The ultimate challenge. Translating a poem
Here is a poem in 17th century Spanish. Written by Francisco Quevedo, It is humorous and cynical at the same time and is very critical of a particular group. I grant you that this is very difficult-Pero allí yace el reto. I guarantee it will challenge the best of us.
Here is the poem:
:A una nariz
Érase un hombre a una nariz pegado,
érase una nariz superlativa,
érase una nariz sayón y escriba,
érase un peje espada muy barbado.
Era un reloj de sol mal encarado,
érase una alquitara pensativa,
érase un elefante boca arriba,
era Ovidio Nasón más narizado.
Érase un espolón de una galera,
érase una pirámide de Egipto,
las doce Tribus de narices era.
Érase un naricísimo infinito,
muchísimo nariz, nariz tan fiera
que en la cara de Anás fuera delito.
I will only say that I understand what is being said and can identify the noses being described. But to translate it- well that is the challenge- there is one english translation on the web that is very poor
so-- therfore I dare you- take a shot at it
most votes gets best answer
Go for it!!
3 Answers
Ana, I give fair warning that Paco, should not read this right after his surgery. I had a great deal of fun with this! It's not even close to correct but I hope it is found to be "muy tonto"!
Once there was a man with a Band-Aid™ on his nose,
Once a nose of the highest degree,
Once on an ill-looking scribe,
Once a bearded sword named Peje.
It was bad-looking and liked to pick fights,
Once still thoughtful,
Once an elephant on his back,
he was Ovidius Naso with more nose.
Once sticking his nose into the kitchen,
Once an Egyptian mountain,
the twelve Tribal noses were.
Once an infinite daffodil
very much nose, nose so savage
that in the face of Ana was a crime.
Ok, Paco. I'll give it a try. It does not make a lot of sense, but here goes.
:A una nariz
Érase un hombre a una nariz pegado,
érase una nariz superlativa,
érase una nariz sayón y escriba,
érase un peje espada muy barbado.
Era un reloj de sol mal encarado,
érase una alquitara pensativa,
érase un elefante boca arriba,
era Ovidio Nasón más narizado.
Érase un espolón de una galera,
érase una pirámide de Egipto,
las doce Tribus de narices era.
Érase un naricísimo infinito,
muchísimo nariz, nariz tan fiera
que en la cara de Anás fuera delito.
A nose
Once upon a man stuck a nose,
Once upon a superlative nose,
Once upon a nose executioner?? and scribe,
Once upon a very bearded swordfish??
It was a bad facing sundial,
Once upon a still?? thoughtful,
Once upon an elephant trunk up,
It was even bigger than the tremendous nose of Ovidio Nasón.
Once upon a spur of a galley,
Once upon a pyramid of Egypt, , the twelve tribes of noses were.
Once upon an infinite nose,
a lot of nose, nose so fierce
that in the face of Anás was a crime.
Well, I do not know much about this but, I suppose that might be one of Quevedo's main rivals/antagonists the poet Góngora and the Generation of '27.
