Tuesday 25 January 2022

John Milton: another lost translation

I'm starting to wonder when these lost translations will end. I mean, this is what, the 11th or something? Let's see… Ciapa la galeinathe six Alcæus translationsthe two old ones here, and that's 9 already… YeatsCatullus carmen 70… and now Milton sonnet 19, When I consider how my light is spent, thus number 12. And actually there's Do you really love me, original version, more tesina stuff related to Sappho's Hymn to Aphrodite and Sappho 16, lost corrected versions of Chinese translations like Bulan menjadi saksi Chinese version, the lost partial original Hakka-English here and perhaps more of the translations from the English notebook (I'm trying to count as many as possible as improvements rather than lost translations remade in August)… what else? Will the mysterious Ovid translation mentioned in the index versionum poeticarum (index of poetic translations) finally show up one day, or was it just a plan that was then scrapped?
Anyway, today we have a sonnet by Milton, sonnet 19, When I consider how my light is spent, which emerged in an Italian translation dated «16/5 nct» (16/5/2011 at night) from the English notebook from the fourth year of High School. Let's get to it!


When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one Talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide;
“Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”
I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need
Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o’er Land and Ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait.”
Se penso a come la mia luce è spenta
A mezza vita, in buio ed ampio mondo,
E quel talento, ch'è morir s'ascondo,
Sta in me senz'uso, l'anima contenta

Di più a servirci Iddio, ché io non senta
Suo biasmo ché l' mio acconto non è pronto,
"Pur senza lume chiede dei dì conto
Dio?", sciocco, chiedo; la Pazienza, intenta

A zittirmi risponde: "Non bisogna
A Dio opra od offerte d'uom; chi meglio
Porta il suo mite giogo, meglio 'L serve;

Suo stato è real; migliaia fanno pugna
Per correr terra e mare miglio a miglio;
Chi solo aspetta e sta, anch'esso il serve".

No comments:

Post a Comment