Cavafy and his English translators
Main Article Content
Abstract
This review-essay examines, compares, and evaluates the English translations of Constantine Cavafy poems that appeared in book form from 1951
to 1975. These are: 1) John Mavrogordato, The Poems of C. P. Cavafy, Introduction by Rex Warner (London: The Hogarth Press, 1951 ; reissued in 1971; American edition by Grove Press, 1952. 2) Rae Dalven, The Complete Poems of Cavafy, Introduction by W. H. Auden (New York: Harcourt, Brace &
World, 1961; and London: The Hogarth Press, 1961; paperback, too. 3) Edmund Keeley and George Savidis, C. P. Cavafy: Passions and Ancient Days
(New York: The Dial Press, 1971), bilingual edition. 4) E. Keeley and Philip
Sherrard, C. P. Cavafy: Selected Poems (Princeton University Press, 1972),
paperback, too. And 5) E. Keeley, P. Sherrard, and G. Savidis, C. P. Cavafy;
Collected Poems (Princeton University Press, 1975), luxurious and bilingual
edition of the poet’s 175 best lyrics. After a general evaluation of Cavafy as a modern poet in the post-Baudelaire tradition, opinions are offered by R. Fitzgerald, G. Steiner, L. Durrell, W. H. Auden, J. Fowles, and E. M. Forster as to what attracted them in the art, thought, and style of the Alexandrian master. Also, the importance of historical and cultural allusions is discussed with examples, although Cavafy’s work is judged to be, for the most part, contemplative (philosophical) despite his own subdivisions into erotic, historical, philosophical. A detailed comparison of translations of the poem "Longings” (’Επιθυμίες) by Mavrogordato, Dalven, and Keeley-Sherrard establishes the relative aesthetic weaknesses and linguistic inaccuracies of the first two versions. The same process is repeated with the concluding paragraph of "Thermopylae”, and the work of the three afore-mentioned scholars is compared to that of Kimon Friar (from his anthology, Modern Greek Poetry, 1973). The final conclusion is that the Keeley team and Mr. Friar have produced precise and poetic translations worthy of Cavafy. N. B. While reading Prof. Raizis’ article, please add the following bibliographical references: Edmund Keeley, Cavafy's Alexandria: Study of a Myth in Progress, Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press, 1976, pp. viii+196. C. P. Cavafy, The Complete Poems of Cavafy. Expanded Edition. Translated by Rae Dalven, with an Introduction by W. H. Auden, New York, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1976, pp. xxiv+311, paperback (250 poems).
to 1975. These are: 1) John Mavrogordato, The Poems of C. P. Cavafy, Introduction by Rex Warner (London: The Hogarth Press, 1951 ; reissued in 1971; American edition by Grove Press, 1952. 2) Rae Dalven, The Complete Poems of Cavafy, Introduction by W. H. Auden (New York: Harcourt, Brace &
World, 1961; and London: The Hogarth Press, 1961; paperback, too. 3) Edmund Keeley and George Savidis, C. P. Cavafy: Passions and Ancient Days
(New York: The Dial Press, 1971), bilingual edition. 4) E. Keeley and Philip
Sherrard, C. P. Cavafy: Selected Poems (Princeton University Press, 1972),
paperback, too. And 5) E. Keeley, P. Sherrard, and G. Savidis, C. P. Cavafy;
Collected Poems (Princeton University Press, 1975), luxurious and bilingual
edition of the poet’s 175 best lyrics. After a general evaluation of Cavafy as a modern poet in the post-Baudelaire tradition, opinions are offered by R. Fitzgerald, G. Steiner, L. Durrell, W. H. Auden, J. Fowles, and E. M. Forster as to what attracted them in the art, thought, and style of the Alexandrian master. Also, the importance of historical and cultural allusions is discussed with examples, although Cavafy’s work is judged to be, for the most part, contemplative (philosophical) despite his own subdivisions into erotic, historical, philosophical. A detailed comparison of translations of the poem "Longings” (’Επιθυμίες) by Mavrogordato, Dalven, and Keeley-Sherrard establishes the relative aesthetic weaknesses and linguistic inaccuracies of the first two versions. The same process is repeated with the concluding paragraph of "Thermopylae”, and the work of the three afore-mentioned scholars is compared to that of Kimon Friar (from his anthology, Modern Greek Poetry, 1973). The final conclusion is that the Keeley team and Mr. Friar have produced precise and poetic translations worthy of Cavafy. N. B. While reading Prof. Raizis’ article, please add the following bibliographical references: Edmund Keeley, Cavafy's Alexandria: Study of a Myth in Progress, Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press, 1976, pp. viii+196. C. P. Cavafy, The Complete Poems of Cavafy. Expanded Edition. Translated by Rae Dalven, with an Introduction by W. H. Auden, New York, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1976, pp. xxiv+311, paperback (250 poems).
Article Details
Issue
Section
Articles