|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
ASp, see the link added above.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Dear tsuwm: thanks for turning a mediocre post of mine into something interesting.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
veteran
|
|
veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526 |
From my favorite poet, Omar Khayyam, a small copy of whose Rubaiyat I carry everywhere: The Worldly Hope men set their hearts upon
Turns ashes, or it prospers; and anon,
Like snow upon the desert's dusty face,
Lighting a little hour or two - is gone.
k
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Thanks for that FF. I have always wondered how much of the charm of those verses was in the original, and how much
was added by the translator.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
veteran
|
|
veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526 |
I had several Persian friends back in college. They told me that they really liked the English translations of Fitzgerald, but that even those only captured about 70% of the essence. My own experience at translation has been limited to high school latin and undergraduate german, but I've read translations of Chinese poems, among others. Despite my limited experience, I think 70% (to the extent that percentages are an appropriate metaphor) is extremely good.
k
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
OP
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
The cliché of clichés is "much is lost in translation".
And good poetry is inherently more fragile than prose.
Thanks for your comments. I didn't even know what "Rubaiyat" meant until about a year ago. But ever since I found a forgotten copy of it in my mother's desk, I have enjoyed it.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
Rubaiyatit doesn't mean "big red boat"?  <trying to remain anon...>
formerly known as etaoin...
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,331
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
854
guests, and
1
robot. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
