Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Ye Olde Paradise Lost: Genesis in Old English

Click on the above image to see it in a larger size. It was originally translated from Latin by AElfric, one of the chief prose writers of the Old English Period.
And now, my attempt at translation:
1. So furthermore this serpent (adder) was more cunning than all other beasts that God made over the earth, and this serpent said to the woman: "Did God forbid you from eating fruit of every tree in Paradise?"
2. The woman answered: "Of the trees' fruit in Paradise we eateth;
3. And of this tree's fruits there, in the middle of Paradise, God bade us that we not eat, nor should we touch this tree lest we perish."
4. Then said the serpent to the woman: "No, you will be by no means dead, if you eat from that tree.
5. But God knows that your eyes will be opened, whatsoever as eats of this tree, and he will gain wisdom both of good and evil."
6. The the wife saw that this tree was good to eat, and she found the fruit fair and desireable, she gave the tree's fruit to her husband, and they ate it.
7. And both of their eyes were opened, they saw that they were naked and sewed together fig leaves, and wore them as breeches.
8. And the God came, and they heard his voice as he walked through Paradise in midday, so Adam hid, and his wife hid also, from God they hid behind the trees of Paradise.
9. God called to Adam, and said: "Adam, where are you?"
10. He said, "your voice I heard, Sir, in Paradise and it frightened me, for I am naked and I hid myself."
11. God said: "Who said this that you were naked, if you did not eat of that tree that I did forbid you to eat?"
12. Adam said: that woman that you gave me to have, gave to me of that tree, and I ate it."
13. God said to the wife: "what didst you do?" She said, "the serpent tricked me and I ate it."

This, from Genesis, 3:1-13, makes a bold statement in and of itself. Note, though, how it is translated into Old English: this woman you gave to me to have. (Chattel, anyone?) Note also that Adam did not argue with Eve at all -- he just took it and ate it, no questions. And yet who had the 27 hour labor 6,002 years later? ME. Not my husband, not the stupid snake, ME. Of course, God made it up to me a million fold, really -- in a truly wonderful little baby girl. She was worth it.
But Adam? Adam was a moron. And Eve was apparently a parselmouth.

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