Salel is a most delightful approach to the Iliads; he is still absorbed in the subject-matter, as Douglas and Golding were absorbed in their subject-matter. Note how exact he is in the rendering of the old men's mental att.i.tude. Note also that he is right in his era. I mean simply that Homer _is_ a little _rustre_, a little, or perhaps a good deal, mediaeval, he has not the dovetailing of Ovid. He has onomatopia, as of poetry sung out; he has authenticity of conversation as would be demanded by an intelligent audience not yet laminated with aesthetics; capable of recognizing reality. He has the repet.i.tions of the _chanson de geste_. Of all the French and English versions I think Salel alone gives any hint of some of these characteristics. Too obviously he is not onomatopic, no. But he is charming, and readable, and "Briseis Fleur des Demoiselles" has her reality.

Nicolo Valla is, for him who runs, closer:

"Consili virtus, summis de rebus habebant Sermones, et multa inter se et magna loquentes, Arboribus quales gracili stridere cicadae Saepe solent cantu, postquam sub moenibus altis Tyndarida aspiciunt, procerum tum quisque fremebat, Mutuasque exorsi, Decuit tot funera Teucros Argolicasque pati, longique in tempore bellum Tantus in ore decor cui non mortalis in artus Est honor et vultu divina efflagrat imago.

Diva licet facies, Danauum c.u.m cla.s.se recedat Longius excido ne nos aut nostra fatiget Pignora sic illi tantis de rebus agebant."

This hexameter is rather heavily accented. It shows, perhaps, the source of various "ornaments" in later English and French translations. It has indubitable sonority even though monotonous.

It is the earliest Latin verse rendering I have yet come upon, and is bound in with Raphael of Volterra's first two Iliads, and some further renderings by Obsopeo.

_Odyssea_ (Liber primus) (1573).

"Dic mihi musa uirum captae post tempora Troiae Qui mores hominum multorum uidit et urbes Multa quoque et ponto pa.s.sus dum naufragus errat Ut sibi tum sociis uitam seruaret in alto Non tamen hos cupens fato deprompsit acerbo Ob scelus admissum extinctos ausumque malignum Qui fame compulsu solis rapuere iuvencos Stulti ex quo reditum ad patrias deus abstulit oras.

Horum itaque exitium memora mihi musa canenti."

_Odyssea_ (Lib. sec.) (1573).

"c.u.mprimum effulsit roseis aurora quadrigis Continuo e stratis proies consurgit Ulyxis Induit et uestes humerosque adcomodat ensem Molia denin pedibus formosis uincula nect.i.t Parque deo egrediens thalamo praeconibus omnis Concilio cognant extemplo mandat Achaeos Ipse quoque ingentem properabat ad aedibus hastam Corripiens: gemenique canes comitantor euntem Quumque illi mirum Pallas veneranda decorem Preberer populus venientem suspicit omnis Inque throno patrio ueteres cessere sedenti."

The charm of Salel is continued in the following excerpts. They do not cry out for comment. I leave Ogilby's English and the lines of Latin to serve as contrast or cross-light.

_Iliade_ (Livre I). Hugues Salel (1545).[3]

THE IRE

"Je te supply Deesse gracieuse, Vouloir chanter l'Ire pernicieuse, Dont Achille fut tellement espris, Que par icelle, ung grand nombre d'espritz Des Princes Grecs, par dangereux encombres, Feit lors descente aux infernales Umbres.

Et leurs beaulx Corps privez de Sepulture Furent aux chiens et aux oiseaulx pasture."

_Iliade_ (Lib. III). John Ogilby (1660).

HELEN

"Who in this chamber, sumpteously adornd Sits on your ivory bed, nor could you say, By his rich habit, he had fought to-day: A reveller or masker so comes drest, From splendid sports returning to his rest.

Thus did love's Queen warmer desires prepare.

But when she saw her neck so heavenly faire, Her lovely bosome and celestial eyes, Amazed, to the G.o.ddess, she replies: Why wilt thou happless me once more betray, And to another wealthy town convey, Where some new favourite must, as now at Troy With utter loss of honour me enjoy."

_Iliade_ (Livre VI). Salel.

GLAUCUS RESPOND a DIOMeDE

"Adonc Glaucus, auec grace et audace, Luy respondit: 'T'enquiers tu de ma race?

Le genre humain est fragile et muable Comme la fueille et aussi peu durable.

