Beowulf, an Anglo-Saxon Epic Poem, translated by John Lesslie Hall.
Boston: D. C. Heath and Co., 1892 (May 7).
Reprinted 1900. 8vo, pp. xviii, 110.
Eighth English Translation. Imitative Measures.
_Circumstances of Publication._
Presented to the Philosophical Faculty of Johns Hopkins University in
candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by John Lesslie Hall,
late Professor in the college of William and Mary.
_Aim of the Translation._
‘The work is addressed to two classes of readers.... The
Anglo-Saxon scholar he [the translator] hopes to please by
adhering faithfully to the original. The student of English
literature he aims to interest by giving him, in modern garb, the
most ancient epic of our race.’ --Preface, vii.
_Nature of the Translation._
The translation is in imitative measures and in archaic style.
‘The effort has been made to give a decided flavor of archaism to
the translation. All words not in keeping with the spirit of the
poem have been avoided. Again, though many archaic words have been
used, there are none, it is believed, which are not found in
standard modern poetry....
‘The measure used in the present translation is believed to be as
near a reproduction of the original as modern English affords....
The four stresses of the Anglo-Saxon verse are retained, and as
much thesis and anacrusis is allowed as is consistent with a
regular cadence. Alliteration has been used to a large extent; but
it was thought that modern ears would hardly tolerate it in every
line. End-rhyme has been used occasionally; internal rhyme,
sporadically....
‘What Gummere calls the “rime-giver” has been studiously kept;
viz., the first accented syllable in the second half-verse always
carries the alliteration; and the last accented syllable
alliterates only sporadically....
‘No two accented syllables have been brought together, except
occasionally after a cæsural pause.... Or, scientifically
speaking, Sievers’s C type has been avoided as not consonant with
the plan of translation.’ --Preface, viii, ix.
_Text._
‘The Heyne-Socin text and glossary have been closely followed.
Occasionally a deviation has been made.... Once in a while ...
(the translator) has added a conjecture of his own to the
emendations quoted from the criticisms of other students of the
poem.’ --Preface, vii.
The footnotes which contain the conjectural readings are interesting,
and in one or two cases valuable additions to the suggested emendations
(cf. p. 15; p. 103, note 3).