As an illustration of the translation procedures of substitutions, abbreviations and omissions, we cite verses 24-29 from the original text of the hymn To Demeter by Callimachus, which correspond to the initial verses (1-5) of the translation, or perhaps, more appropriately, adaptation by Prlichev:
εἰς Δήμητρα
οὔπω τὰν Κνιδίαν, ἔτι Δώτιον ἱρὸν ἔναιον,
τεῖ δ᾽ αὐτᾶι καλὸν ἄλσος ἐποιήσαντο Πελασγοί
δένδρεσιν ἀμφιλαφές: διά κεν μόλις ἦνθεν ὀιστός:
ἐν πίτυς, ἐν μεγάλαι πτελέαι ἔσαν, ἐν δὲ καὶ ὄχναι,
ἐν δὲ καλὰ γλυκύμαλα: τὸ δ᾽ ὥστ᾽ ἀλέκτρινον ὕδωρ
ἐξ ἀμαρᾶν ἀνέθυε. …[5] (verse 24–29)
Гимнъ Каллимаха
Димитра (Церера)
Димитра рощу въ Детіи Пелазги насадили
Густыми мрачну дървесы: Стрела бы не проникла.
Тамъ кленъе величайшіе и слаткоплодны груши
и сосны остролиствены и яблони прекрасны.
Тамъ отъ источниковъ вода янтарная капля.[6]
(verse 1–5)
We bring to light these verses delivered by Naum Celakoski, despite the series of inconsistencies in the reading, transcribing and publishing Prlichev’s translation in Macedonian literary language:
Hymn by Callimachus Химната од Калимаха
To Demeter (To Ceres)
Thessaloniki, 19 Nov 1899
To Demeter a forest in Detia the Pelasgians planted
with dense dark trees, an arrow would not break:
with magnificent maples and sweet pears
and needle-leaved pines and beautiful apple trees.
From the springs there, in the morning, cold water foams. [7]
… (verse 1–5)
The verses presented show that Prlichev, in the case of this translation as well, acted in accordance with his understanding of how a classical work should be delivered into a new cultural and linguistic environment. Confirmation of this are the abbreviations, substitutions and free relations that he showed in the translation of a work created in the literary genre that favours the short compact form of expression, such as the hymn To Demeter by Callimachus. However, one thing is certain, and that is that Callimachus’ poetic work attracted Prlichev’s attention to such an extent that today we undoubtedly include this hymn in his translational legacy, together with the immortal epics of Homer, the works from which Prlichev learned so much and was inspired.
Sources
Callimachus, Hymns and Epigrams, Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, Berlin, Weidmann, 1897.
Фонд на Григор Прличев при ДАРМ, „Химна на Калимах“, 1.831.1.8./307.
Literature:
Георги Сталев, Творечкиот лик на Григор Прличев, ИМЛ, Скопје, 2005, 133.
Григор Прличев, Водач ме праќа татковината, избор, поговор и коментари д-р Наум Целакоски, Скопје, Матица македонска, 1993, 41–44.
[5] Callimachus, Hymns and Epigrams, Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, Berlin, Weidmann, 1897.
[6] Фонд на Григор Прличев при ДАРМ, „Химна на Калимах“, 1.831.1.8./307.
[7] Григор Прличев, Водач ме праќа татковината, избор, поговор и коментари д-р Наум Целакоски, Скопје, Матица македонска, 1993, 41.