登陆注册
15681600000002

第2章

The principles which have guided me on the present occasion are the same as those followed in the translation of Schiller's complete Poems that was published by me in 1851, namely, as literal a rendering of the original as is consistent with good English, and also a very strict adherence to the metre of the original.Although translators usually allow themselves great license in both these points, it appears to me that by so doing they of necessity destroy the very soul of the work they profess to translate.In fact, it is not a translation, but a paraphrase that they give.It may perhaps be thought that the present translations go almost to the other extreme, and that a rendering of metre, line for line, and word for word, makes it impossible to preserve the poetry of the original both in substance and in sound.But experience has convinced me that it is not so, and that great fidelity is even the most essential element of success, whether in translating poetry or prose.It was therefore very satisfactory to me to find that the principle laid down by me to myself in translating Schiller met with the very general, if not universal, approval of the reader.At the same time, Ihave endeavoured to profit in the case of this, the younger born of the two attempts made by me to transplant the muse of Germany to the shores of Britain, by the criticisms, whether friendly or hostile, that have been evoked or provoked by the appearance of its elder brother.

As already mentioned, the latter contained the whole of the Poems of Schiller.It is impossible, in anything like the same compass, to give all the writings of Goethe comprised under the general title of Gedichte, or poems.They contain between 30,000and 40,000 verses, exclusive of his plays.and similar works.

Very many of these would be absolutely without interest to the English reader,--such as those having only a local application, those addressed to individuals, and so on.Others again, from their extreme length, could only be published in separate volumes.But the impossibility of giving all need form no obstacle to giving as much as possible; and it so happens that the real interest of Goethe's Poems centres in those classes of them which are not too diffuse to run any risk when translated of offending the reader by their too great number.Those by far the more generally admired are the Songs and Ballads, which are about 150 in number, and the whole of which are contained in this volume (with the exception of one or two of the former, which have been, on consideration, left out by me owing to their trifling and uninteresting nature).The same may be said of the Odes, Sonnets, Miscellaneous Poems, &c.

In addition to those portions of Goethe's poetical works which are given in this complete form, specimens of the different other classes of them, such as the Epigrams, Elegies, &c., are added, as well as a collection of the various Songs found in his Plays, making a total number of about 400 Poems, embraced in the present volume.

A sketch of the life of Goethe is prefixed, in order that the reader may have before him both the Poet himself and the Poet's offspring, and that he may see that the two are but one--that Goethe lives in his works, that his works lived in him.

The dates of the different Poems are appended throughout, that of the first publication being given, when that of the composition is unknown.The order of arrangement adopted is that of the authorized German editions.As Goethe would never arrange them himself in the chronological order of their composition, it has become impossible to do so, now that he is dead.The plan adopted in the present volume would therefore seem to be the best, as it facilitates reference to the original.The circumstances attending or giving rise to the production of any of the Poems will be found specified in those cases in which they have been ascertained by me.

Having said thus much by way of explanation, I now leave the book to speak for itself, and to testify to its own character.

Whether viewed with a charitable eye by the kindly reader, who will make due allowance for the difficulties attending its execution, or received by the critic, who will judge of it only by its own merits, with the unfriendly welcome which it very probably deserves, I trust that I shall at least be pardoned for making an attempt, a failure in which does not necessarily imply disgrace, and which, by leading the way, may perhaps become the means of inducing some abler and more worthy (but not more earnest) labourer to enter upon the same field, the riches of which will remain unaltered and undiminished in value, even although they may be for the moment tarnished by the hands of the less skilful workman who first endeavours to transplant them to a foreign soil.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

I have taken advantage of the publication of a Second Edition of my translation of the Poems of Goethe (originally published in 1853), to add to the Collection a version of the much admired classical Poem of Hermann and Dorothea, which was previously omitted by me in consequence of its length.Its universal popularity, however, and the fact that it exhibits the versatility of Goethe's talents to a greater extent than, perhaps, any other of his poetical works, seem to call for its admission into the present volume.

On the other hand I have not thought it necessary to include the sketch of Goethe's Life that accompanied the First Edition.

At the time of its publication, comparatively little was known in this country of the incidents of his career, and my sketch was avowedly written as a temporary stop-gap, as it were, pending the production of some work really deserving the tittle of a life of Goethe.Not to mention other contributions to the literature of the subject, Mr.Lewis's important volumes give the English reader all the information he is likely to require respecting Goethe's career, and my short memoir appeared to be no longer required.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 大乘百法明门论

    大乘百法明门论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 黑道老公:请松口

    黑道老公:请松口

    “你你……你耍流氓……”“不不不……我只对你耍流氓……”某老公邪魅一笑。“别过来……啊!禽兽……”“情兽?乖……我只做你一个人的情兽!”某老公突如其来的专情告白。“放开我……你个大坏蛋!”“哎呀!小卿卿,你怎么能怎么说哀家呢!人家还是纯良美男子一枚”这个“无耻之徒”彻底颠覆了她的三观。(偶家小卿卿要逃跑?)哪来的一只哈士狗狗追着跑?“该死的……色狗,放开你的爪子!”“……嗷嗷”“啊!不要呀!快松口……”黑道腹黑阴险吃萌扮乖,还附带调笑逗弄功能,是情窦初开,良家少女必备的生活调味剂——哈士老公一枚……市场价只需要1元,快快抢购吧!
  • 绝世妖孽闯异世