Car tout ainsi qu'on uoit les branches uertes Sur le printemps de fueilles bien couuertes Qui par les uents d'automne et la froidure Tombent de l'arbre et perdent leur uerdure Puis de rechef la gelee pa.s.see, Il en reuient a la place laissee: Ne plus ne moins est du lignage humain: Tel est huy uif qui sera mort demain.

S'il en meurt ung, ung autre reuint naistre.

Voyla comment se conserue leur estre.'"

_Iliade_ (Lib. VI). As in Virgil, Dante, and others.

"Quasim gente rogas? Quibus et natalibus ortus?

Persimile est foliis hominum genus omne caduciis Quae nunc nata uides, pulchrisque, uirescere sylvis Automno ueniente cadunt, simul illa perurens Incubuit Boreas: quaedam sub uerna renasci Tempora, sic uice perpetua succrescere lapsis, Semper item nova, sic alliis obeuntibus, ultro Succedunt alii luuenes aetate grauatis.

Quod si forte iuvat te qua sit quisque suorum Stirpe satus, si natales cognoscere quaeris Forte meos, referam, quae sunt notissima multis."

_Iliade_ (Livre IX). Salel.

CALYDON

"En Calydon regnoit Oeneus, ung bon Roy qui donnoit De ses beaulx Fruictz chascun an les Primices Aux Immortelz, leur faisant Sacrifices.

Or il aduint (ou bien par son uouloir, Ou par oubly) qu'il meit a nonchalloir Diane chaste, et ne luy feit offrande, Dont elle print Indignation grande Encontre luy, et pour bien le punir Feit ung Sanglier dedans ses Champs uenir Horrible et fier qui luy feit grand dommage Tuant les Gens et gastant le Fruictage.

Maintz beaulx Pomiers, maintz Arbres reuestuz De Fleur et Fruict, en furent abattuz, Et de la Dent aguisee et poinctue, Le Bled gaste et la Vigne tortue.

Meleager, le Filz de ce bon Roy, Voyant ainsi le piteux Desarroy De son Pays et de sa Gent troublee Proposa lors de faire une a.s.semblee De bons Veneurs et Leutiers pour cha.s.ser L'horrible Beste et sa Mort pourcha.s.ser.

Ce qui fut faict. Maintes Gens l'y trouverent Qui contre luy ses Forces eprouverent; Mais a la fin le Sanglier inhumain Receut la Mort de sa Royale Main.

Estant occis, deux grandes Nations Pour la Depouille eurent Contentions Les Curetois disoient la meriter, Ceulx d'Etolie en uouloient heriter."

_Iliade_ (Livre X). Salel.

THE BATHERS

"Quand Ulysses fut en la riche tente Du compaignon, alors il diligente De bien lier ses cheuaulx et les loge Soigneus.e.m.e.nt dedans la meme loge Et au rang meme ou la belle monture Du fort Gregeois mangeoit pain et pasture Quand aux habitz de Dolon, il les pose Dedans la nef, sur la poupe et propose En faire ung jour a Pallas sacrifice, Et luy offrir a jamais son seruice Bien tost apres, ces deux Grecs de ualeur Se cognoissant oppressez de chaleur, Et de sueur, dedans la mer entrerent Pour se lauer, et tres bien so froterent Le col, le dos, les jambes et les cuisses, Ostant du corps toutes les immondices, Estans ainsi refreichiz et bien netz, Dedans des baingz souefs bien ordonnez, S'en sont entrez, et quand leurs corps Ont este oinctz d'huyle par le dehors.

Puis sont allez manger prians Minerue Qu'en tous leurs faictz les dirige et conserue En respandant du uin a pleine ta.s.se, (pour sacrifice) au milieu de la place."

II. ANDREAS DIVUS

In the year of grace 1906, '08, or '10 I picked from the Paris quais a Latin version of the _Odyssey_ by Andreas Divus Justinopolita.n.u.s (Parisiis, In officina Christiani Wecheli, M, D, x.x.xVIII), the volume containing also the Batrachomyomachia, by Aldus Manutius, and the "Hymni Deorum" rendered by Georgius Dartona Cretensis. I lost a Latin _Iliads_ for the economy of four francs, these coins being at that time scarcer with me than they ever should be with any man of my tastes and abilities.

In 1911 the Italian savant, Signore E. