den Beowulf The work o f e la u as Bu e e n e Socin is a o oth r scho rs, s ch gg , H y , , ls referred to .
u i N at r e of t le Tr anslation .
The an a on a e a e e s n is n an tr sl ti is lit r l pros v r io . It co st tly n e u e s o f un n n en e ne to o e i t rr pt d by bit r i g comm t , d sig d v r e the n e en u of the e aff an com i h r t obsc rity po m , or to ord elaborate digest of the story if read withou t the tran slatio n (9 7 Th e en e n a r d ri g voids archaisms . ’ Bugge s resto ration is used at li ne 3 1 50 ; the passage at lin e 22 15 is not restored .
A EXTR CT .
VIII .
' UNFERTH TA NTS BEOW LF. B EOW LFS CO NTEST wrrn Bas es U U U . (Lin es 499
N ow comes a arr in n ote. Un ertlz a (499 j g f , Danish courtier , devou red b ealous a d a u n e l is y j y , n t ts B owu f .
en Unferth the son of Ec laf who sat at the f of the or f Th , g , eet l d o the Sc ldin s s o e an d a e en to secr ou s f r f — the y g , p k , g v v t et th ght o st i e,
See su ra 1 p , p. 9 .
1 18 The Tran slations of Beowulf
’ n e 2 0 u n f en h u fin e on fra e. Li 5 7 , my ri dly g ish d his b y m ’ 2 8 The ea s f ee- an e f en we n ot in 5 3, G t r h d d ri d cro d f ’ pride o victory. 26 e the foe an d e the e e - en 55 , F ll shi ld W d r G t ’ o s f L rd li e . ’
2688 the u u r e the ea fu a a an e . , p blic sco g , dr d l s l m d r
28 w his fo a of the D a n . 34 , sho rm (s id r go ) ’ 288 e e s e ea e f o u ee . 5 , hop l s ly sch t d r m yo r br d
r f Dr a at It is also rather surp isi n g to learn rom . H ll th Beowu lf was on e of those that advan ced home govern ’ l m en t ( . It shou ld b e added that the explan atory commen t which n an n er u the ran a n f en six o r e co st tly i t r pts t sl tio , o t ight e in a e n is ann n e au e a s tim s s ctio , oyi g, both b c s it distr ct the atten tion an d because it is often presen ted in a style w l n a a e he n e ho ly i ppropri t to t co t xt . Bu t this absen ce o f ease and dign ity does n ot hin der ’ l r n n e in Dr. H a l s t an slation fro m bein g an excelle t re d r g o f the a e o f the o e at n ce e fan fu an m tt r p m , o l ss ci l th ’ 1 ’ 2 E a e s and o e e n an Gam ett s n als rl m r mod r th , its o ly riv T n e n a e ua e as a literal translatio n . hat it co v ys a d q t n n of the e of Beowu we e is e otio styl lf, ho v r, it impossibl to afli rm .
T I N KER’S T RA NSLAT I O N
Be wu f an a e out of the E n C aun e o l , tr sl t d Old glish by h c y w N : e n n 1 0 B e T n e M . A . o N o e ew w a d C 2 . r st r i k r, Y rk so . , 9 1 8 pp . 5 .
en E n T n a n e . Elev th glish ra sl tio . Pros
1 1 e su ra 8 See supra, p . 9 . S e p , p . 3. 119
Aim o the Volu me and N Tr l t on f atur e of the ans a i . ‘ The presen t tran slation of B eowu l/ is an attempt to make as simple an d readable a version of th e poem as is con si sten t with the character of the or ina . rc a c fo r s w c a e een uc in fa or w ig l A h i m , hi h h v b m h v ith rans a ors of E n is a e een e c u u has een t l t Old gl h. h v b x l ded, beca se it b ou a or an d a n w th ght th t vig v riety are ot inc ompatible ith simple, i o a c n i di m ti E gl sh. The prin cipal ways in which the presen t version diflers from a merely literal translation are the fo llowin g : ( 1) in a rather broad in ter pre tation of pregn an t words an d phrases ; ( 2) in a conception of some of th e Old En glish compounds as con ven tional phrases in which the origin al metapho rical sense is dead ; ( 3) in a free treatmen t of con n ectin g words (4) in frequent substitution of a proper n ame for an
The rans a on i a o of . a Ca r e t l ti s b sed n the text A Wy tt ( mb idg . a few departures fro m his readin gs are en umerated in the ’— o es. Preface N t , pp. 5, 6.
EXTRACT .
AND 1x VIII .
him r aki n u old a a s ummi -m at h with B reca , g p t les qf tr ng c .
t r H eorot to the car e o B eowu l . he cup. H othgar commends f f
m a‘ a the son of Ec laf who sa a the feet of the lor of U r , g , t t d the Sc ldin s s o e an d s rre u a uarre the comin of y g , p k , ti d p q l ; g Beowu f the ra e seafarer e e sore for he wou not a an l , b v , v x d him , ld th t y other men un der heaven should ever win more glories in this world h r ou a Beowu f who s s r ve w Breca than e himself. A t th th t l did t t i ith a w in sw n w en on the bro d sea an d didst con ten d ith him immi g, h ye two foo h ar a e r a of th e wa es an d for a mad oas r s e , l dy, m d t i l v b t i k d o ur es in the wa one fr en or foe co u urn ou from y liv deep ter ? N , i d , ld t y ou on e But e the sorry ven ture when ye two swam t up th sea. y w folded the ocean -s rea w ur ar s easure the sea-s ree s t ms ith yo m , m d t t , bufleted the wa er wi our an s i n o er the ee . Th e ocean t th y h d , gl di g v d p ’ was w wa es a w n er s e en n s e o e in th e tossing ith v , i t sea. S v ight y t il d r nd he o r th a c for he had powe of the waters a ve came thee in e m t h, th a r n at orn - a cas u on e gre ter st en gth. The m in g tide the se t him p ' 120 The Transla tzons of Beowulf th coas of the Heath ore mas w en ce h e e o e of his eo e wen e t , h , b l v d p pl , t his ear fa erlan the coun r of th e Bron din s an d his own fa r to d th d, t y g , i c w ere he was or of a s ron o an d of su ec s an d reasure . ity h l d t gh ld, bj t t
r the son of Bean stan a e oo all his oas a a n s ee . Ve ily. m d g d b t g i t th erefore ou t ou as e er een a an in the rus of a e Wh , th gh h h t v b v li t h b ttl , I oo to a r ea an d a worse ssue for ee if t ou darest l k g im fight, y , i , th , h ’ f r th a n n ear n o e sp ce of one ight abide Gre del.
122 The Tr anslatrb ns d w
a rs f oe an u n derstan din g o f the even ts and char cte o the p m . Un fortun ately his o missio ns are o ften the m ost poetic al e he escri lin es of th e B owu l . Fo r exa m e he o mi s t d f pl , t p ’ - ' tio n of Beo wu lf s saa voyage ; H rothgar s account o f the hau n t of Gren del an d his dam k curtailed ; the dyin g wo r s o f Be wu f e ha s the m ost b eau tiful lines in th e d o l , p r p em are i e x ma b e foun d in c d. u er e am es po , l pp F rth pl y e ex rac i w T n su fficien is exm sed b th t t g ven be lo . his i cy y ’ the fact that Leo s m ain o bject in preparin g the b ook was to prove certain theo ries that he held respecting the o rigin an d a e o f the e d t po m . ’ 1 Th e text from which he tran slates is R emble s
EXTRACT .
Acm e Gssaxc .
Hunferd Ec lafs so n der z u des scildin en fiirsten firm sasz g h , g , began da ein streiterregen desz gespriich ; denn er wird eifersiichtig auf den rum den eowulf s z u rw r Er selb st wil der , B ich e e b en geht. ‘ b eriimteste se n un er d w E r f i t en olken . sa gte : Bistu der Beowul ; der mit Brecca ein wetsc hwirn men e s e en ta un d h lan b is hi lt i b ge nac te g, er c in sc w en b esi te der kriifti di h h imm g , gere man ; dan n am achten - morgen stig er anf lleadoram es an sz lan d un d gien g heim z u den Brondin en wo er e n e ur un l z g , i b g d ed es gefolge un d reichtum hatte ? ’ BeanstAn es so n hat dir allesz ele s et wasz r w h h g i t , e ge ettet atte.
O missions
ne 0 2 o es e -fa n e a . Li 5 , m dg m r r 0 - 1 5 7 5 7 en tir e.
20 swie sn e édel e f léo um 5 , , l o his d .
Cr iticism o tire E xtr ac f t.
A s an analysis this is good en ough ; as a translation of the passage it is of cou rse u tterly in adequate — it omits h e t e e n es in th e or in a . The e ho w v ry b st li ig l book s rved , eve as a unn n e o f the an e an r, r i g dig st story, d as su ch gav
See su ra p , p. 33. ’ Leo s Digest 12 3
B ttm uller excellen t idea o f th e con tents o f th e poem . ut E was j ustified in callin g th e tran slation which he pu blished 1 th e n e ea th e fir er an ran a on xt y r, st G m t sl ti
SAN DRAS’S ACCO U N T
De carmin ib us an glo-saxonicis Cmdmon i adj udicatis H e e Parisien si Litteraru m Facu lta i Disqu isitio . as th s s t ro n eb a an ra in L caeo Claro m on ten si p po t S. G . S d s y A Bib li ol m 1 8 f P A . n o Du a . e . a u a Pro ssor risiis , p d r d, p , 59 8 r mu De . Be wu f e e a . P i m 2 pp 7 . o l d scrib d C p , , P f e 1 - ana . 0 1 . ro Po si, pp 9
a T an a a n Extr cts r sl ted into L ti Prose.
The on ly sign ifican ce of this book is that it contain ed the first information about B eowu lf given to the French
u . A en n e e r n in u t are a a a e Ca . p blic bo t li s lit r lly t sl t d p I ,
1 all un e the en e a e De P e Saxo n ica . In 2 , d r g r l titl , o si the e a er a efu e e u af e the po m is r th c r lly sk tch d , m ch t r 2 ’ an n e o f Leo f o Be wu f s a a in th e Dan an m r , r m o l rriv l ish l d the fi w en e to ght ith Gr d l .
E H E ’ P R PH . . JO N S S A A RASE
u a R B anc e o A e . e Pop l r om s f the Middle g s y Georg W.
M . Cox A . an d u a e n n ne . n n : n , , E st c Hi to Jo s Lo do Lo g
an een Cc . 18 1. Beowu . . on es m s, Gr , , 7 lf (by E H J ), pp 382-398 * Se o n e on in on e u e n a n n in a n c d diti , vol m (co t i i g, dditio the an e in the fi e n e f e u e to rom c s rst ditio , thos orm rly p blish d
See su ra . r . 122. p , p 37 . See sup a, p m 4 The Transla tion s of Beowulf u e e f h eu n an C e a n n der th title Tal s o t e T to ic L ds . K g au 81 C an : on n 1 880 P l omp y L do ,
A Paraphrase for General Readers .
u Aim of t/ze Vol me.
The thought that these old roman ces may b e presen ted to En glish m en of th e presen t day in a form which sha ll retain their real vigou r without the repul sive characteri stics impressed on them by a com ara e ru e an d n oran a e m a n ot er a s b e re ar e as p tiv ly d ig t g y , p h p , g d d - n e usa o rea r con en ce m a t m i xc bly presumptu us. With g te fid it y be am ed ha if w urn o e e old e en s or ro an ces at all s ou t t, e t t th s l g d m , it h ld b e for th ur os of earn n w a e rea were an d n ot w an e p p e l i g h t th y lly , ith y wish of seein g them through a glass which shall reflect chiefly our own thoughts about them an d throw over them a colourin g borrowed from the sen timen t of the n in eteen th cen tury. ese two con on s a e is o e een s ri c o ser e in Th diti h v , it h p d, b t tly b v d the version s here given of some o f the great roman ces of medie val r e e a r has e n a en o u r a Eu ope . Whil sp ci l ca e b e t k t g a d ag in st the in troductio n even of phrases n ot in harmon y with the origin al n arra tives n ot ess a n s a e een es owe on th e of , l p i h v b b t d task preservin g all that is essen tial in the n arrative an d thus it m ay perhaps b e safely said th at the readers of this volum e will obtain from it an adequate kn ow e e of ese e- on oure s or es w ou a n n l dg th tim h d t i , ith t h vi g their atte tion an d their patien ce overtaxed by a multiplicity of superfluous an d ’— r r r e ai s. P r fa . e fo e u e so e e ce . th re tt ly i k m d t l , pp vi, vii
N tu e o a r f tin: P ar aplzr ase. The poe m is relieved o f all the episodes except the ’ r n r p o log an d Ki g Hrothgar s discou se. Som etimes these on ee un n e e i e n omissi s s m c ssary. It s c rtai ly a mistake to a fi e the w n - a e in na ra e s cri c s immi g m tch, liv ly its r tiv , a dram tic in settin g . O n the o er an the au ake an a e th h d , thor m s tt mpt to re e e as u as s e of th e r n p s rv m ch pos ibl o igi al style. S o an xious is he to save every picturesqu e word of the
n al a h e e e an fe e re s on f origi , th t som tim s tr s rs xp s i s rom th e passages which he is obliged to drop and inserts f them in other parts o the story .
126 The Translations of Beowu lf
ZI NSSER’S SE LECT I O N
Jahresbericht u ber die Realschu le z u Forbach (Loth n en fiir das S u a 1880 his 1881 we e z u ri g ) ch lj hr , mit lch m
' ofl n tli hen Priifu n am a n 1 A u u s 1 881 der e c g Freit g de 2. g t
n e n a e der e A . Kn itte s hei ergebe st i l d t Dir ctor r c d. V oran geht ein e Abhan dlu n g des orden tlichen Lehrers ’ . n sse : Der a f Be wu f en e als e G Zi r K mp o l s mit Gr d l , Prob ein er metrischen U eb ersetz u ng des angelsachsischen Epo s ’ D B u lf. aarb riick en . u von eb riider fe eov S r ck G Ho r. 6 88 8 u S en . 1 1 . 1 u e n u na . pp , do bl col m s , ch l chricht
The First 836 Lines translated in Iambic Pentameter.
A im Con ten ts and M ethod o Tr an sla tion . , , f Gleichwol wird das Gedicht in deutscher Sprache n och wen ig e esen un d es m a aru erec fer se n wen n auc ein wen er g l ; g d m g ht tigt i , h ig B erufen er ein Scharflein z um weiteren B ekan n twerden dieses altehrwiir en E rz eu n sses er an sc en e s es e ra en w erse e dig g i g m i h G i t b it g ill . D lb hat in sein er Uebersetz un von we c er im n n von 18 g, l h Folge de 3 4 1 rsen n ur die ers en 826 n amlich der a f eowu fs ren e Ve t , K mp B l mit G d l oraus e en er enea o e der dan ischen Kfin i e vor efiihrt mit v g h d G l gi g , g wer en a es er e en was dem a en das Verstan dn is ersc weren d , ll v mi d , L i h
on n e. Die am c uss b ei efii ten o o sc en s or sc en k t S hl g g myth l gi h , hi t i h un d geographischen E rlauterun gen kon n en auch den en willkommen ’ se n we c e s c e n e en er dem e c b eschafti en wo en . i , l h i h i g h d mit G di ht g ll
n e un . Ei l it g, 4
Text Used.
’ The text used is Heyne s edition of 1873 (see Ein e un l it g,
E XTRACT .
9.
oc Hun ferd E c la fs o n der e e a e D h , g S h , b im G l g Zn Fiissen Hrod ars se nes erren sass g , i H , , W ar o er russ der u des B eowu f v ll V d , R hm l rre e b ittren eid im usen E gt N B ihm .
ccor n to th e n s e 8 6. A di g Old E gli h t xt, 3 ’ Z insser s Selection 12 7
E r konn e n c er ra en wen n e ol e t i ht t g , b im V k
r eh r r esen war als er. Ein an dre m ge p i d , ’ ol Aer er suc er an e a so s rec en V l g ht H d l , l p h d D u s e w ss der eowu f der e ns bi t g i B l , i t Im Meer mit Breca um die Wette schwamm ? Ihr masset damals s uch in kiih n em Wagen i Das miihevolle Werk euch auszureden er oc e n e an tollkiihn set e ihr V m ht i m d, zt t
Das Leben ein un d schwammt in s Meer hin au s . Zerteilte t mit den Armen kraftgemut D s s o n l e rasc a in e Meere W ge , g itt t h d h I l Flu Ihr miiht s e en ac e n h a ter t. et i b N ht u ab un d en c s e e Brecas Starks E ch , dli h i gt ,
Er war dir doch voran an Helden kr aft. Ihn trug die Flut zur Morgenzeit hin auf ‘ ’ t d Vo n or e an Zum Hadoramen s ran . d t g l gt ur in Bron di lan d Er dann zu sein er B g ng , Di starkbefesti t fun e n es Geschmied e, g , k l d , e r D er S pan gen un d J uwelen viel bi gt. Es u e e se n o dem erren m j b lt i V lk H , or el n achdern er so Der kiihn sein W t g fist, ’ Im Wettkampf glanz en d hatte obgesiegt !
r h r C iticism of t e E xt act.
n a are o The tran slation is ve ry free . Li es th t bscu re in the o rigin al are n ot allo wed to b e o bscu re in the transla
n e en if e a e to a e a ean in rea n o e . tio , v th y h v h v m g d i t th m For e a e in the e ac u e a ve beadu -runen x mpl , xtr t q ot d bo , ‘ ’ ’ an band of th e na ren ere u er an el origi l is d d s cht H d ,
or u n e e b ut n ot a u a e . T ere at th o ghly i t lligibl , cc r t h is e a en en to a a ra e or e en to n u e an tim s t d cy p r ph s , v i trod c origin al sen ten ce in to the poem . A n example o f this may b e seen at the close of the first canto
‘ un erforschlich sin d — e e des c e . . Und dun kel oft die W g Geschi kes Pag 5, I 54
The Old En glish reads Men n o can non
e-r en de secgan to sode, sel éd — — b l un er heof n um hwa a n hlmst onten . nes 0 2 a ed d e , p e g Li 5 5 . 128 The Translation s of Beowu lf
a a Words are occasion ally o mitted . In th e extr ct bove
‘
lE é 1 nd sun u B eans tanes . 2 are ne of n lad (l . 5 1 ) a (l 5 4) r re no n e in the o n a o mitted in t anslation . There a li s rigi l f he e a which correspon d to the last line an d a half o t xtr ct . O f cou rse by adopti ng this method of tran slation th e w e a a ns u se His oe ea a e b ut ea rit r tt i his p rpo . p m is r d bl , r d
f a u a . As a ara ra e th e able at the expense o cc r cy p ph s , version is commen dable ; b u t it is hardly o f importan ce in an y o ther way.
GI BB’S PA RA PH RASE
* u un and e S r e fro the E o f the e G dr oth r to i s, m pics Middl A n : n e n . a 81 C a n : g s, by Joh Gibb M . J pp omp y Lo do n u r n e 188I Edi b gh (pri t d), . u un Be wu lf and R an w e e ae a G dr , o , ol d, ith oth r m di v l
a e n w wen u a on . Se n t l s by Joh Gibb, ith t ty ill str ti s co d
e n . on n : T e U n w n 1 88 ditio L do . Fish r i , 4 - 1 B eowu . 1 168 w ee l us a ns lf, pp 35 , ith thr i l tr tio
in P os A Paraphrase English r e .
A m the lu me i of Vo .
a e n ot ran s a e e the oe s era b ut a e o e r I h v t l t d th m ( p m ) lit lly, h v t ld th i s or es faith q in s e an ua e w the s ec a es n of n eres t i y impl l g g , ith p i l d ig i t t in oun o e a ou am n ot w ou o e a e w b e g y g pe pl , lth gh I ith t h p th t th y ill ’— rea so wh can n o on er e ca e oun . Pr fa r o d by me o l g b ll d y g e to y N te.
N atur e o the P ar a hr ase f p .
The following parts are omitted : ( 1) All episodes except the Pro log ; (2) All lin es that do n ot have to do directly
1 Woodcuts ; two of them are iden tical with the on es given in the - w ll ara rase : see nfr . 0 . W iigner MacD o a p ph i a, p 13
130 The Transla tions of Beowu lf
At a e 280 o f th e on u n a e the au eaks p g c cl di g ch pt r , thor sp f of the histo ry an d character o f the poem . It will b e o u n d on referen ce to this section that the author is a fo llower of 1 h s f i e t n f T o a A n . t e vi ws e orth n th e editio o Mr. h m s r o ld o a e a was n e e o for It is pr b bl th t Mr . Gibb i d bt d to this bo k u of ara a e b ut the f ee ara e of the m ch his p phr s , r ch ct r e s n e en an e n on n v r io pr v ts y d cisio this poi t.
T HE WAGN E R-MACD OWALL PA RA P H RASE
R f A a Epics an d o man ces o the Middle Ages. d pted W l f t e f r . M l ro h o D . a r . a D wa o n e . c o m W rk W g by W M ,
. . A n B n e e . on . . a d dit d by W S W s Philadelphia J .
n o Cc . on n . Swan S n n en e n Co . Lippi c tt , L do W o sch i , — ” 188 . B eowu . 6 w two us a on 3 lf, pp 347 3 4 , ith ill tr ti s
Se n n . 1 88 . co d Editio , Oct 3
S E on 1 8 0 . ixth diti , 9 1 8 6 E on . ighth Editi , 9
B eowu l Re o w C an e and A n . f t ld, ith h g s dditio s
Th e paraphrase is adapted fro m Deu tsche Heldensagen ’ u r S chu le u na Han s Dr a ne e f , by . W. W g r (L ipzig,
A im of the Book .
the na u e of th e an e a e in the o From t r ch g s m d st ry , it is
eviden t that an appeal is made to you nger readers . This
f he n u n . is born e ou t by the statemen t on p . 9 o t I trod ctio
1 1 e su ra 1. oo cu s naccura e. Se p , p. 7 W d t ; i t - The W agner M acdowall P araphrase 13 1
Th e sto ry does n o t preten d to do m o re than fo llow the an most gen eral o utlin es of th e o rigin al . Th e most import t c an e are in th e fi s s o n of th e oem w e e h g s r t divi i p , h r it wou ld see m that n o chan ges wha tever were n eeded . The prin cipal additio n s are th e following 1 A n e ee f o a ue- c en Heorot a l ( ) mi str l fl s r m pl g stri k , s i s to th e ea s an an d s n th e e w u G ti h l d , i gs t rror ro ght by
en e u n Beo wulf o e an d a e the eo e . Gr d l , rgi g to c m s v p pl - (2) The swimming match is in tro d uced i n to the action of the o w the mot a a a e e . B e a st ry, ith if r dic lly lt r d r c is r rep esen ted as wi n n in g the match. ’ (3) The i n ciden t o f Beowulf s refusal o f the crown is amplified an d in trod uced in to the story at the Open in g of r a the thi d p rt . (4) The story differs from the original in a n umber of min o r details.
EXTRACT .
’ Th e n s re u n e hi ar an d an f Be owu f s ero c ee s mi t l t d s h p s g o l h i d d , and prophesied that he would con quer an d slay the mon ster of the
orass. s ra se a e H un ford on e of the court ers an r an d m Thi p i m d , i , g y H w t a d w n th o en ea ous. e sa as B re a n o Beowu f ha o e j l id it k , l , th t g ld 1 chain ; tha t th e Go thic hero was un dertakin g an en terprise tha t would very likely lead him to his death ; and he advised him to think twice
efore a ac n ren e . on s Beowu f e c a e in nan b tt ki g G d l Up thi , l x l im d dig tly a h e h d won a w of h en c a n an d a th t a good s ord in stead t e gold h i , th t it was sharp en ough both to pierce the hide of the mon ster an d to cut out a slan derous ton gue.
' The extract gives a good idea o f the author s sins of
ss o n and co o n . w l b e een fo r e a le omi i mmissi It i l s , x mp , ha the n e f n is The o f t t to o th e e tire passage alte red . bit repartee in the last sen ten ce is who lly fo reign to the B eo wulf an n er w i is u r an d wn — th e m , h ch o t ight do right
1 off f r A prize ered by Kin g Hygelak or the victo in the match . I 2 ' 132 The Translah ons of Beowulf
very opposite of subtilty. The false man n er is eviden t at on ce when we co mpare th e reply o f the hero in the n a T u art the u e e o f n e own et en origi l , ho m rd r r thi br hr , - an d u a b e a n e in e . a n tho sh lt d m d H ll W it till to ight, ’ a s h r and thou sh lt ee which of us is t e st on ger.
The or if e e a e an the e . st y is , possibl , mor g rbl d th styl The mission of the min strel an d the mangled accou n t o f - the swimming match have n o essen tia l o r artistic relation to the con text . They are merely inserted to add to the f action o the piece . The popularity of the book is attested by the nu mber o f on u w h s e Th u c n editi s thro gh hich it a pass d . e vol me o a n a a a a e of the e en a ou A u r t i s lso p r phr s s l g ds b t rth , C a e a n e an d Tann au e as we as the o f h rl m g , h s r, ll story e e u a the Nibelun gs . Th s m st ccount for its en du rin g u e b u t is un f r u n a e a th e o e of th e s cc ss ; it o t t th t this, p or st Be wu f a a a e s ou u a e f un an au en e o l p r phr s s, h ld th s h v o d di c which it did n ot deserve an d could n ever have comman ded for itself.
T H E RESE DA H N’S PARA PH RASE
a e an e o e und e en a en . Fu r Walh ll . G rm isch G tt r H ld s g
' Alt und J u ng am deutschen Herd erz ahlt vo n Felix Dahn - un d T e ese Da n eb . re n von D os e Hiilshoff. h r h , g F ii r t Mit n eun u n dfiinfz i B e afe n Te e n Ko fleisten und g ild rt l , xtbild r , p Schlussstiick en n ach Federzeichn u ngen von Johan n es
hr s . eu n a o n Vo an er 1 88 . Ge t Ve a v R . t Kr z ch , rl g ig l d , 3 Se en E n 188 v th ditio , 5 .
e en n 1 8 1 . El v th Editio , 9
Twe f on e 18 8. l th Editi (L ipzig), 9 — Beow T e e e Da n . 61 0 w two q (by h r s h pp 3 4 5, ith ill ustration s .
i an f A Paraphrase n Germ Pro se or General Readers .
1 See p. 662.
134 The Translations of Beowulf
h n n u o from that version . Eviden ce of t e depe de ce p n n e The f r o f th Simrock may b e fou d at ev ry step . o ms e proper n ames in ven ted by Simrock are repeated he re
. Hi A eskh r Hadk n n O hther . s en e n o f e. e e c e ( g , , y , ) r d ri gs the un ique wo rds in the poem (so metimes in a slightly simplified form) are used in the paraphrase . Often th e origin al wo rd u sed by Simrock is added in parentheses 8 c f. e . . S r . w Da n . 2 an d . ( , g , im ock, p ith h , p 3 , p w Da n . u e e en e m a b e f un ith h , p F rth r vid c y o d by comparin g th e extracts given in this work .
EXTRACT .
H u n erd des on s ers er an er hub da ein re e an f , K ig t S g , St itli d ; ihm war Beowu fs n unf e en n er e e es n c ass ein ihn an erer l A k t l id d li bt i ht, d d ' u r r fi an R hm iib e t e e. B s du der B eowu f der e n s im W ttkam B reka urc die i t l , i t e fi mit d h See schwamm ? W 0 ihr tollkiihn in vermessen em M ut euer Leben in den tiefen Wassern wagtet ? Weder Freund n och Fein d kon n ten euch
a a en . D a ru er e ihr in den un asse die eer ss rassen bh lt d t t S d, m t M e t ,
sc u t die asser den an en iib er die fen e en . Die hl g W mit H d , Tie gl it d win terkalte See stiirmte un d brauste : sieben Nachte schwammt ihr im
s r B re a es e e c : er a e e r raf . Di oc f u Wa se . k b i gt di h h tt m h K t e H h l t w r ihn am nachsten or n an s a von wo er in a a f M ge L nd, seine Heim t ’ e e in das an der B ron din e wo er iib er Bur un d o e e e . ilt , L d g , g V lk g bi t t P 0 age 37 . t Cr i icism of the P omp/ vase.
In an a e the w a a a an a n so m y pl c s ork is pr ctic lly tr sl tio , o e has th n a f we Th e cl s ly e origi l been ollo d . e styl is agreeable an d simple b u t most o f what is beautifu l in the n e on r dictio b l gs to Simrock ather than to Frau Dahn . The o mission s are the most sensible that I have found f in a paraphrase . Nothing o first importan ce has been
lost . ’ S topford Brooke s Selections 135
STO PFO RD BROO KE ’S SELECTI ONS
The of a n s e a u e e n th e History E rly E gli h Lit r t r , b i g History of En glish Po et ry fro m its B egi nn i ngs to th e
B . t f B . Accession of Ki ng E lfred. y S op o rd A rooke New ° Y o rk an d n on : The a i an Co . 1 8 2. 8 B eowul Lo d M cm ll , 9 , j ; 1 — pp . 2 92 . English Literatu re fro m th e B egi n n in g to the Norman B n s B Sto fo rd A . e . New r Co que t . y p rook Yo k and
o n on : The a lan Co 18 8 Beowul . L d M cmil 9 . f , pp 8- 8 5 3 .
e Ru nn n C en an d T an a o n o f Co u Dig st, i g omm t , r sl ti pio s a n a e ea u Extr cts i to Imit tiv M s res.
n u Reaso s f or incl ding ibis B ook .
This volum e is in cl uded here because o f the great in flu ence it has had in fo rmin g popular n otions regarding h t . B r n e Beowu lf Th e emin en ce of Mr. roo ke as a c itic a d as a po et has given him th e atten tion o f an audie nce hardly co mman ded by an y other writer in cluded in this P3 P “
A a n the n u e of n e a ua l an a e . g i , mb r li s ct l y tr sl t d by Mr Brooke is equ al to that in man y of the vo l umes described in s thi section .
' D er e e e t ifi n c b tracer: t/ze two E di ions.
The accou n t in th e seco n d volu me is much shorter than that in the first ; o nly twelve pages are given to the sto ry o f Be wu f w i e the firs o u e es fo - ee The o l , h l t v l m giv rty thr . a er o all u s n o f the e o es an d a o u l t book mits disc sio pis d , , lth gh a of the o e u e are e a n e the a er is p rts ld r vol m r t i d , m tt , i - n ene a re w en . g r l , ritt 136 The Translations of Beowulf
M ethod of Tr ansla tion .
Tran slated extracts accompan y the story as told by Mr B o e . r ok . f h o f the fu In his e a e . t e au o ea s Pr c (p ix), th r sp k tility o f o e ran a on of oe r an d of the n a e u a o f pr s t sl ti s p t y, i d q cy modern English media for translatin g the spirit of th e oe a a h o e w p try . Fin lly he adopts lin e which e h p s ill fu lfil the n eeds an d follow closely the peculiarities of Old n E glish .
‘ c ose r en the roc a c o e en use in I h after man y expe im ts, t h i m v m t d t s oo eac a f-l n e con s s n of roc ees fo ow n on e an o er hi b k , h h l i i ti g t h ll i g th , w h a s a a th en d c a on on e to ar the s on it yll ble t e , hiefly l g , m k divi i
of th e ne. ar e the e as uc as cou in ro uc n of en li I v i d lin m h I ld, t d i g, t ras r or fau of s o e en is its hly, met ical chan ges ; f the lt thi m v m t on o on o es r e an a c o e en b ut rare m t y. I have s metim t i d i mbi m v m t, ly ; - for this trochaic lin e with a heat at the en d of each half verse seemed to m e to h n ar he s of the An o- a on ne e en get t e e est to t oun d gl S x li , v ou - us a era on th gh it is frequen tly nu similar to that lin e itself. I ed llit ti w en e er cou an d s resse as uc as oss e the a era e h v I ld, t d m h p ibl llit t d wor s an d n w th c an es of th e d , I chan ged the len gth of the li e ith e h g or o s h iginal . B ut when I could n ot easily alliterate my lin e r stres t e ’ a era e wor n ot tr to do so. llit t d d , I did y
The u o The w -o e a thor adopts an archaic dicti n . ord rd r of h e f t Old English is o llowed whenever possible.
Text Used.
The text appears to b e that o f Grein -wulker
1 EXTRACT .
ere at a en s oo un w r n s the s Th h v t d, h g ith i g hip, - Ice r for the ou a a er craf of Aethelin s. b ight, tp th e g , t g So e r or th w - all at en a th i l d , e ell beloved, l gth they l id In the oso of th ar th e race e - er b m e b k, him b l t giv , B the as th n an f s wer ere y m t e mighty ki g. M y gi t e th r n s of fairh u o f - w F etted thi g ess bro ght fr m ar off ays.
1 The swi n - a c is not a ai a e for us ra on ere mmi g m t h v l bl ill t ti h .
138 The Translations of Beowulf
M I SS RAGO Z IN’S PA RA P HRASE
Ta e of th e e o A e . S f he ero of l s H r ic g s ieg ried. t H the N an d Be wu f the ero o f the A n o -Sax n orth , o l , H gl o s , by ’ Zenat A . de . R o n a . P . u n a S ns New o k g zi G P t m s o , Y r a nd n 1 8 - n 8 . B eowu . 2 1 1 22 w N e Lo do , 9 lf, pp 3 . ith ot
at . 2 an d w fo u i us a ion e T. To n p 3 3 , ith r ll tr t s by Georg bi .
S o n Ne r . n 1 0 0 . w . B a cho l Editio , Yo k , W H riso , 9
A P as n P araphr e in E glish rose.
T A d A . he u thor , an the im of her Book
s Zenatde Alexeievna Ra n a Ru i an Mi s gozi , ss by birth , a n A e an a t n as ev ed e e f the m ric by dop io , h d ot h rs l to u a a n of i an d In the se e3 pop l riz tio h story mythology . ri S tor ies o the N ations she has u e The S tor o f , p blish d , y f
Chaldea The S or r fAs ia The S tor M edia Bab lon , t y y syr , y of , y , ’
a d P ersia The S or o Vedic India . O f ate she h as n , t y f l turned her atten tion to the mythology of th e various u ean n a i n and has w i en of S e f e rith of E rop t o s , r tt i g ri d , F j ,
an d Rolan d. The o bject of her work m ay b e given in her own words
Th e ser is n e as ara e r in to is r an d a ( ies ) i ten d d p ll l ead g h to y, pl n ned to ustra e s or rea c an es are co in over the sc oo s ill t hi t y . G t h g m g h l , c an es in the on w c ma h g right directi , hi h y shortly amoun t to a re o u on w en r w b e n o reason wh e Tales o the v l ti , h the e ill y th se f H er oic A es s oul n ot a ou a resse to oun eo le at g h d , lth gh dd d y g p p ar fin d a lace if n ot in the sc oo curr cu u at eas in the l ge, p , h l i l m, l t ‘ ’ - l n tar wide margin of ao m led S uppleme y Readi ng . May they prove l not a on e to the oun to w om are s e ia acceptab e, l y g, h they p c lly “ res d b ut a so as has een fe c tous sa to the old w add se , l , b li i ly id, ith " - a Pa es . youn g t stes . g xx, xxii ’ Miss Ragoz in s P ar aphrase 139
M ethod of P ar aphr ase.
