Today, a treat for poetry lovers: the results of a translation challenge between Colin (polymath polyglot and QuickSilver President) and Estrella Whiteley.
The idea was for Colin to render a Spanish poem into English and Estrella an English poem into Spanish. Bonus marks, of course, were awarded for the complexity and specificity of the original.
Colin chose the tightly-structured but playful Soneto de repente by Lope de Vega (1562 1635): why do you think he translated Violante as Volante?
Un soneto me manda hacer Violante
que en mi vida me he visto en tanto aprieto;
catorce versos dicen que es soneto;
burla burlando van los tres delante.
Yo pense que no hallara consonante,
y estoy a la mitad de otro cuarteto;
mas si me veo en el primer terceto,
no hay cosa en los cuartetos que me espante.
Por el primer terceto voy entrando,
y parece que entre con pie derecho,
pues fin con este verso le voy dando.
Ya estoy en el segundo, y aun sospecho
que voy los trece versos acabando;
contad si son catorce, y esta hecho.
Instant Sonnet
My friend Volante tells me to write
A sonnet. I don’t know where to begin.
Fourteen lines must be put in,
Well… four have already seen the light.
I thought I’d never have the time;
Now half the second quatrain’s done.
The last six lines will be quite fun
If I can make this eighth line rhyme!
The first triplet begins right here.
I don’t think it will go awry,
For this line brings the end quite near.
Just three lines left to go, so try
The thirteenth; now it’s done. No fear.
Is this fourteen? We’re home and dry.
Although many poets and translators have had a stab at this famous sonnet, we’re sure you’ll agree that Colin’s version is superior.
Next week we will have a look at Estrella Whiteley’s response, but in the meantime why not have a go at Soneto de repente yourself; if you think you can do better, we’d love to hear about it…