Translations of “Faust.”—A Life-work.—Discouragements.—The
Scenes in “Faust.”—The Difficulties.—Magnitude of the
Work.—Perseverance.—The Lives of Goethe and Schiller.—Years
in the Work.—The Estimate by Scholars.—Dies with the Work
Unfinished.
“Who hath not won a name, and seeks not noble works,
Belongs but to the elements.”
—_Faust._
Some portions of Bayard Taylor’s life have been but lightly touched upon
in the previous chapters, because the writer felt that if mentioned in
their chronological order, he would be compelled to repeat them when he
should reach this chapter. In fact, the history of Taylor’s translation
of “Faust,” which we propose here to outline, so far as we have been able
to learn it, necessarily includes the whole life of Mr. Taylor, from his
first visit to Germany to the day when his mortal body gave way under its
accumulated load of work. “Faust” was intimately interwoven with all the
threads of his life; and whenever Messrs. Houghton, Osgood & Co. publish
another edition of Taylor’s translation, they could not better please and
instruct the public than by prefacing it with a synopsis of Mr. Taylor’s
life, wherein “Faust” was his inspiration and guide.
It appears that when he began the study of the German language at
Heidelberg, one of the books used by him contained a selection from the
First Part of Goethe’s “Faust.” His instructors and companions there
were delighted with Goethe’s works, and, with pride, mentioned him as
Germany’s greatest man. Meeting him, as it did, on the very threshold of
the language, at a time when there was a romance about the country, and a
fascination in the language which only youthful ambition could give, he
was ambitious to know more about the master-mind, and sought those works
which contained the requisite information.
At Frankfort, he found the works of Goethe and Schiller, and was
fortunately a member of a household where those authors were admired
and often quoted. He was told, as he afterwards declared, that if he
knew enough of German to read Goethe and Schiller, it was all that he
would need to know of the language. How much that remark included he
did not at the time comprehend, and declared, when his translation was
in print, that he did not feel sure that he was able to read all of
Goethe as Goethe intended it should be read, and that there were very
few Germans who understood the wonderful figures and metaphors found in
Goethe’s “Faust.” Being of an ambitious temperament, which would not be
satisfied with any half-performed task, but which, nevertheless, aimed
at the highest achievements, he conceived the idea, as early as 1850, of
translating into English the greatest work of Goethe. He could not at
that time comprehend how vast an undertaking he had assumed. It required
something more than a mere knowledge of words to be able to translate
accurately and fully; and it was no light task for a person to master the
common meaning of all the words and compounds which Goethe so recklessly
used.
But when it became necessary not only to be able to give the meaning of
each word by substituting in its stead one of another language, but also
to give the sense and shades of meaning which the words in combination
convey to a reader of the original, then the task became formidable.
But that was not all. As Goethe, like every great genius, had many
eccentricities, as he drew many of his illustrations from events in his
own experience and scenes which he had visited, it was necessary to a
full understanding of the great theme, to study Goethe’s characteristics,
habits of thought, education, and experience.
In short, if one were to translate Goethe, he must be like Goethe in
experience and mental composition. He must know what Goethe knew; must
look upon man and his complicated life as Goethe looked upon it in his
time and circumstances. To the work of education and self-discipline Mr.
Taylor applied himself most assiduously.
Twice, when some new difficulty presented itself which he had not
foreseen, he became discouraged and resolved to give up the enterprise.
Once was when the appearance of Rev. Charles T. Brooks’ translation
seemed to forestall him in his hope for a profitable sale of the book;
and once when he saw with unusual clearness the great difficulty of
obtaining words in the English language which should not only express the
meaning, but do so in acceptable rhyme.
But those discouraging facts were soon surmounted or forgotten in the
great passion of his literary life and the study of the language,
manners, and beliefs of the German people was not abandoned.
He found in the first volume many references to the superstitions of
the German people, and he set about learning the history of witches,
fairies, sprites, and the Devil, as known to German literature. This,
in itself, is no small task. He then encountered what he thought was,
perhaps, a kind of burlesque on the government and its laws, and to feel
sure that it was so or was not so, he studied the history of the German
principalities, especially of Weimar, where Goethe resided.
He found many illustrations from the landscapes of Italy, Switzerland,
Greece and Germany, and it became necessary not only to visit those
countries, but to look upon the landscapes mentioned in order to be
sure of the exact meaning of the words of description as they were used
by the great poet. Hence, in Spain, France, Italy, Egypt, Greece, and
Germany, he sought the places mentioned by Goethe in his works, and noted
the correctness or error of his reading. The mountain scenes, more
especially of the Hartz Mountains, and “The Brocken,” were peculiarly
difficult passages in view of the possibly double meaning of many words
when found in any connection, and in view of the peculiar use which
Goethe so independently made of them. Hence, Mr. Taylor made frequent
excursions in Europe during the last eighteen years, with the purpose
in view of obtaining a more accurate knowledge of Goethe’s thoughts.
Frequent references are made to customs now obsolete, to theological
opinions now unknown, and words inserted long out of use or wholly made
by the poet himself. All these required much study.
