Post by ashwood on Jun 2, 2011 3:36:46 GMT -5
Hello Bob,
I believe I may be your first poster. I found a copy of Reading Old English in my local university and, impressed, I ordered a copy today, which I'm looking forward to receiving.
Pending its arrival, I thought I might ask a favour. I'm a fan of Alan Paton's, "Cry, the Beloved Country" and to test my OE skills, I thought I would have a shot at translating it into OE.
This is what I arrived at. In my defence,what follows is at an early stage - hopefully, your book will improve the effort. The ME translation appears after it for context.
Weoþ, þaet leofe/besorge land
Án wlítig weg ligþ of lxopan on þá beorgas.
þās beorgas sind gærs-beweaxen and dúnlic; and mon no mæg þæs tó mycel singan.
Se weg astígeþ seofon míla in hie; to Carisbrooke, and gif nǽnig mist, niþer þu beseóþ þanane án þara fægerust denes Affricæ.
Gærs and fearn is abuton þē and wenunga hýraþ þu or-wéne cirm þæs Titihoya án þara fugla þara feldes.
Under þē ligþ þā dene þæs Umzimkulu, swá hit færeþ of Drakensberg to þām sǽm; and begeondan and behindan ðære eá, micle dúne æfter micle dúne; and begeondan and behindan hīe, þa muntes þæs Ingeli and þæs Eást-Gricwaland.
-----------------------
There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills.
These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it.
The road climbs seven miles into them, to Carisbrooke; and from there, if there is no mist, you look down on one of the fairest valleys of Africa.
About you there is grass and bracken and you may hear the forlorn crying of the titihoya, one of the birds of the veld.
Below you is the valley of the Umzimkulu, on its journey from the Drakensberg to the sea; and beyond and behind the river, great hill after great hill; and beyond and behind them, the mountains of Ingeli and East Griqualand.
-----------------------------------
From a grammatical viewpoint, am I anywhere near a competent translation, either literally or in spirit? I fear I may be off the mark with word-order and case.
Any thoughts, please?
Cheers.
B.P
I believe I may be your first poster. I found a copy of Reading Old English in my local university and, impressed, I ordered a copy today, which I'm looking forward to receiving.
Pending its arrival, I thought I might ask a favour. I'm a fan of Alan Paton's, "Cry, the Beloved Country" and to test my OE skills, I thought I would have a shot at translating it into OE.
This is what I arrived at. In my defence,what follows is at an early stage - hopefully, your book will improve the effort. The ME translation appears after it for context.
Weoþ, þaet leofe/besorge land
Án wlítig weg ligþ of lxopan on þá beorgas.
þās beorgas sind gærs-beweaxen and dúnlic; and mon no mæg þæs tó mycel singan.
Se weg astígeþ seofon míla in hie; to Carisbrooke, and gif nǽnig mist, niþer þu beseóþ þanane án þara fægerust denes Affricæ.
Gærs and fearn is abuton þē and wenunga hýraþ þu or-wéne cirm þæs Titihoya án þara fugla þara feldes.
Under þē ligþ þā dene þæs Umzimkulu, swá hit færeþ of Drakensberg to þām sǽm; and begeondan and behindan ðære eá, micle dúne æfter micle dúne; and begeondan and behindan hīe, þa muntes þæs Ingeli and þæs Eást-Gricwaland.
-----------------------
There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills.
These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it.
The road climbs seven miles into them, to Carisbrooke; and from there, if there is no mist, you look down on one of the fairest valleys of Africa.
About you there is grass and bracken and you may hear the forlorn crying of the titihoya, one of the birds of the veld.
Below you is the valley of the Umzimkulu, on its journey from the Drakensberg to the sea; and beyond and behind the river, great hill after great hill; and beyond and behind them, the mountains of Ingeli and East Griqualand.
-----------------------------------
From a grammatical viewpoint, am I anywhere near a competent translation, either literally or in spirit? I fear I may be off the mark with word-order and case.
Any thoughts, please?
Cheers.
B.P