Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Blog #5- Shakespeare Translation

For this week’s blog, I want you to select 10 consecutive lines from Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet to translate. You must first put the 10 lines that you are translating from the play down in italics in your response and then follow it with your translation. For example:


Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break now new mutiny…..


Two equally wealthy households

In Verona, where the story is,

From an old argument now a new fight occurs….


Good luck, and you may use any tool to help you.

10 comments:

  1. Here were the servants of your adversary,
    And yours, close fighting ere I did approach:
    I drew to part them: in the instant came
    The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepared,
    Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears,
    He swung about his head and cut the winds,
    Who nothing hurt withal hiss'd him in scorn:
    While we were interchanging thrusts and blows,
    Came more and more and fought on part and part,
    Till the prince came, who parted either part.

    Translation:

    The servants of Capulet,
    And your servants, were fighting before I got there.
    I drew my sword to separate them, as soon as I did
    The fiery Tybalt with his sword already out,
    Which as he shouted defiant words into my ears...
    He swung about his head slicing the air,
    Who having not hurt anything, hissed at him in scorn.
    While we ere interchanging thrusts and blows
    The brawl became hotter and more furious on both sides.
    Until the Prince came who broke it all up.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Montague
    Nay, an there were two such, we should have none shortly, for one would kill the other. Thou, why, thou wilt quarrel with a man that hath a hair more or a hair less in his beard than thou hast. Thou wilt quarrel with a man for cracking nuts, having no other reason but because thou hast hazel eyes. What eye but such an eye would spy out such a quarrel? Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat, and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarreling. Thou hast quarreled with a man for coughing in the street because he hath wakened thy dog that hath lain asleep in the sun. Didst thou not fall out with a tailor for wearing his new doublet before Easter? With another, for tying his new shoes with old ribbon? And yet thou wilt tutor me from quarreling!

    Translations
    Montague
    If there were two men like you, pretty soon there’d be none because the two of you would kill each other. You would fight with a man if he had one more whisker or one less whisker in his beard than you have in your beard. You’ll fight with a man who’s cracking nuts just because you have hazelnut-colored eyes. Only you would look for a fight like that. Your head is as full of fights as an egg is full of yolk, but your head has been beaten like scrambled eggs from so much fighting. You started a fight with a man who coughed in the street because he woke up a dog that was sleeping in the sun. Didn’t you argue it out with your tailor for wearing one of his new suits before the right season? And with another for tying the new shoes he made with old laces? And yet you’re the one who wants to teach me about restraint!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Capulet: And too soon marr’d are those so early made. The earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she; She is the hopeful lady of my earth. But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart; My will to her consent is but a part. An she agree, within her scope of choice Lies my consent and fair according voice. This night I hold an old accustom’d feast, Whereto I have invited many guest, Such as I love ; and you among the store, One more, most welcome, makes my number more. At my poor house look to behold this night.

    If too soon marr’d are those so early made. All my children are dead, she is my only surviving child. But woo her Paris will marry her. I will let her. If she agrees within her choice lies my choice. This night I hold a feast, where I have invited many guest, the ones that I love, and you among all the others are most welcome. Look after my house for this night.
    -Chloe.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
    Profaners of this neighbor-stainèd steel!—
    Will they not hear?—What, ho! You men, you beasts,
    That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
    With purple fountains issuing from your veins,
    On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
    Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground,
    And hear the sentence of your movèd prince.
    Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,
    By thee, old Capulet, and Montague,
    Have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets


    You rebels, enemies of peace, people stained with their neighbor's blood, why won't you listen? you men, you beast, feed your anger with each other's blood - throw your weapons to the ground and listen to your angered Prince. Three fights between Capulet and Montague have disturbed the quiet streets of Verona.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Welcome, gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes
    Unplagu'd with corns will have a bout with you.
    Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all
    Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty
    She, I'll swear, hath corns. Am I come near ye now?
    Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day
    That I have worn a visor and could tell
    A wisphering tale in a fair lady's ear,
    Such as would please. 'Tis gone,'tis gone, 'tis gone!
    You are welcome, gentlemen! Come musicians, play.

    Welcome, everbody. The ladies who don’t
    have corns on their toes will dance with you.
    Ha, my ladies, which of you will not dance ?
    Who ever is shy, I’ll swear they have corns.
    Do you understand? Welcome, everybody.
    I have worn a mask on my face
    and and heard a story from a women.
    That time is gone, gone, gone.
    You are welcome gentlemen.
    Come on, musicians, play music.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Welcome, gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes
    Ah, my mistresses! Which of you all
    Unplagued with corns will walk a bout with you.—
    Will now deny to dance? She that makes dainty,
    She, I’ll swear, hath corns. Am I come near ye now?—
    Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day
    That I have worn a visor and could tell
    A whispering tale in a fair lady’s ear
    Such as would please. 'Tis gone, ’tis gone, ’tis gone.—
    You are welcome, gentlemen.—Come, musicians, play.
    (music plays and they dance

    Translation

    Welcome, gentlemen. The ladies who don’t have corns on their toes will dance with you. Ha, my ladies, which of you will refuse to dance now? Whichever of you acts shy, I’ll swear she has corns. Does that hit close to home? Welcome, gentlemen. There was a time when I could wear a mask over my eyes and charm a lady by whispering a story in her ear. That time is gone, gone, gone. You are welcome gentlemen. Come on, musicians, play music. (music plays and they dance, ROMEO stands apart)

    ReplyDelete
  7. But saying o'er what I have said before.
    My child is yet a stranger in the world.
    She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.
    Let two more summers wither in their pride
    Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
    Younger than she are happy mothers made.
    And too soon marred are those so early made.
    Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she.
    She’s the hopeful lady of my earth.
    But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart.

    Translation

    I can only repeat what I’ve said before.
    My daughter is still very young.
    She’s not even fourteen years old.
    Let’s wait two more summers before we start thinking she’s ready to get married.
    Girls younger than she often marry and become happy mothers.
    Girls who marry so young grow up too soon.
    But go ahead and charm her,
    gentle Paris; make her love you.

    ReplyDelete
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    3. Gregory, on my word, we’ll not carry coals.
      No, for then we should be colliers.
      I mean, an we be in choler, we’ll draw.
      Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of collar.
      I strike quickly, being moved.
      But thou art not quickly moved to strike
      A dog of the house of Montague moves me.
      To move is to stir, and to be valiant is to stand.
      Therefore if thou art moved thou runn’st away.
      A dog of that house shall move me to stand. I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague’s.
      Transalation
      Gregory, I swear, we can’t let them humiliate us. We won’t take their garbage.
      No, because then we’d be garbagemen
      What I mean is, if they make us angry we’ll pull out our swords.
      Maybe you should focus on pulling yourself out of trouble, Sampson.
      I hit hard when I’m angry.
      But it’s hard to make you angry.
      One of those dogs from the Montague house can make me angry.
      Angry enough to run away. You won’t stand and fight.
      A dog from that house will make me angry enough to take a stand. If I pass one of them on the street, I’ll take the side closer to the wall and let him walk in the gutter.

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