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Archive for August 2023

Beowulf

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Tolkien’s translation is okay:

Then that warrior turned his horse, and thereupon spake these words: ‘Time it is for me to go. May the Almighty Father in his grace keep you safe upon your quests! To the sea will I go, against unfriendly hosts my watch to keep.’ (22)

Heaney is better:

. . . then the noble warrior
wheeled on his horse and spoke these words:
“It is time for me to go. May the Almighty
Father keep you and in His kindness
watch over your exploits. I’m away to the sea,
back on alert against enemy raiders.” (23)

But Wilson’s rendition is the best (it must be read aloud):

Then he wheeled and he went, wished them Godspeed,
“May the great Father favor you and find you in kindness,
Bestowing His blessings and backing your exploits.
For myself I must go and make my way back
To the coast where I can keep my watch up for raiders.” (17)

Written by Scott Moonen

August 30, 2023 at 11:06 am

Posted in Books, Poetry, Quotations