[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Creative Translation of Statius, Silvae 1.6″ text_orientation=”center” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font=”|700|||||||” title_text_align=”center” background_color=”#7db3e0″ vertical_offset_tablet=”0″ horizontal_offset_tablet=”0″ z_index_tablet=”0″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” title_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” title_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” subhead_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” subhead_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” subhead_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” content_quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” content_quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” content_quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” button_one_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” button_one_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” button_one_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” button_two_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” button_two_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” button_two_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_style_image=”preset6″ box_shadow_blur_image_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_horizontal_button_one_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_button_one_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_button_one_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_button_one_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_horizontal_button_two_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_button_two_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_button_two_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_button_two_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_style=”preset5″ text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet=”0px” text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
by Reece Steidle (’27)<\/p>\n
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This translation of Statius\u2019s Saturnalia poem attempts to do something different from other, more conventional translations. Its approach is based on an attested theory that a colloquial translation which draws on the conventions of English poetry rather than the foreign source material is more accessible for a wider audience and creates interest in the original poem. This translation exists to be a bridge to its more literal counterparts, which require more context but communicate more of the original meaning. In the case of this particular poem, the connection is made through an English children\u2019s poem, Robert Clarke Moore\u2019s \u201cA Visit from St. Nicholas.\u201d There are a number of elements in common that allow Statius\u2019s poem to be appreciated close to the surface and inspire enthusiastic readers to dive in further.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Twas the first of December, and scarcely yet morn\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n All of Rome filled the theater: slaves and freeborn;<\/span><\/p>\n With the Gods on vacation and Saturn released,<\/span><\/p>\n Domitian had laid out a holiday feast.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And down from the heavens, at least from a line:<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n There were figs, dates, and sugar-plums, sweetmeats sublime.<\/span><\/p>\n They showered like dewdrops or rain from a tree<\/span><\/p>\n And don\u2019t forget Gaius, that gingerbread he.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was here in the seats that we weathered the storm:<\/span><\/p>\n The likes of which never before had been formed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n And while Jove imports clouds with a thunderous gale<\/span><\/p>\n Just let our Jove deluge us with sugary hail.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And now through the aisles, in handsome array,<\/span><\/p>\n Comes a new sort of crowd, with intention to stay.<\/span><\/p>\n With their bread, wine, and napkins, and all that they need,<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Like godly cupbearers, that famed Ganymede.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And what god as a host of a party would show<\/span><\/p>\n When they might have prepared with no reason to go?<\/span><\/p>\n Now no matter their status, their rank or their place<\/span><\/p>\n They can brag to have guested, been-quested your grace.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Oh poor men, oh rich men, oh women, oh kids,<\/span><\/p>\n Now call back the golden age custom forbids.<\/span><\/p>\n Does the wine flow more freely, or harvest outlast?<\/span><\/p>\n This holiday freedom has reverence on fast.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So bring out the women, all armed to their teeth<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n And like Amazons, watch them all battle beneath.<\/span><\/p>\n And of much smaller warriors, wonders consist,<\/span><\/p>\n Who in foreshortened battles, just fight with their fists.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n As the shadows start stretching, the next thing arrives:<\/span><\/p>\n Welcome dancers and prancers, and Spain\u2019s rent-a-wives.<\/span><\/p>\n There are actors, and drummers, and music and mayhem,<\/span><\/p>\n And they\u2019ll do what you want just as long as you pay them.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n And then from the clouds comes a feathery flock.<\/span><\/p>\n There are pheasants, flamingos, and fowl; with a squawk,<\/span><\/p>\n They descend on the crowd, far too many to seize,<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n Now they\u2019re prizes collected, and everyone\u2019s pleased.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Under stars of the night you can hear them all say:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGive our prayers to Domitian and this joyful day.<\/span><\/p>\n Great leader you\u2019ve gifted us so much, we know,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So hear us on high, Saturnalia, IO!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It was barely then dark when from depth of the gloom,<\/span><\/p>\n Came a blazing red fire, like springtime\u2019s first bloom.<\/span><\/p>\n Out of shadow, came shining, the sky was alight.<\/span><\/p>\n And it furnished no power for shadows of night<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let Silence and Sleep see this show of command<\/span><\/p>\n And run off like migrants to far-away lands.<\/span><\/p>\n What poet could sing of the jokes, and the jinks,<\/span><\/p>\n All the banquets, the foodstuffs, and free-flowing drinks?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n After all this I found myself drunken and spent,<\/span><\/p>\n And let Bacchus save me from the other events.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n I tipsily got into much needed bed,<\/span><\/p>\n While all the day\u2019s revelries danced in my head.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In what distant ages shall this be recalled,<\/span><\/p>\n Near as fresh as the day when initially scrawled?<\/span><\/p>\n With Latium, Tiber, and Capitol Hill,<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>\n So the Rome you rebuilt, stands now as it will.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Reece Steidle (’27)Introduction This translation of Statius\u2019s Saturnalia poem attempts to do something different from other, more conventional translations. Its approach is based on an attested theory that a colloquial translation which draws on the conventions of English poetry rather than the foreign source material is more accessible for a wider audience and creates […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4449,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"The Feast of Happy Caesar<\/b><\/h2>\n