    绝世妖孽闯异世

    苍穹113年,魔界下任魔王因屠杀长老被囚彼岸。苍穹115年,魔界下任魔王被处以死刑,同年,沧澜国六皇子历练归来。逆光而行,光芒背后,满是黑暗,屠杀之谜,身世之谜,眼线密布,神秘组织,这一切的一切背后,究竟隐藏着什么,是道德的沦丧,还是人性的扭曲?千百年前,三玉横空出世,苍穹统一格局破,古老的记载究竟隐瞒了什么?千百年后,神秘组织对三玉的掠夺,又是出于何目的?迷雾重重,身边之人又能否安康。异世,可不是那么好闯的。
  • 妖猴修道传

    妖猴修道传

    仙佛两立,人、妖混战,冥土勾魂,邪魔暗视妖猴修道,斩邪魔,入地府,搅天庭,斗灵山
  • 斗罗大陆之九州记

    斗罗大陆之九州记

    斗罗大陆!继唐家三少之后,唐月之后继续续写!【小飘小飘,永飘高峰】【小飘小飘,永飘高峰】【小飘小飘,永飘高峰】
  • 圣元帝尊

    圣元帝尊

    【本书永久免费,请放心观看】长歌踏天道,挥剑斩轮回,金鳞化龙,一飞冲天!
  • 弑天之尊

    弑天之尊

    在这个世界中,每个人多是上天的宠儿,但也有些人是另类。一个少年崛起之路,一路诛仙弑神,一路招花惹草。天若挡我,我必踏破这个天。
  • 霸君宠:妾不承欢

    霸君宠:妾不承欢

    初见之时她是寄人篱下的江南第一才女他是雄霸塞北的一代枭雄曾经她只是他众多女人中一个过气的宠妾原已心死坠落山崖,不想还有重逢的机会她,苏雅。传说,是唯一可以动摇龙霸天的人。也是在亲生母亲离世时,没有一滴泪的人。她是女人!一个冷漠至极的女人。也是一个生没父亲,养没母亲的女人。不,她早已不是苏雅,在坠落山崖的那一刻,在她再度睁开双眸的那一刻,她已经忘却了一切。作为鬼见愁的唯一弟子!过着快乐无忧的生活。但当他们重逢之时,一切都偏离了轨迹~师傅失踪、桃花谷被毁,龙霸天被杀?!她被一个温文尔雅的杀手囚禁,那是一个城府极深的腹黑男子。当她千辛万苦逃出来时,发现他不仅没死还被御赐为塞北王爷?真是可喜可贺!而她这个过气侍妾竟然会被封为正妃?为何原来那个邪肆多情的男人又变回冷酷无心的风流王爷为何在她付出真心之后总要面对这样的结局?为何她总是不知不觉便站在山崖的边缘。~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~苏雅and龙霸天【初见】锋利的剑刃抵住苏雅,龙霸天邪气的微扯嘴角盯着她依旧沉静的眸子道:“你求我,便救你。”她眼神流转,只是低声安抚跌坐在地上的丫鬟,根本不去理他。当他一刀削去劫匪头颅之后,她依旧眼神清冷倨傲,只是冷冷的回了他一眼,转身离开前仅留下两个字:“多事。”【献艺】她身着雪白羽裳,美丽而脱俗。弹奏着春江花月夜、凤求凰,双颊绯红。而他是上座主宾,邪肆轻佻,在她欠身离去前的刹那,瞬时起身,单手撩起黑色披风。苏雅根本来不及呼救,便在满屋客人的面前被龙霸天毫不怜惜的扛出了苏家。【夺处】不急,他是抓获礼物的野兽却不急着开苞不断的逗弄,温情万种,直到她陷入他的柔情中不再抗拒,曲艺逢迎他邪笑着,侯爷我不会用强,小野猫你定会求我~欢迎撒花~求收藏+推荐+评论!!这是曾经看过的一本小说《霸君无情》改编+续写的小说。欢迎收看汪冷儿首篇网文《霸君宠:妾不承欢》http://novel.hongxiu.com/a/417727/
  • 有朝一日

    有朝一日

    旁人对顾旭白的评价只有一个字:冷。只有薛宁知道,他血管里流淌的血,有多热。
  • 绝宠兽妃:废材九小姐

    绝宠兽妃:废材九小姐

    她前世被人陷害,一朝穿越,当华眸再睁却发现穿越到了丞相府废柴九小姐身上。未婚夫亲自前来退婚?她乐得自在!有小人送上门来找虐?她下手果断!某太子欲哭无泪:本以为退婚是卸掉一大累赘,谁知她精明灵动,让他怦然心动,待他蓦然回首,她却已不在原地!某王爷黯然伤神:本以为她心里有自己的,却只是黄粱一梦……某神秘男子含笑来到她身边,凑近她,洛轻衣双臂抱胸,警惕瞪他:“你干嘛?!”某男子答曰:“你不是要撕了我?我的衣服,任你撕!”洛轻衣“滚!!!”