Chapter 47 Borton and The Arabian Nights

Borton and The Arabian Nights For many years, I have wanted to buy an English translation of Richard Burton's "Arabian Nights", this The wish has finally come true until recently. Originally, I already had a retranslation of Mattes's French translation based on Mardulu, which is eight volumes The limited edition of , the translation is fresh and fluent, and it is very convenient to read, so it should be enough.but i started I will never forget Borton's profound commentary, which has been repeatedly mentioned by many people, and his thirty-year spirit I always want to see the complete translation that I have done my best, so even if I have already read the translation published in recent years

Borton's translation selection, I still insist on buying a sixteen-volume Borton original publication. Under the north window, open the book and inspect the transparent Borton sign on each leaf against the light The watermark of the words, I have never read the content, I am already very satisfied in my heart. Borton is proficient in various languages ​​and characters of the Near East. His translation of the Arabian Nights is directly from A Translated from Arabic.There are not many people in the world who are proficient in Arabic, but there are such people talent, nor Borton's profound academic ability and interests, and it is even rarer to have his perseverance, so

This "Tale of One Thousand and One Nights", although there are many other translations before and after Borton, but There is none so faithful and complete as his.In some places, such as in the retrospective book, some The comparison of the origins of the stories, and the interpretation of certain customs and idioms, is in Arabia Can't see it in the original text. In "A Brief Introduction to the Translator", Richard Borton described his intention to translate "The Arabian Nights" in this way: go through: In the winter of 1852, Borton talked with his old friend Steinheiser about "The Arabian Nights".

I think that although many people in the British reading circle knew about this book at that time, apart from being able to read it directly Outside of the original Arabic, few people have had the opportunity to appreciate the true value of this treasure house of literature, so The two of them decided to work together to make this faithful, unadorned, and unabridged original Originally translated.Because the original text is prose in some places, and verse is inserted in some places, they The two worked together, with Steinheiser in charge of the prose and Borton in charge of the verse.so about

Sure, they broke up.Soon, Borton arrived in Brazil, suddenly received Steinheiser in Switzerland The sad news of his death, and because of the lack of care of the relics, part of the translations that Stanley has completed have also disappeared This is missing. But Borton was not discouraged, and he decided to take on the daunting task himself.After many hardships, After more than 20 years, Shi Ding (Borton's occupation is a diplomat) finally passed, in 1879 All translations were completed in the spring, and they can be published after a little finishing.During the compilation of translations,

Borton suddenly discovered that there was another English version of "Arabian Nights" from the publication notices of literary and artistic publications at that time. The translation is to be published, from the pen of the famous translator John Penney.Borton was very comfortable with his translations. He didn't want to compete with him, so he wrote to discuss with Penny, preferring to let Pan's translation be published first. His five-year sales period delayed publication of his translation until the spring of 1885. John Penney's translation is divided into nine volumes, and only 500 copies were printed. It is known as the most unprecedented translation.

Complete English translation.He himself said, "Four times more than Garland's translation, more than any other translation." Translator He's translation is also three times more." He very politely put this translated document in the dedication of the translation To Richard Borton.Borton later praised Paney's translation in the preface to his translation, I especially admire his choice of words and words, saying that some places are incomparable with the original Arabic text. seamless.The fly in the ointment is that Pan's translation admits that some parts are still "castrated",

Still not a complete translation. So, in 1885, Borton, in accordance with the agreement he made with Penny, transferred his The translation is scheduled for release.His translation, as he himself says, is not only complete and unabridged, but And try to preserve the original format and structure of Arabia.Imagine if the Arabs did not use the Arab Burwen wrote "The Arabian Nights" in English, how should they write it. Borton's translation was also sold by reservation, between 1885 and 1886. Ten volumes were printed in between. From 1887 to 1888, he printed six sequels.This "Heaven" composed of sixteen volumes

The Arabian Nights' translation, with its profundity of citations and voluminous translations, cuts off any attempt to try again. The ambition of latecomers to try this work.Half a century after the publication of Borton's translation, although Of course, there are also one or two translations in other languages, some of which are simple and easy to use, and some are exaggerated and obscene. The obscene words are attractive, but in completeness and length, compared with his translation, it is still The comparison between dwarves and giants. The stories in "Arabian Nights" come from different sources, and the author is not alone.