To know the poet necessitated a thorough insight into the history of his
time, a knowledge of his companions and the circumstances under which
the poem was planned and written. This led to the study of Schiller’s
life, who was Goethe’s bosom friend, and to trips to the localities where
Goethe resided. Thus the work opened wider and wider at each stage in his
acquirements, until at last the poem he had thought to be able to read
understandingly in a year, was as yet untranslated after a score of years.
He was probably assisted much by the previous translations, and had them
to criticise and improve upon. But his work was higher than theirs, as
he not only purposed to give the meaning and rhyme, but he intended, as
far as possible, to retain the rhythmical arrangement, and secure to the
English all the charms of arrangement and sound of the German original.
In this work he was often interrupted by the calls of an editorial
profession, and the cares of a correspondent. His greatest delays were
occasioned, however, by the production of poems on other themes. He is
said to have had the “Deukalion” in mind for more than fifteen years,
and upon that last work of a notable character which he has completed
he bestowed much careful thought. It is a poem which, like those of
Shakespeare and Goethe, grows valuable in proportion to the study
bestowed upon it.
He began this translation in 1850 in a vague, uncertain way, and has
continued it through all those years and did not lost sight of it
throughout all his various duties, cares, and diversions. Meantime,
he had published the following works: “A Journey to Central Africa,”
“The Lands of the Saracen,” and “Poems and Ballads,” in 1855. “Visit
to India, China, and Japan,” “Poems of the Orient,” and “Poems of Home
and Travel,” in 1855. “Cyclopedia of Modern Travel,” edited in 1856.
“Northern Travel—Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Lapland,” 1857. “Travels in
Greece and Russia,” “At Home and Abroad,” first series, in 1859. “At Home
and Abroad,” second series, and “The Poet’s Journal,” in 1862. “Hannah
Thurston,” a novel, in 1863. “John Godfrey’s Fortunes,” a novel, in
1864. “The Story of Kennett,” a novel, and “The Picture of Saint John,”
a poem, in 1866. “Colorado, a Summer Trip,” and edited a translation of
the “Frithjof Saga,” from the Swedish, in 1867. “The Byways of Europe,”
and the “Ballad of Abraham Lincoln,” and an edited edition of Auerbach’s
“Villa on the Rhine,” in 1869. “Joseph and His Friends,” a novel, in
1870. Then appeared “Goethe’s Faust,” in 1871, followed by “The Masque
of the Gods” (1872), and a collected and carefully edited edition of the
“Illustrated Library of Travel, Exploration and Adventure,” and “Lars,”
a poem, in 1873;—all of which were in his mind, more or less distinctly,
previous to the publication of “Faust.” But “The History of Germany,”
“The Boys of other Countries,” “Egypt and Iceland,” a volume of travel,
“The Prophet,” and “Home Pastorals,” poems, as well as the recent poem of
“Deukalion,” and “The Echo Club,” were subsequently conceived and written.
Thus, it will be seen, how full of interruptions the work of translation
must have been when so many volumes, so many thousands miles of travel,
so much editorial work, so many lectures, such need of money, and so much
attention given to the construction of a home, all intervened to distract
and discourage.
Yet, with a perseverance most laudable and remarkable, he kept ever
before him Goethe and his works. Of the merits of his translation no
final judgment can be given until the public have had more time to
study the work, and until a greater number of scholars have compared it
with the original. It has received great commendation; but such a work
requires age, and much thought. Its beauties lie deep, and are hidden
from superficial minds, and it was Mr. Taylor’s plan to follow the
translation with a companion edition of the lives of Goethe and Schiller,
which would in a pleasant way serve to expound and make attractive that
great poem.
That his translation is regarded by the most distinguished scholars as
an excellent production and worthy of an exalted position in literature,
is shown by the fact that he has been so often urged by them to go on
with his purposed biography of that great poet. No sooner had Mr. Taylor
allowed the fact to become known, that he was engaged on such a book,
than he was the recipient of many letters from all parts of the world
where English-speaking people live, expressing their satisfaction that
he had undertaken it, and encouraging him in many ways. This fact,
however, rather delayed than assisted the work, for the appearance of
so many great writers awaiting with impatience the publication of the
book, startled him and magnified the importance of his labors. He felt
that the combined biography of Goethe and Schiller would be the crowning
work of his life, and more than once expressed the thought that it might
be his last. To supply the demand for present publications, perform the
duties which devolved upon him in his high office, and keep steadily
advancing with the greater work, required more strength than one frame
could supply. He felt the strain, and sometimes thought it best to
leave everything in the line of labor, and rest. The need of such a
course did not, however, seem imperative until he was too near his end
to ward off the blow. Death came to him in the midst of his work, and in
the most sudden manner. One day he is seen at his work; the next he is
numbered among those that have lived—but are gone. His wife and daughter
(Lillian), with most devoted nursing, had seen the invalid of the
previous weeks reviving and gaining strength, until able again to attend
to business, when, almost without warning, he sinks and dies within a few
hours.
The book for reference, the packages of manuscript, the letters from
admirers of Goethe and Schiller, the notes and extracts, slips and
pictures, lay where he placed them, accessible to his hand; but the pen
is unmoved, the author is dead, and the Lives of Goethe and Schiller are
incomplete.