A review by tri_lo_bite
Archilochos, Sappho, Alkman: Three Lyric Poets of the Seventh Century B.C. by Guy Davenport, Archilochos, Alkman, Sappho
4.0
Like with all lyric fragments from Greece, my star rating here relates more to the translation than the poetry itself. Because when the poems you have a a mere two or three words, the translation can make a huge difference. The fragments themselves will always be 5 stars to me.
Now, this translation was fine. I wondered about some of the word choice, but it portrayed the meaning I think. I’ve never read Archilochos or Alkman before, but I’ve read plenty of translations of Sappho to compare it to. And we’ll, Davenport may be a fine translator, I don’t think he’s much of a poet.
And the different spelling of the gods’ names is really interesting. One line it’s one thing, the next page another. And it varies between poets too. I wonder what the intention with that was.
Archilochos-
Witty, sexy, satirical, funny, and like reading the words of a friend. Of war time and game time and everything in between. With a tad of Ancient Greek patriarchal misogyny thrown in, but you never know, that could be the translation.
My favorites are:
Elegant frog.
Hang iambic.
This is no time
For poetry.
The way the translator says how the paper is torn in some fragments really takes you out of the experience. An unfortunate writing choice.
Sappho-
Much better notation of missing words, no added explanations.
My stance on Sappho needing to be translated by a woman remains strong.
The marriage songs weren’t separated or noted as different to hymns in this edition which I found interesting.
I though, don’t think we’ll fine the phrase “the softball umpire” in the authentic Sappho. Just a note.
Alkman-
I don’t understand the usage of italics here. With the other poets italics symbolize the translator speaking but I’m not sure here.
The rhyming couplets are good, but again, the word choice is so strange. I assume Alkman wrote in rhyming couplets so Davenport did too but wow. Not great poetry.
All in all 3.5 stars.
Now, this translation was fine. I wondered about some of the word choice, but it portrayed the meaning I think. I’ve never read Archilochos or Alkman before, but I’ve read plenty of translations of Sappho to compare it to. And we’ll, Davenport may be a fine translator, I don’t think he’s much of a poet.
And the different spelling of the gods’ names is really interesting. One line it’s one thing, the next page another. And it varies between poets too. I wonder what the intention with that was.
Archilochos-
Witty, sexy, satirical, funny, and like reading the words of a friend. Of war time and game time and everything in between. With a tad of Ancient Greek patriarchal misogyny thrown in, but you never know, that could be the translation.
My favorites are:
Elegant frog.
Hang iambic.
This is no time
For poetry.
The way the translator says how the paper is torn in some fragments really takes you out of the experience. An unfortunate writing choice.
Sappho-
Much better notation of missing words, no added explanations.
My stance on Sappho needing to be translated by a woman remains strong.
The marriage songs weren’t separated or noted as different to hymns in this edition which I found interesting.
I though, don’t think we’ll fine the phrase “the softball umpire” in the authentic Sappho. Just a note.
Alkman-
I don’t understand the usage of italics here. With the other poets italics symbolize the translator speaking but I’m not sure here.
The rhyming couplets are good, but again, the word choice is so strange. I assume Alkman wrote in rhyming couplets so Davenport did too but wow. Not great poetry.
All in all 3.5 stars.