Medieval English Verse

by Brian Stone (Editor / Translator)

Short narrative poems, religious and secular lyrics, and moral, political, and comic verses are all included in this comprehensive collection of works from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

Genres: Poetry, Classics, Medieval, Anthologies, Fiction, Religion, British Literature

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1400

Reviews

[Gille Liath · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general , I would say that an accomplished reader of English ought, with a little practice, to be able to read Middle (Medieval) English fairly fluently. And it is well worth reading: the average quality of what has survived is high. But there are some texts that are difficult for the non-specialist, and these among the best – particularly Pearl, the visionary long poem thought to be by the author of Gawain and the Green Knight. And then, Middle English texts are not easy to find, particularly at everyman prices. Hence a book like this, which brings together around a hundred short pieces (including a score of the Harley Lyrics) and four longer ones, The Adulterous Falmouth Squire, Patience, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo. As far as possible Brian Stone reproduces them in modern English, but in the original verse forms.

But of course, to translate poetry of quality requires a quality poet. ME doesn’t have the range or sophistication of the modern language, but it is very good at what it does; modern English can easily seem bland and strangely bathetic by comparison. Stone does not manage to escape these effects; many of the shorter, simpler pieces work well enough, but when it comes to Pearl he is found wanting. Not that that is any disgrace; the 12-line verse form with its complex structure is of a difficulty that could truly be termed bardic. The fact remains that Stone’s version is unimpressive, full of approximate or ‘paper’ rhymes like mourned / yearned or lose / goes, and with a rhythm that stutters too much. At the same time, it’s not really literal enough to use as a ‘crib’ for the original.

Pearl was also translated by Tolkien, and his version makes an interesting comparison. Neither is perfect, but I think Tolkien comes out better because he allows himself to use an historic/heroic/Biblical register (familiar to readers of his original work, especially The Silmarillion); it's not so close to modern colloquial English but closer to the spirit and language of the original, carrying with it an olde worlde atmosphere which would not have been experienced by the original readers of the poem, but is (I think) a legitimate part of our pleasure in it.

To take an example at random, verse 31 in the original starts

'Thenne demed I to that demyselle'

- which, in straightforward modern English, simply means 'then I said to that girl'. For this, Tolkien has:

'Then I said, I deem, to that damosel'

and Stone:

'Her judgement then thus answered I'.

- note that, although Stone avoids obsolete words (Tolkien had no objection to these, as long as they had not grown entirely unfamiliar), he does so at the expense of a construction which is convoluted and unnatural almost to the point of being incomprehensible, which loses the alliteration and still does not preserve the simplicity of the original meaning. Tolkien's 'I deem' is superfluous (added only to maintain the rhythm) but does not really change the meaning, and has the benefit of preserving the alliteration and some of the original flavour - I think the line is allowable, in poetry. Someone might object that it is hardly modern English; but then, Stone's line is hardly English at all.

In the end, like all translation of poetry, it's an impossible task; but whereas with translations of other languages we may well feel that the labour of mastering the original is too great, here it ought to be within our compass. And that’s really what I take from this book: go to the trouble of sourcing and learning to read the original versions! Still, in the meantime, this is okay as a taster.

Edit: since posting this, I've found that this is the one to get:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection! I think some of the intro notes missed the mark a few times in their assessment of the medieval world, but this poetry is out of this world. Seriously. Where is such theological and beautiful poetry today?? (Besides Malcolm Guite. He’s killing it!)

[Benjamin Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s alright, and of varying quality.
I read most of this book years ago, so I suspect that in re-reading some my enjoyment would increase just as much skill has. But some of them are fairly mid anyway.

I also suspect that some charm of the original has been lost in translation.

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. the fox, the wolf and the well was genuinely funny i really enjoyed that poem.

[Nicolas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing against the translator, these poems were just a little boring.