George Gascoigne (1539-1578) was a member of the Elizabethan court and struggled for status among his contemporaries like the poet John Donne. Because his attempts at becoming a courtier more often failed the succeed Gascoigne often found himself in debt and with a notorious reputation among the religious. Through various legal and financial struggles he produced works that are considered very essential reflections of the time. Gascoigne is both praised and studied for his commanding tone and controversial standings on religion, court life, and the frustrations resulting from the two.
The translation attached is the introduction and first poem from a greater collection of his works called “Posies of Gascoigne” which was printed in 1575. The original text is actually very clear in terms of being able to see each letter and comparatively to other scans on EEBO is extremely readable. By the same token it’s full of dated spellings, which is the most complicated factor in translating. Though arguably if one were familiar enough with older English reading it straight from the scan on a computer would be possible.
What the edited version of the text does, mainly, is clean up the spelling to make the text clearest on the page and while reading. The interchangeability of f and s, u and v, also extra e’s required the most editing or respelling. Also the interpretation of what was pluralized and going back the root word was important to finding accurate definitions for words that didn’t have a contemporary counterpart. Overall the edited version takes away a certain degree of the time stamp on the poem in such a way that makes it accessible to contemporary readers.
Jokinen, Anniina. “Life of George Gascoigne." Luminarium. 1 Aug 2010. Thu. 1. Dec. 2011.
introduction and first poem from “Posies of Gascoigne”
If fine I found the flower that Bellum height,
Sweet even to those, of silly simple sense
Yet sharp and lower, to those that do delight
To all estates which lift the fame to have.
And treed the trace, which Reasons rule hath sought,
Yield not distain to Gascoignes for his here,
Whole bruised brain to thee these flowers that fought,
Left it thou do, the blame on thee do light,
Such friendly pains to recompense with light.
I.D. In prayer of Gascoigne and
His Posies.[5]
If Virgill how to till the Earth, to every man doth tell,
And Galen he in Physics art doth many man excel,
If Poets old deferuen prayer, by panting out aright,
The fruits of vice, as Ouid doth, and many more that write,
By learned skill of many things: If such exalt their name,
And for their here, deferred pray by trump of Lady Fame:
Why should the Author of this book then leave his due depart,
The fruits of Giues in prison ftrog he hath right well decided deed,
Of wares also, and warriors too, even like a Martiall knight,
Virgill is dead, and Galen is gone, with Poets many more:
Yet works of their still alive, and with us kept in store.
This Author lies, and Gascoigne heights, yet once to die most sure,
Alas the while that worthy writes may not always endure,
But works of his among the best, for ever more shall rest,
When he is heaven shall take a place prepared for the blest.
[1] Ox or cows fattened for slaughter
[2] A type of beetle.
[3] The steep bank bounding a river valley.
[4] yre - itinerant judges who rode the circuit to hold courts in the different counties
[5] plural of posey, meaning, a poetic composition
[6] Afterwards, subsequently
[7] Originally dividend, meaning, a number or quantity which is to be divided by another.
No comments:
Post a Comment