Alfred’s cræft of translation : the Old English ’Boethius’ [PhD thesis]

478 Pages·1996·23.79 MB·English

by  Nicole Guenther Discenza

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ALFRED’S CRTF T OF TRANSLATION:
THE OLD ENGLISH BOETHIUS
A Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate School
of the University of Notre Dame
in Phrdal Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Nicole Guenther Discenza, BA., M.M.S.
ttherine O’Brien jO’Keeffe,
The Medieval Institute
Notre Dame, Indiana
April, 1996
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UMI Number: 9620928
Copyright 1996 by
Discenza, Nicole Guenther
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© Copyright by
NICOLE GUENTHER DISCENZA
1996
All rights reserved
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ALFRED’S CRJEFT OF TRANSLATION:
THE OLD ENGLISH BOETHIUS
Abstract
by
Nicole Guenther Discenza
Alfred the Great’s translation of Boethius’s De consolatione philosophiae is one of
the seminal works of Old English prose. While the Boethius has been studied from various
philological, historical, and philosophical angles, this dissertation is the first study of it
specifically as a translation. Aided by current translation theories, particularly Polysystems
Theory, the dissertation examines the Boethius as the work relates to three cultural
contexts: the Latin source text, Anglo-Saxon culture, and Latin Christian culture. The first
two chapters are case studies of a single word (crcefi) and of word pairs respectively; the
other three examine the relationship of the translation to each of the three contexts in turn.
This study demonstrates that translation is not a simple matter of reproducing a Latin text in
Old English but one of negotiating the demands of the source text, its new audience, and
Latin Christian traditions. The structure of the source text, most of its arguments, and
some of its style of argumentation are followed fairly closely in the translation. At the same
time, Alfred adapts the text to the receiving culture at every level, from words and phrases
up through characterization, imagery, and themes. Moreover, Alfred reads the source text
through a Christian lens, transforming a text of pure philosophy with no explicit mention of
Christianity into a strongly religious one imbued with a sense of duty in this world. These
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Nicole Guenther Discenza
findings both lead to a more productive reading of the Boethius and have broader
implications. They reveal that Alfred not only saw enough value in Latin literature to merit
the difficult work of translation but felt his own language to be both worthy of receiving
such a work and sophisticated enough to treat difficult philosophical and religious issues.
These findings also show that cultural contacts between Anglo-Saxon society and Latin
culture were more complex than has often been appreciated, and they indicate the need for
increased rigor in the study of translation.
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DEDICATION
To my husband, Joe,
whose unflagging interest, encouragement,
and patience were a greater help than I can express;
And to my parents,
who have not only supported me in the pursuit of my goals
but have shown me which goals are truly worthy o? pursuit.
ii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................vi
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................1
The Text and Edition............................................................................................3
Scholarship to Date...............................................................................................7
Translation Studies..............................................................................................18
This Study...........................................................................................................29
CHAPTER 1 CRAFT: FORGING A CONNECTION BETWEEN LEARNING,
ART, AND RELIGION.......................................................................................36
Crcefi in Old English............................................................................................38
Alfred’s Usage....................................................................................................52
Significance within the Text................................................................................61
Broader Implications...........................................................................................80
Conclusions........................................................................................................86
CHAPTER 2 TOL TO SWELCUM CRJEFTE: THE NATURE AND ROLE OF
DOUBLETS........................................................................................................89
Previous Scholarship on Doublets.......................................................................90
Methodology.......................................................................................................97
Results..............................................................................................................108
Conclusions......................................................................................................120
CHAPTER 3 SWA SWA WISDOM IS SE HEHSTA CRAFT: USE OF THE
LATIN TEXT....................................................................................................122
Retention of Proper Nouns................................................................................125
Structure of the Dialogue....................................................................................132
Imagery from the LatinText...............................................................................140
Major Arguments..............................................................................................147
Eternity..............................................................................................................154
Conclusions......................................................................................................163
CHAPTER 4 HER FOR WEORULDE: ADAPTATION FORTHE
ANGLO-SAXON CONTEXT...........................................................................166
Vocabulary, Style, and Syntax...........................................................................173
Textual References.............................................................................................180
Imagery and Anecdotes.....................................................................................184
Argumentation....................................................................................................195
Characterization.................................................................................................214
Friendship.........................................................................................................226
Kingship...........................................................................................................233
Conclusions......................................................................................................247
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CHAPTER 5 LUFIAD CR/EFTAS 7 FOLGIAB p/EM: CHRISTIAN
INTERFERENCE.............................................................................................251
Alfred’s Interaction with Christian Texts...........................................................255
Alfred’s Program..............................................................................................265
Style of Argumentation.......................................................................................276
Wisdom.............................................................................................................285
The Dvs/g..........................................................................................................292
Rehabilitation of Earthly Goods.........................................................................299
Imagery............................................................................................................309
Christian Influence on Specific Passages..........................................................319
Conclusions.....................................................................................................326
CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................328
APPENDIX A........................................................................................................337
APPENDIX B.........................................................................................................437
BIBLIOGRAPHY...................................................................................................441
iv
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