Loosed in Translation discussion

Which translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses should I read?

Here's a comparison I found on someone's Amazon booklist...

2004: RAEBURN

Changes of shape, new forms, are the theme which my spirit impels me
now to recite. Inspire me, O gods (it is you who have even
transformed my art), and spin me a thread from the world's beginning
down to my own lifetime, in one continuous poem.

2004: MARTIN

My mind leads me to speak now of forms changed
into new bodies: O gods above, inspire
this undertaking (which you've changed as well)
and guide my poem in its epic sweep
from the world's beginning to the present day.

2001: SIMPSON

My mind leads me to something new, to tell of forms changed to other bodies. Gods, inspire this poem I've begun (for you changed it too), and from the first origin of the world spin my song's fine thread unbroken down to my own time.

2001: AMBROSE

My mind would tell of forms changed into
new bodies: gods, into my undertakings (for you changed even those)
breathe life and from the first origin of the world
to my own times draw forth a perpetual song!

1997: HUGHES

Now I am ready to tell how bodies are changed
Into different bodies.

I summon the supernatural beings
Who first contrived
The transmogrifications
In the stuff of life.
You did it for your own amusement.
Descend again, be pleased to reanimate
This revival of those marvels.
Reveal, now, exactly,
How they were performed
From the beginning
Up to this moment.

1994: SLAVITT

Bodies, I have in mind, and how they can change to assume
new shapes--I ask the help of the gods, who know the trick:
inspire me now, change me, let me glimpse the secret
and sing, better than I know how, of the world's birthing,
the creaton of all things from first to the very latest.

1993: MANDELBAUM

My soul would sing of metamorphoses.
But since, o gods, you were the source of these
bodies becoming other bodies, breathe
your breath into my book of changes: may
the song I sing be seamless as its way
weaves from the world's beginning to our day.

1989: BOER

To tell how forms changed to new bodies:
you gods changed them, so breathe
on my efforts & keep this poem, from creation
to my own time, coming!

1986: MELVILLE

Of bodies changed to other forms I tell;
You Gods, who have yourselves wrought every change,
Inspire my enterprise and lead my lay
In one continuous song from nature's first
Remote beginnings to our modern times.

1958: GREGORY

Now I shall tell of things that change, new being
Out of old: since you, O Gods, created
Mutable arts and gifts, give me the voice
To tell the shifting story of the world
From its beginning to the present hour.

1955: HUMPHRIES

My intention is tell of bodies changed
To different forms; the gods, who made the changes,
Will help me--or I hope so--with a poem
That runs from the world's beginning to our own day.

1955: INNES

My purpose is to tell of bodies which have been transformed into shapes of a different kind. You heavenly powers, since you were responsible for those changes, as for all else, look favorably on my attempts, and spin an unbroken thread of verse, from the earliest beginnings of the world, down to my own times.

1954: WATTS

Change is my theme. You gods, whose power has wrought
All transformations, aid the poet's thought,
And make my song's unbroken sequence flow
From earth's beginnings to the days we know.

1717: DRYDEN etc.

Of bodies chang'd to various forms, I sing:
Ye Gods, from whom these miracles did spring,
Inspire my numbers with coelestial heat;
'Till I my long laborious work compleat:
And add perpetual tenour to my rhimes,
Deduc'd from Nature's birth to Caesar's times.

1632: SANDYS

Of bodies chang'd to other shapes I sing.
Assist, you Gods, (from you these changes spring)
And, from the world's first fabric to these times,
Deduce my never-discontinued Rymes.

1567: GOLDING

Of shapes transformde to bodies straunge, I purpose to entreate,
Ye gods vouchsafe (for you are they ywrought this wondrous feate)
To further thise mine enterprise. And from the world begunne,
Graunt that my verse may to my time, his course directly runne.

I've read the Melville and the Gregory and I thought the Melville was much better. It's the Oxford's World's Classics edition, lots of useful notes too.

I've not cracked any of the old Greek/Roman English translations (pre-1800) but if I did I'd probably start with Pope's Iliad in an old hardback with a slipcase.

I like to read the Golding, but that's partly in order to get 'the Ovid Shakespeare knew'. That is, more for an Elizabethan interest than Ovid himself.

Jimmy wrote: "Which translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses should I read?"

Thanks for this.

I really like the Mandelbaum. I more recently enjoyed Martin's.

A separate question is: what is important to you? Sounds? Sense? Accuracy? Or?

I love the Slavitt translation, but he's an author and a friend of mine, and his is not the one to start with. Enjoy it later. By the way, his translation was used in the play "Metamorphoses."

I would go with the Humphries. His translations are modern, skilled, and enjoyable. He's a wonderful translator. I especially love his Lucretius.

Jimmy wrote: "Which translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses should I read?"

Can I amend Jimmy's question?

I'd like to ask:
Which verse translation of the Metamorphoses should I read first?

Not the best necessarily, but the best introduction to the work.

Sorry for the bump but i've been planning to get myself a copy of this book and I found 2 versions close by.

1 being the Heritage edition consististing of Pope, Dryden and some others. The other one is translated by John Benson Rose, which would be the better pick?

I did some comparison in my review.

Thank you for this comparison.