(The style) should be sim ple an d epical ; faithfully following the n n es r n out a so the c arac er s ic e a s— the oe ca mai li , b ingi g l h t i t d t il p ti l u c u res ue ra ts an d o r na a o ue as uc as m a bea ties , pi t q t i , igi l di l g , m h y w r n sa an d fre uen e n a b e con sistent ith n ece ssa y co den tion , q tly, limi s ou b e a con secu e ve narra e w the n ecessar tion . It h ld tiv , li ly tiv , ith y elu cidatin g explan atio n s in corporated in the text an d with the fewest r os e foo n o es wh e s oul con a n n o cr ical an d b iefest p sibl t t , il it h d t i it a we wan in e lin to the or mythological digression s. Wh t t t l g it oun is to a e the e c us as is con en s n an d e ur a n y g, t k pi j t it , d i g xp g ti g, t h arac ers scen es an d s ua ion s b ut no chan gin g ; ren dering t e ch t , it t with the faithfuln ess and reveren ce due to the masterpiece of a race ; us n as uc as oss e es e c al in the ia o ue the wor s of i g m h p ibl , p i ly d l g , d Th ou be s e ou not un in e th e origin al. ( e language ) sh ld impl , th gh t g d ’ wi ua n ness and en in aces a cer a n e ree of arc a s . th q i t , ev pl t i d g h i m
Pa es . g xvi , xix, xxi
Indebtedness to E arle .
’ ‘ Professor Earle s version has been fully utilized in the presen t u e en to the en of fre uen a n use of its wo r n vol m , ev ext t q tly m ki g di g, ’— where it is not too arc haic or literal for ordin ary purposes. Page
0 foo no e. 33 , t t So me n otion of the ext en t o f this bo rrowin g may b e had by examin in g th e extract pri n ted below and the c riticism
that follows .
EXTRACT .
Yet there was one eye that gleamed not with merrimen t and oo w on e ea a a c e n o fr en ou s ecause the g d ill, h d th t h t h d i dly th ght , b ’ w a ce an d en . Unferth was the in s own heart swelled ith m li vy it , k g s or -e er wh sat at his feet to b e read at all es to a use t y t ll , o , y tim m ’ ro c e a uarre so me e e— an a en ure in Beowu f s him. He b a h d q l th m dv t l ou h l s in his recor the ssue of w c ou y th , t e on y con te t d i hi h, th gh o F nf h w ar fou be cal e u fu . or s U ert as an h d ght, might l d d bt l thi en ious w w sou ru e a an man s ou ac e e v ight, hose l g dg d th t y h ld hi v
‘ ’ ‘ Art o u not he e an aun n a sam e Beowu f who s ro e th , b g t ti gly, th t l t v B n - in w c e o with reca on Open sea in a swimmi g match, hi h y b th
u a 1. See s pr , p. 9 140 The Tm nslations q eowul/ w o our l es and n o man e er fr en or foe cou an ton ly exp sed y iv , , ith i d , ld ' turn yo u from the foolish venture ? A se n n ight ye twain toiled in th a of the wa ers an d if err n ot he ou ee in swi n e re lm t , , I , tdid th mmi g , for he had gra ter strength . Wherefore I fear me m uch that thou mayest mee t with sorry luck if thou darcet to hide here for Gren del w ’ for the space of a hole n ight.
It may be inferred from the depen den ce upon the wo rk ' o f Earle that Miss Rago z in s kn owledge of Old En glish is of the s nfe en e o rn e ut f e uen slightest . Thi i r c is b o by r q t a e e ns n o f the or n a en e due in a e ea u e mis ppr h io igi l s s , l rg m s r
to the u se o f a n e ran a n . T u on a e 2 si gl t sl tio h s p g 45 , ‘ ’ en e al e th e God- e n s u e and a a n on Gr d l is c l d s t co rg , , g i , “ . 22 Beo wulf e e as a n een en a p 3 , is d scrib d h vi g b most g i l ’ to his n obles . Both o f these errors are due to mis ’ a e n o f P f r a e an la on The ppr hen sio ro esso E rl s tr s ti . list o f f proper n ames o n p . 33 1 reveals an ign oran ce o some fu n a en a fa o f n n u n a n . O f u e d m t l cts Old E glish pro ci tio co rs , an i ntimate kn owledge o f the Beowulf style and dicti on n ot n en a le the w e of a a a a e b u t the is i disp s b to rit r p r phr s , writer who has it will n aturally be superio r to th e writer 1 w u . For u a n T o o n n e e mis itho t it ill str tio , Miss h ms v r n e re a as a e as e Ra o in on a e 26 i t rp ts p s g do s Miss g z p g 4 , where n early every sen tence is false to th e Beowu lf an n e m r. Th e paraphrase is slightly disfigured by th e distin ctively ' R an e w w disfi ure a e an l i om c ords hich g E rl s tr s at on . B ut these slight defects n eed n o t blin d u s to the service don e by Miss Rago zin in maki ng Beowu lf a ccessible to
h d en . The e in en e a n an d school c il r styl is , g r l , stro g eff e n o t w t u e o f th e eau and f ectiv , i ho t som b ty dignity o th e n b ut e e e o f the e Old E glish, r li v d mor obscure and f recon dite featu res o that style.
n fr See i a, p . 143 .
u s The Translations ow q f
The presen t vo lum e is an attempt to do for so me of the Ge rman ic legen ds what had al ready been don e fo r Homer
B ut w f a en s irr in the ear of Unferth son hile they e sted vy t ed h t , ’ of Ee af. H was the Kin s or tor and he took it ill that Beowulf gl e g a , D on this r at en ter ris should have come to the land of the an es ge p e, for he was on e who could not endure that an y me n under heaven ou d rea an e f er fore he s oo u in sh ld o g ter deeds th hims l . Th e t d p ‘ the hall and spake : Art tho u that Beowulf who con tende d with ’ Breca in sw m n on the o en sea ? was n ee a fool ar im i g p T , i d d, h dy n so to ut o ur es in eo ar et n o man cou turn ou thi g p y liv j p dy, y ld y
f ur n ure . v a s an d n e o e on e a a ns rom yo adve t Se en d y ights y t il d, g i t the ot er b ut he in the en d re a e for he had the reater h , p v il d , g e r n th e wa es cas him as ore strength . And on the ighth mo n i g v t h on the an of th e Heath oram w ence he ourne e ac to the l d , h j y d b k r w o son of of t on din of c e wa r . S Breca city he B g, hi h h s lo d did , ’ d a Beanstan, make goo his boast gain st thee.
