The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-15
AN ANCIENT Efl'
TRISSL1TED BY
K.xI,w of Professor Halls Work by Dis"n-
guished Professor of this STATE
ond Translation bya virginia sehoih''

pvowrrr. Az Axo1o-sAxoS EPIC PoEx. Trans
lated from the Heyne-socin text by Joi Les
liz Hall professor Of English and history IN
the College OF william and Mary. Boston,
sA.D. G. Heath & Co.. publishers l'sS. ior
.slo bv West. Johnston & Co.; j. W. Randolph
4 Co. Price 81.
The ;ssue Of another book on Anglo saxon,
or better old English. by slnian Schoi re-
calls the eminent stand that lrglhlah cyi'eEes
and Viryinjau students have taken IN TINS de-
uartnent Of culture and thought ne oniy
other American translation OF TINS eailleSe anu
greatest of old English epics done mo no lloI-
eru English Is by Nlrglnlhh' IOIossVi
lanes Nj. Garnett. Of the state niVersity,
the we'll known translator Of klene and
other old English poems. The only American
edition OF the text itself has Deeh pre-
uared by Professor james A: harrison. or
Washington and Lee assisted ~ M o.u pu-
nil Prot Robert Sharpe, OF Julane hlVer-
sitv Two others Of the three additional texts
already published III tho same series are by
woman students. 'Andreas. 10y Professor
". NJ Baskerville OF Vanderbilt niyersity,
graduate Of Randolph Macon, and Elene.
BY Prof. Charles ". Kent, OF the 1 hFersltY
of Tennessee a former student OF our State
University. Likewise the Forthcoming
volume advertised to appear IN the same Sc
ries will be prepared by Prot " ;. Currel, OF
Davidson College. North Carolina. graduate
of Washington and Lee.
Every male and female college in our State
brides itself on the strength and value OF It's
English course. and the professors IN these
departments are all well known. This In
terest in the historical study Of English was
manifested as early as 1898 IN a letter 70 Her
bert Crofts. ESQ. Of London. by Thomas JEFF
ferson himself. who SO deeply affected IN ey-
cry way the history of education in Virginia,
4 81. 8 Got rftrq IN
1925 under his supervision this study found
ready place IN the curriculum. Indeed. ever
slnc 1914 one man. that worthy representa-
tive Of letters aud philology, Professor Schee
de We're. has announced and held for nigh
half century u weekly lecture on Anglo
Saxon at the University of Virginia.
But not only this. Nirginian colleges have
besides furnished the professors Of English -
the States of nearly the entire South .and
even one or two at the North. For instance.
Professor Hume. OF the University of North
Carolina. IS a Nlrglnlan Professor Currell. Of
Davidson College. as stated above, was edu-
Gated At Washington anG Lee, Professor
Armstrong of Trinity College, Is graduate
OF Randolph Macon. IN South Carolina
Professors Joynes and Woodward, Of tie
State University. are NlrRlnians; Professor
Shepherd, Of Charleston College. attended
the Virginia University. Professor Morris. #
the University Of Georgia, IS an NJ. A. OF tho
of the University of Tennessee. Professor
Trent, of the University of the South at Sc
vance, aud Professor Bruce Of Bryn Mawr
College, Pennsylvania. Professor Baskerville.
OF Vanderbilt University, Tennessee and
Professors Sharpe and FIcklen. of Tulane IN
Louisiana. were former students OF Professor
Thomas X. Price. at Randolph Macon. and
Professor Price himself il tue distinguished
Professor of English at Columbia College IA
New York city. Professor Akers OF Central
University, Kentucky. and Professor Wan
chOpe. OF the University Of Missouri. are
both Nirginians and graduates OF Professor
Harrison. at Washington and Lee. And tbs
list long and eminent as IL 10. by no means
eXhausts the catalogue. which viii soon lie
even further increased by the several prOmis-
Ing and prominent NrginlGn students. gradu-
ates OF our colleges. at present taking special
courses IN Old English at the Johns Hopkins
University.
But We turn directly 10 the book before is
First of oil. It is a serious thing TO undertake
translation of BeOwulf IL is poem OF
more than three thousand verses cor lines IN
length. Astounding III difficulties. obsourltles
and text-corruptions. aud 1t requires scholal-
ship OF no mean order even 10 essay the
work That Professor Hall has undertaken
and accomplished II, Is TO be set down TO tho
credit of himself his institution and bis
State. We shall not discuss the value
Of a line for line translation as is Professor
translation 8s is Professor Halls version.
The aim and purpose are different IN each
case and hence the results must vary IL Is
an old discussion. and every scholar. certainly
every translator, has his own theories aud
ideas Oh the subject We DO not care to
thresh old straw and even II We did We feel
sure that the readers of THE TnEs do not
care 10 sip through them. We would much
rather congratulate ourselves that We have
the two side by side. As we arc proud that
they are both the work of Nlrglnians.
Professor Hall states distinctly IN his pre-
face that his translation IS addressed 10 two
classes Of readers, from both of which he
begs sympathy and cooperation He is
looking 20 the students Of English literature
as well as 10 the Old English scholar. We
re Oice at this conception OF his task. and 10
does the translator credit even though IL
be az he himself admits "a bold and
yenturesome undertaking. For. why should
acquaintance with English literature begin OF
end with Spenser. Sidney, Shakespeare and
the ElZabethaDsy Some few general readers
do deigu 10 purchase copy OF Chaucer-
though probably OIL inferior editlon-and do
posit II on their library shelves. Those wto
faii 10 peruse II miss a great treat standing
ever ready for their entertainment Ana
why should not every well-selected library
contain likewise a translation OF this noble Old
English classic. issuing from the very foun-
tain heads of the genius OF the Ang. o-SaI1n
race
Perhaps the success Of the translation may
best be shown and a fairly adequate concep-
ton of the nature of the poem best be given
by the citation or extracts. The chief char
acteristics OF Old English poetry are every
where manifest. long descriptions frequent
repetition Of epithets and qualities an innate
delight for pictures of war. struggles. prOw.
ess. deeds Of yalor constant use OF metaphor
and comparison features prevalent IN tie
epics OF Homer and IN every poem springing
from the early history Of race and Ian
guage.
The first extract we cite tells Of the con-
signment of dead hero and king 10 the
waters for conveyance 10 another shore OF
another world beautiful thought underly-
ing poetical myth
The believe leader laid they down there.
Giyer OF rings, on the breast of the vessel
The famed by the malnmast A many OF ewefs
OF iretied embossings, from far-lsnls brought
over.
Was placed near at hand then; and heard not
ever
That folk ever furnished a float more superbly