Beowulf. Angelsächsisches Heldengedicht übersetzt von Moritz Heyne.
Paderborn: Druck und Verlag von Ferd. Schöningh, 1863. 12mo, pp. viii,
127.
Zweite Auflage. Paderborn: Schöningh, 1898. 8vo, pp. viii, 134.
Fourth German Translation. Iambic Pentameter.
_Heyne._
The name of Moritz Heyne is one of the most illustrious in the history
of Beowulf scholarship. The Heyne editions of the text[1] have been
standard for nearly forty years, while the translation has been recently
reprinted (1898). Beside his work on the _Beowulf_, this scholar was to
become prominent as editor of the _Heliand_ and of _Ulfilas_, and as one
of the staff appointed to complete Grimm’s Dictionary.
At the time when he printed his edition of the _Beowulf,_ Heyne was a
student at Halle, and but twenty-six years of age (born 1837)[2]. In his
work he had some assistance from Professor Leo[3] of Halle.
_Relation of Text and Translation._
The translation was founded on the text of 1863. At the time it was by
far the best edition that had yet appeared. It was furnished with an
excellent glossary. The text had the advantage of the valuable work done
by Grundtvig[4] in collating the two transcripts made by Thorkelin[5].
It thus came a stage nearer the MS. readings than any other existing
edition, while it avoided the unnecessary conjectures of the Danish
editor.
Heyne’s text having been five times re-edited, the first edition of the
translation often fails to conform to readings which have been
introduced into the text in later editions; but the free nature of the
translation makes this of no great importance.
_Differences between the First and Second Editions of the Translation._
The differences between the two editions are not of much importance. The
translation is in general, though not always, brought up to the late
editions of the text, and some changes are made for the improvement of
the meter.
The first edition contains 3201 lines; the second 3207. The theory and
aim of the translation are not changed at all.
_Aim of Heyne’s Translation._
In this translation of the _Beowulf_, Heyne attempts to popularize what
he considers the most beautiful of the Old English poems. He says
of it--
‘Es ist nicht die erste, die ich biete; gleichwol hoffe ich es
werde die erste sein, die auch einem grössern Publicum, das noch
nicht Gelegenheit hatte, sich mit den ältern Dialecten unserer
Sprache zu beschäftigen, verständlich ist. Die ältern deutschen
Uebersetzer haben, bei allen Verdiensten ihrer Arbeit, unserer
neuhochdeutschen Muttersprache teilweise übel mitgespielt.’
--Vorwort, iii.
With this in view, Heyne put his translation out in a form that would
make it accessible to all. This was in itself an innovation. The works
of Ettmüller[6] and Simrock[7] had been in a more elaborate _format_,
while Grein’s translation[8] was not only expensive, but encumbered with
other work, and intended primarily for the scholar.
_Nature of the Translation._
Heyne chose a new medium for his version, the unrimed iambic line. His
aim being to get his book read, he avoided a literal translation, and
rendered with commendable freedom, though not with inaccuracy. He used
no strange compounds, and shunned an unnatural verse. Thus he produced
the most readable translation that has ever appeared in Germany. Of his
own attempt he says--
‘Die vorliegende Uebertragung ist so frei, dass sie das für uns
schwer oder gar nicht genau nachzubildende allitterierende Versmass
des Originals gegen fünffüssige Jamben aufgibt, und zu Gunsten des
Sinnes sich der angelsächsischen Wort- und Satzstellung nicht zu
ängstlich anschmiegt; dagegen auch wieder so genau, dass sie
hoffentlich ein Scherflein zum vollkommenern Verständniss des
Textes beitragen wird.’ --Vorwort, iii.
Heyne’s theory of translation is one that has been very little in vogue
in Germany. He has been criticized on all sides for his freedom. Yet the
criticism is undeserved. Heyne is never paraphrastic--he never adds
anything foreign to the poem. He merely believes in translating the
obscure as well as the simple ideas of his text. His ‘freedom’ seldom
amounts to more than this--
Hē bēot ne āleh, l. 80 (he belied not his promise)
Was er gelobt, erfüllt er.
He occasionally inserts a word for metrical reasons, and sometimes, in
the interests of clearness, a demonstrative or personal pronoun, or even
a proper name (cf. l. 500 of the extract).