The accumulation of that era was gradually collected and sorted out by later generations, so not only can we not know those works Who was the author, and when did the "Tale of the Thousand and One Nights" as we see it in the first place come into being? unconfirmed.Some say it appeared in the thirteenth century, while others say it was as late as the fifteenth century. Garland, the translator of the original French translation, believed that most of the stories in the Arabian Nights came from out of India and spread to Arabia via Persia; but Burton believes that the source of the story is Persia

More.In his postscript, which was tens of thousands of words long, regarding these issues, according to his own research, The observations were summarized into the following outlines: The backbone of the story originated in Persia.The oldest of these stories dates back to around the eighth century. There are about thirteen of the most important stories, which can be said to be the core of the Arabian Nights collection. The stories all happened around the tenth century.The latest few stories in the book obviously have later edited Traces that can prove to be a work of the sixteenth century.Most of the book was formed in the thirteenth century.to As for who the author is, no one has mentioned it at all.Because there are different narrators, and everyone took notes at will, so So there is no author at all.As for the dissemination of these manuscripts and the deeds of the recorders, it remains to be seen. Based on newly discovered data to research. The above are Borton's opinions on the production and source of the book "The Arabian Nights".he is like Therefore, others are not qualified to make judgments casually. The translator of The Arabian Nights, Richard Burton (1821-1890), was an English Chinese, born in Oxford.Later, for his diplomatic achievements, he was awarded a knighthood (but not for Asked him to translate "Arabian Nights"! ), so known as Sir Borton.In 1842 he followed the The army went to India, and disguised as an Indian businessman to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. It was the British who went to visit the tomb of Muhammad. First person.Because at that time non-Muslims were not allowed to go, otherwise their lives would be in danger, but Borton We participated in bold disguise as Indian Muslim.On the way, because I got up early to go to the toilet, I did not follow the Muslim rules. His habit of wiping sand with his left hand was almost recognized by others, but he was finally escaped by wit. He has been to Persia, Egypt, Arabia, Africa, Syria and other places, and served as the British embassy in Damascus. He was the consul and commissioner of leather and other places, and he went to Arabia for Pharaoh to investigate where the ancient Egyptians were. developed gold mines.Therefore, Borton's knowledge of languages, history and geography of the countries of the Near East is very rich, This laid the foundation for his later translation of "The Arabian Nights".In addition to translating "The Arabian Nights", Borton In addition, he has written several travel notes about India and the Near East, but all of them give him the Overshadowed by the achievements of a great translator.He also translated the famous Kama Sutra "Scent Garden" of the ancient Arabs. Borton later died while serving in Port Trieste, Italy.At this time his "Arabian Nights" Although the translation has already been published, there are still many related materials that have not been published yet.It is said that after his death, These translations were burned by his wife.According to what she told people afterwards, this was to keep her husband The moral and reputational purity of the husband.But we know that, for Borton's contribution to literature and art, What a big loss it should be. The official translation of "Arabian Nights" should be "The Story of One Thousand and One Nights".Bowton's Apart from the Chinese translation, most of the other translations have not preserved this form of "One Thousand and One Nights", but Richard Borton insisted on this point, that this form is the most important.Because the beautiful machine in the book The wise Miss Shanachard has indeed told her story through the thousand and one nights, and at every critical moment It happened that it was dawn, so she stopped talking and waited until it was dark to continue talking, just like this He even talked about the thousand and one nights, to the point.Regarding this form, Borton once said an aphorism: "Without One Thousand and One Nights, there would be no story at all", so he said to the original text that "speaking of Here, it's daylight, so Shanachard stops talking," insisting on preserving the original shape.So if we count the chapters of his translation, it is indeed One Thousand and One Nights, not many Not a lot. Although this is only a form, from this aspect, it is not difficult for us to infer Borton's The translation is otherwise complete and conscientious. For the stories in "The Arabian Nights", we are most familiar with Aladdin's lamp and Ali The story of Baba's Forty Thieves.This is not only because we have seen it many times in the movies, but also because we I have already read it in the text reader.However, the stories of "Arabian Nights" that are commonly read to middle school students are less Borton's full translation, the difference is almost as big as the difference between Shakespeare's Yuefu Skills and Shakespeare's original work. bigger.Therefore, I have the opportunity to turn over the translation of Borton's sixteen huge volumes, even if I have not actually read it. Going, I also consider it a blessing.