The extract is so much fu ller than the other parts of the paraphrase that it hardly gives a fair n otion of the nat ure e u ia e th e a a o f the work . Th a thor has apprec t d dr m tic quality o f th e swimming episod e an d preserved it n early
e e o f he t o are u e fo una e . n tire. Oth r parts t s ry m ch l ss rt t A little kn owledge o f Old E nglish wo uld have do n e the au o n o a an d wo u a e a e f o e th r h rm , ld h v s v d him rom s m e e en a e h f o f h e rrors . His most vid t mist kes ar in t e orms t o e n a e u f r as e e u in pr p r m s . S ch o ms th s occ r his book V e u W e a on eo stan H rethin Hrethet . l d , H g , p (sic), , The n u nf The oa -wa en dictio is o rtun ate . c st rd becomes ‘ ’ ‘ ' a u e . Heoro t is a an u e in al . sq ir (p b q t g h l (p 4, ’ showing the influen ce o f Kemble s tran slation) ; Beo wu lf ‘ ’ an d B e a were a es at the n u . I w n r c p g Ki g s co rt (p 3, sho i g ’ f a th e in flue nce o E rle s tran slation ). ‘ Pe na u a es u rou ou u as n e tty i cc r ci occ r th gh t, s ch , I cou s l ’ M r Chu rch s P a ra hra 1 . p se 43
’ a ou refu e not A fa fu r th t th s (p. ith l squi e m ust n eeds h ou l kn ow t e tr b es of his lord (p . In poin t o f accu racy 1 this version is qu ite in ferio r to th e work o f Miss Thomso n ; 2 and in n f d e o e an a o e a o f . n e poi t styl tm sph r to th t Mr Jo s , 3 s Ra n o r s T o n . Th e o o wev e Mi s gozi , Mi s h mso b ok, h r, ’ rea a e an d the au o r na e w u l e o is d bl , th s m ill do bt ess serv t give it a certa in success .
M I SS T H OMSON ’S PARA PH RASE
The A en u re o f B e wu f an a e f o the dv t s o l , tr sl t d r m Old E nglish an d adapted to th e Use o f Schools by Clara ‘ on . o n n : o a e a al n d S o n 18 T o a . h ms L do H r c M rsh l , 99 ‘ ’ I he N e E . . n t w n Se e e e pp 95 glish ri s, dit d by E . E .
Speight.
A Paraphrase in E nglish Prose .
A m ne o u i of t V l me.
It is mean t main ly to aro use in children an interest in th e beginn in gs — of our literature a su bject that is still terribly neglected in schoo ls. It makes n o preten sion to bein g an adequate or satisfactory version ’ - a rs — a 6 for grown up re de . P ge .
‘ [Discrepancies in the poem! I have en deavoured to smooth over by omi ssion or by very slight additions ; an d when ever of two readin gs f as a e on e is more eas co re ens e an the o a doubtful p s g , ily mp h ibl th o a e a wa s a ere to s even if on h o o ica roun s ther, I h v l y dh d thi , p il l g l g d it ’ a seems less prob ble.
See su ra . 12 . 1 . See infra, p . 43 p , p 3
e su ra . 1 8 Se p , p 3 Mi ss Thomson is better known as the biographer of Samuel ‘ ee 3 63 Ricka dro a B io r a hical a nd Cn tieal Richard son . S m r fi , g p
on on 1 00 . Study . L d , 9 ' r“ The Tram lahons q eownl/
‘ Man y of the episodes in th e story have been greatly shorten ed or to e er o e s n ce e n erru the course of the narra e al g th mitt d , i th y i t pt tiv , '— i the n re fro the e 6. or d vert i te st m main theme. Pag s s,
b e This statem en t is more modest than need b e . It will found that on ly two of th e episod es are passed withou t — P ol T o f h ho The men tion the r og and the ale T ryt . Legen d o f Sigem u nd and the Tal e of Fin n are rather fu lly ea e and th e S of Freawaru and the Ba e o f tr t d , tory ttl In a a e the e i Raven swood are both referred to . e ch c s p e are a efu wo en n o the an d a w u sed s c r lly v i t story, th t itho t
superfluous words. The words and sen ten ces which are supplied are very u en and s o f e a e a t e e caref lly chos , mo t th m h v pro otyp som e th e e wh re in po m .
EXTRACT .
' Now ou mos of ro ar s men re o ce to see Beo wu f an d , th gh t H thg j i d l , onoure him for his en ero us ou in co n to e r e r h d g th ght mi g th i h lp, the e was on e who oo e on him w s e an d en an d was ea ous of l k d ith di lik vy, j l
the fa our s own the n . s was Hunferth who was v h him by ki g Thi , ' n on e ais at ro a f An d sitti g th d H thg r s eet. when he heard what this si or n ten e to do he rew an r an d oo ecause he cou d vi t i d d , g g y m dy, b l n ot bear that any other man on earth sho uld obtain greater hon our h an r ol s than he himself. So e beg to ake up d tale that he had heard of eowu f and r e to urn e to his urt sa n scornfu B l , t i d t th m h , yi g lly Art thou that Beowulf who on ce strove on the wide see in a swimmin g a c w Breca w en e two in oast n are to reas the wa m t h ith , h y b i g d d b t ve, and for vain glory risked your lives in the deep water ? There was n o man fr n n foe who cou ssua e ou ‘ fr a o r w , ie d or , ld di d y om th t s r o ful ourne bu t e swa in the surf s re c in ou t ou r ar s o er the j y ; y m , t t h g y m v es an d s r u th sur e w our an s So i wav , ti ring p e g ith y h d . did ye gl de across the ocean w e the waves we ere in w n r s or s an d for , hil lt d i t y t m , ni s e a in th e u u of But in th e seven ght y l boured t m lt th e seas.
end the c or was w B reca for his was the rea er . en vi t y ith , might g t Th on the morning of th e eighth day the tide bore him to the shore of orwa w e n ce he s e his e o e o e the fa r c of safe N y , h vi it d b l v d h m , i ity ty ,
w ere he ru e o er an eo e o er own s an d reasure. ru he h l d v m y p pl , v t t T ly ’ did perform all his boast against thee .
AP P E NDI X I I
A BIBLIOGRA PHY OF WORKS WHICH CO N TA IN SELECTIONS FROM BEOWULF TRA NSLATED INTO ENGLIS H
l e d (O n y wor ks which tr ansla te at least thir ty lines ar note . )
TEN B I K BE H AND E E O E in R N , RN ARD, K NN DY, H RAC , a u e f n n an d Early English Liter t r (to Wicli ). Lo do 8 N ew o 1 8 . V e e Y rk, 3 rs .
VB R W A N R in P e 1 18 V e O N . L e . e , NA , o t or , II , 33, 5 rs , ‘ ‘ - — t l o 11. 6 1 1 1 f 2 and . 53, 493 57
‘ GUMMERE B in the A e an u rna o f P , F . m ric Jo l hilology , - w VII 11. 1 2. Ve e . Y e , 77 , 5 rs
in e an n New k . 10 ff. G rm ic Origi s ( Yor , pp 9 Ve e rs .
