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As we know, I am pathologically unable to resist a library sale. Or a free book.

Which is why I now own four different (Latin) texts of Vergil's Aeneid, dating from 1840 to 2001 (and let's not talk about how many translation). Also, as of yesterday, I have two different OCTs of the Annales (would rather have a Histores, I admit, but what can you do), and about half a dozen new girls' stories, most by the prolific Mrs. L.T. Meade, and including such alluring titles as Naughty Hannah, Miss Nonnentity, and Three Bright Girls.

I started reading the Eclogues in translation, and I really want to read them in Latin -- but of course I didn't bring them, and since I am already juggling Demosthenes, La Princesse de Clèves, and Harry Potter und das Feuerkelch right now, not to mention the omnispresent threat of having to revise my project, that I probably shouldn't add any more books to my "hard" reading.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

charlie-ego.livejournal.com

Aha! This did not occur to me until now, but of course you are the perfect person to ask: what translation of the Aeneid should I pick up for maximum user enjoyment?

For reference, I know effectively nothing about Latin, and *am ashamed* have never read the Aeneid before, though in my defense partially because I wanted a good translation -- my sister had her experience of Dante ruined by a horribly boring translation, which makes me sad because I adore Dante to bits and pieces.

From:

ricardienne.livejournal.com

Oooh: interesting question. I think that Mandelbaum is a solid good one, in my opinion, but not super exciting. I happen to think that Fagles is overly fussy, and that Fitzgerald is better (more elegant, more stately), which is the classic 20th century translation. On the other hand I am soured on Fitzgerald on principle since noticing some very questionable translation choices that introduce sexist language that *isn't even there in the original* (and, really, I don't think you need to ADD problematic gender issues to the Aened).

Sarah Ruden recently did a translation that I liked (it was very fleet and concise and lovely to read out loud) but that just about every classicist I know hates with a passion. I'm not much of a Vergilist, and I haven't found a very good discussion of precisely what is wrong(er) about hers -- it does has some fidelity issues, I understand (notably, she doesn't do repeat translations of repeat lines and phrases) and is said to be a little glib.

Frederick Ahl did a really weird translation in dactylic hexameter (very long lines), trying to preserve as much of the sound- and language-play of the original. I've only read parts of it, and it was very... interesting, but kind of exhausting for long stretches.

And then, I guess, there's always Dryden, for a very nice late 17th century rhymed iambic pentameter translation.

Here's a nifty site I just turned up with comparative 20th century translations:

http://mysite.ncnetwork.net/resp6dcn/Vergil/excerpts.htm

From:

charlie-ego.livejournal.com

Thanks so much! This is just the kind of thing I was hoping to hear. I have a copy of the Mandelbaum Divine Comedy which I really do not like (as you say, the translation itself is solid, but so boring). Based on your recommendation I think I will check out the Ruden. For a first read-through I'm not too fussed about it hewing closely to the original, and readability is key. If I fall in love I may get the Fitzgerald too :)

(I have Fitzgerald's Iliad, which I quite like, although I am not really a fan of the Iliad itself... I dunno, too much loving description of spears going through various soft body parts...)