第 3 节
作者:旅游巴士      更新:2022-11-23 12:12      字数:9322
  this form of construction owing to the want of case endings。  For the same
  reason there cannot be an equal variety in the order of words or an equal
  nicety of emphasis in English as in Greek。
  (2) The formation of the sentence and of the paragraph greatly differs in
  Greek and English。  The lines by which they are divided are generally much
  more marked in modern languages than in ancient。  Both sentences and
  paragraphs are more precise and definitethey do not run into one another。
  They are also more regularly developed from within。  The sentence marks
  another step in an argument or a narrative or a statement; in reading a
  paragraph we silently turn over the page and arrive at some new view or
  aspect of the subject。  Whereas in Plato we are not always certain where a
  sentence begins and ends; and paragraphs are few and far between。  The
  language is distributed in a different way; and less articulated than in
  English。  For it was long before the true use of the period was attained by
  the classical writers both in poetry or prose; it was (Greek)。  The balance
  of sentences and the introduction of paragraphs at suitable intervals must
  not be neglected if the harmony of the English language is to be preserved。
  And still a caution has to be added on the other side; that we must avoid
  giving it a numerical or mechanical character。
  (3) This; however; is not one of the greatest difficulties of the
  translator; much greater is that which arises from the restriction of the
  use of the genders。  Men and women in English are masculine and feminine;
  and there is a similar distinction of sex in the words denoting animals;
  but all things else; whether outward objects or abstract ideas; are
  relegated to the class of neuters。  Hardly in some flight of poetry do we
  ever endue any of them with the characteristics of a sentient being; and
  then only by speaking of them in the feminine gender。  The virtues may be
  pictured in female forms; but they are not so described in language; a ship
  is humorously supposed to be the sailor's bride; more doubtful are the
  personifications of church and country as females。  Now the genius of the
  Greek language is the opposite of this。  The same tendency to
  personification which is seen in the Greek mythology is common also in the
  language; and genders are attributed to things as well as persons according
  to their various degrees of strength and weakness; or from fanciful
  resemblances to the male or female form; or some analogy too subtle to be
  discovered。  When the gender of any object was once fixed; a similar gender
  was naturally assigned to similar objects; or to words of similar
  formation。  This use of genders in the denotation of objects or ideas not
  only affects the words to which genders are attributed; but the words with
  which they are construed or connected; and passes into the general
  character of the style。  Hence arises a difficulty in translating Greek
  into English which cannot altogether be overcome。  Shall we speak of the
  soul and its qualities; of virtue; power; wisdom; and the like; as feminine
  or neuter?  The usage of the English language does not admit of the former;
  and yet the life and beauty of the style are impaired by the latter。  Often
  the translator will have recourse to the repetition of the word; or to the
  ambiguous 'they;' 'their;' etc。; for fear of spoiling the effect of the
  sentence by introducing 'it。'  Collective nouns in Greek and English create
  a similar but lesser awkwardness。
  (4) To use of relation is far more extended in Greek than in English。
  Partly the greater variety of genders and cases makes the connexion of
  relative and antecedent less ambiguous:  partly also the greater number of
  demonstrative and relative pronouns; and the use of the article; make the
  correlation of ideas simpler and more natural。  The Greek appears to have
  had an ear or intelligence for a long and complicated sentence which is
  rarely to be found in modern nations; and in order to bring the Greek down
  to the level of the modern; we must break up the long sentence into two or
  more short ones。  Neither is the same precision required in Greek as in
  Latin or English; nor in earlier Greek as in later; there was nothing
  shocking to the contemporary of Thucydides and Plato in anacolutha and
  repetitions。  In such cases the genius of the English language requires
  that the translation should be more intelligible than the Greek。  The want
  of more distinctions between the demonstrative pronouns is also greatly
  felt。  Two genitives dependent on one another; unless familiarised by
  idiom; have an awkward effect in English。  Frequently the noun has to take
  the place of the pronoun。  'This' and 'that' are found repeating themselves
  to weariness in the rough draft of a translation。  As in the previous case;
  while the feeling of the modern language is more opposed to tautology;
  there is also a greater difficulty in avoiding it。
  (5) Though no precise rule can be laid down about the repetition of words;
  there seems to be a kind of impertinence in presenting to the reader the
  same thought in the same words; repeated twice over in the same passage
  without any new aspect or modification of it。  And the evasion of
  tautologythat is; the substitution of one word of precisely the same
  meaning for anotheris resented by us equally with the repetition of
  words。  Yet on the other hand the least difference of meaning or the least
  change of form from a substantive to an adjective; or from a participle to
  a verb; will often remedy the unpleasant effect。  Rarely and only for the
  sake of emphasis or clearness can we allow an important word to be used
  twice over in two successive sentences or even in the same paragraph。  The
  particles and pronouns; as they are of most frequent occurrence; are also
  the most troublesome。  Strictly speaking; except a few of the commonest of
  them; 'and;' 'the;' etc。; they ought not to occur twice in the same
  sentence。  But the Greek has no such precise rules; and hence any literal
  translation of a Greek author is full of tautology。  The tendency of modern
  languages is to become more correct as well as more perspicuous than
  ancient。  And; therefore; while the English translator is limited in the
  power of expressing relation or connexion; by the law of his own language
  increased precision and also increased clearness are required of him。  The
  familiar use of logic; and the progress of science; have in these two
  respects raised the standard。  But modern languages; while they have become
  more exacting in their demands; are in many ways not so well furnished with
  powers of expression as the ancient classical ones。
  Such are a few of the difficulties which have to be overcome in the work of
  translation; and we are far from having exhausted the list。  (6) The
  excellence of a translation will consist; not merely in the faithful
  rendering of words; or in the composition of a sentence only; or yet of a
  single paragraph; but in the colour and style of the whole work。
  Equability of tone is best attained by the exclusive use of familiar and
  idiomatic words。  But great care must be taken; for an idiomatic phrase; if
  an exception to the general style; is of itself a disturbing element。  No
  word; however expressive and exact; should be employed; which makes the
  reader stop to think; or unduly attracts attention by difficulty and
  peculiarity; or disturbs the effect of the surrounding language。  In
  general the style of one author is not appropriate to another; as in
  society; so in letters; we expect every man to have 'a good coat of his
  own;' and not to dress himself out in the rags of another。  (a) Archaic
  expressions are therefore to be avoided。  Equivalents may be occasionally
  drawn from Shakspere; who is the common property of us all; but they must
  be used sparingly。  For; like some other men of genius of the Elizabethan
  and Jacobean age; he outdid the capabilities of the language; and many of
  the expressions which he introduced have been laid aside and have dropped
  out of use。  (b) A similar principle should be observed in the employment
  of Scripture。  Having a greater force and beauty than other language; and a
  religious association; it disturbs the even flow of the style。  It may be
  used to reproduce in the translation the quaint effect of some antique
  phrase in the original; but rarely; and when adopted; it should have a
  certain freshness and a suitable 'entourage。'  It is strange to obse