O GFE OW E SWO H in P e an d P e L N LL , H NRY WAD RT , o ts o try of u o e ne 18- 0 —8 1 8 —2 1 8 -180 E r p , li s 4 ; 53 3 ; 9 57 ; 7 9 3 ; — 6 Ve se M 3 If 9 ‘ ’ 2455 24 2. r . Q f
“ in En l h W r 8 f O E E is rite s . 2 i . e n M RL Y, H NRY, g , I , pp 7 (s co d e n on on V e e ditio , L d , rs .
R BI S n O O . C KE in n u our a N N, W LAR , I trod ctio to E rly n e a u e on n n e 8 — 8 E glish Lit r t r (L do , Li s 7 9 ” — M n» 6 e e an d 1 2 e . (v rs ), 5 (pros )
MI H N S C. PR G i h n V . S UE n t e ew an e I . T , A , E gl d r, , p 49 n es 1 1-8 8 Se on Se n 1 Li 7 3 ; cti XII , ctio XIII , 493
16 2 e on S n V e e . S e o V . 5 ; cti XXIII , cti XXI rs Appendix 11 x4v
’ SWEE E in a n r of E n oe T, H NRY, W rto s Histo y glish P try,
l. ed . Ca ew a n n V o . W r H zlitt (Lo do , II, — . 1 1 1 2 e . pp . Pros
TO M A . m Tran a o n s o f th e o e n an u a e L AN, H s cti M d r L g g “ ‘ A s a n 1 ii n he e of A n . . I t S soci tio , III , pp 9 tyl glo ’ Saxo n Poetry . Prose.
In complete P ar aphr ase.
P LME BE H in S es fr the C a era ure A R, RT A, tori om l ssic Lit t 6 — o f an Na on New ork . 2 2 26 . m y ti s ( Y , pp 3 ’ ’ u f l an Be w w en e u n . . a o l s Fight ith Gr d l , si g J L H l s tr s a l tion as a basis . AP P E NDIX I I I
TWO WORKS NA MED ‘ BEOWULF ’
I .
Be wu f R an von a ann eu . Ca o l , om K rl M o (ps d rl - e ke In D i e/re Rom n l eitun ah r . 1 . en s a L mc ) g, J g 9,
1 2 . Be n 1 882. , rli ,
A e n an e a n n o e a i n the mod r rom c , h vi g r l t o to n e E glish po m .
II .
’ ’ ‘ B e M r . 5 If hur ch s owu . . C lf.
B e wu f a e Sa ue a en C u . N ew r o l , Po m by m l H rd h rch Yo k
S es an d Co . 1 0 1 tok , 9 .
An n a e u n e of the Be wu f a e ia . origi l po m , si g som o l m t r l
A fter speakin g of his o riginal in ten tion of translating th e B eowu w he a e a e th e au a lf, hich l t r disc rd d, thor s ys
I have composed an origin al n arrative in which the leadin g 1 characters an d some of th e in ciden ts of the early work have been f fr use b ut as a er als on . a e rans erre to ero eely d, m t i ly I h v t d my h , ’ B eowulf the c ur s ue s or f ceaf a e c an e the re a on , pi t e q hi t y o S ; h v h g d l ti ship O f characters an d in ciden ts ; have in serted the illumin ation of ’ B eowulf s sou and an n an d a e n ro uce th e o e l, his b ishme t ; h v i t d d l v motive between Beowulf an d Freaware that run s through the poem to the en d. n ee the s ruc ure an ua s e escr on ela ora I d d t t , l g ge, tyl , d ipti , b
on n er re a on an d e e o en of the s or are n ew. a e ti , i t p t ti , d v l pm t t y I h v ar rar a the scen e in n an un er ure ea e con on s bit ily l id E gl d , d p ly id liz d diti and a e n a e n a h e o n a ns of wo an oo of h v i iti t d early all th t t p em co t i m h d, - o e of re on of s a e o c an d of omes c fe an d man n ers. l v , ligi , t t p li y, d ti li It is c ear erefore a wor us not be u e e er as a transla l , th , th t my k m t j dg d ith ’ on rs on or ra ras of the old B owu f. ti , ve i , pa ph e e l
1 . e. h n s on i , t e tra lati .
YALE STUDIES IN ENGLISH .
ALBERT . Coon ED1TO R. S ,
. The ore n ources of ode n En s Versifica n I F ig S M r gli h tio .
CHARLTON . w xs Ph .D M . .
' II. E lfiic : A New u f his Lif W CAROLINE St dy o e an d ritings . IT Ph D Lou R E . . rsA W , L f f . III. The e o Cec a from As mo e an d MS i St ili , MS . h l 43 .
Co o n T er us E . w n ro uct on Var an s and tt ib i VII , ith I t d i , i t , G ss r BE E Ph D. o a . RTE A LLEN LOVEWELL . l y , ’
IV . Dr en s Dramat c T eor an d rac ce ARGARET EE R yd i h y P ti . M S
OO P D 0 . h. 0 W D, . $ . 5 ’ V u in n n ed W . es o so s Com . ELISABETH O O DERIDGE St di J y ,
Ph.D .
- VI. A ossar of the es axon o e s a in e a on Gl y W t S G sp l , L t W st S x - d e axon La in . ATT An s HARR Ph D E rrcn 15 . . in W st S t M ,
An reas : The Le en of St An drew ransla ed from the d g d . , t t
O ld En lish w h an n roduc ion . ROBERT KILB RN g , it I t t U
ROOT.
’ The C ss ca l of la i l Mytho ogy Milton s En glish Poems.
CHARLES ROSVENOR O sooon Ph.D . G , IX A u t En . G ide o the Middle glish Metrical Roman ces dealing wi En l s and ermanic Le en s an d w the C c es th g i h G g d , ith y l
of C ar e a ne an d of Arth ur. ANNA NT BILLINGS h l m g HU ,
Ph. D.
X. The Ear es L ve of Dan e rans a e from the ta an of li t i s t , t l t d I li G o ann Bo n d L on ar o Brnn i Ar tin A ES i v i ccaccio a i d e o. J M
ROBINSON Sm TR .
XL u A in E ic Dev l en . REN . ERS Ph D e o E T Y . . y p pm t I M , ‘St d
The o t r . Sh rt S o y HENRY SEIDEL CANEY. X ' ’ K n A fr ld E is V n f . u u III. i g l ed s O ngl h ersio o St A g stine s ies e e w n r t N d o o u o uc on o es an G sa . S lil q , dit d ith I t d i , t , los ry
HENRY LEE HARGROVE, Ph .D.
XIV The ono the N r u an . o f s a . Ph l gy o o th mbri Glo s of St. M tthew D EMILY OWARD OLEY Ph. . H F , XV . Essays on the Study an d Use of Poetry by Plutarch and Bas l the Grea trans a e from the reek w t an n ro i t, l t d G , i h I t
u P D. In re a c on. REDERICK . PADELYO RD h . a d ti F M , ( p p r
tion .)
XVI. The Translation s of Beowulf : A Critical Bibliography.
CRA B . Ph D uNCEY T1NEER, .