New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-03

GOrTTT's ROMAN ELEGlES. Translated into English
vers- iy l. NoA small 40 Vp.S9 Boston >chocuiol %
Moenef.
Successful translation requires an equal
know edge of two languages He whose mother tongue
Is the language OF the translation Is compelled To master
that Of the original at least the extent Of being able
10 reproduce its shades OF thought ana expressions
aud in Ike manner he whose mother toneac is that Of
the original must not only know, but make practically
his own the language OF the translation OF the t"o'
the latter is certainly the difficult task Tor is i
easier to acquire the knowledge o! language thaA Z"
usc il with entire correctness. In undertaking 10 GlNe
Goethes Roman E.ogies IN English in the classical dis-
itch Of the original MI Noa has made formidable ven
turo aud IL is no disparaeomeu of his talent to that
he has not succeeded lie has made remarkably close
translation OF tie rOr9S OF the original IN meter meant
TO be the same bat the element Of poetry has eyapoaea
In the PROCESS and the lines sadly fear viii only help
20 increase the prejudice Of English readers against the
naturalization Of classic meters in the language Moth
ing but the most assdu0us labor the most rehued uatu
raj sense Of and elegance can make the ee
giac measure acceptable % English ears. Mr.. Noa, as
German. could not POSSIBLY succeed therein. He not
only misses the delicate movement and balance OF words
lin rhythmeal sense), but by the awkward use OF the
auxliary verb 10 d. and the employment Of common
place expressions falls entirely out of the poeca key
of the original Goethes Roman Elegies" must be as
deicately handled as plum with the bloom upon IT, or
the wings of a butterfly. They hover on the edge OF
realism which is repelant If barely presented dam
tier task could hardly be given to the most accomplished
literary artist than their reproduction in another tongue
BEFORE all things therefore Mr. Noa should have salts
hed himself that he possessed such thorough know-
edge OF English as might enable him TO repeat Goethes
thought in equivalent words. Yet, in the sixth line of
Elegy l. we fnd him transating the phrase ddS mich
persenqeHd erQuickt (which refreshes me While II
scorchesl into yielding me soaring delight !"
The following line is still more unfortunately
rendered: AIM ie die Wege nOch aieht Giaye yet no
presentment Of the paths is given 70 us: "Can not
yet call 10 mind the roads" etc. Even the exgences OF
meter are no excuse thus changing the meaning. In
Elegy H. we were little puzzled by the liue; Let on
the limited talk follow the pfu game until we turned
70 the original and found: IND dem gebuodHcn
Gespreh Coiqe das tratiQe Spiel" On the restrictions
of talk follow the misery OF pay! In Elegy XIX there
fsa mistake which very cOmica Mr. Noa writes:
.Then he cell iarded with flowers the hero recaicdt
hair" Goethe uses for the first expression the word
bespeIt which correctly translated as "arded' when
applied TO roast hare pheasant here It can only be
rendered as studded" So the word s'rdabede means
sresistng or "stubbOTn =" recalcrant halr would in
deed be phenomenon! The beautiful Eegy v loses all
its aroma in Mr. NOa's hands. We quote two lines 10
show what liberties he takes with our language:
"True though IT be, that my love does rob me some
hours OF the day of, .
Hours Of the night she TO in compensation gives up"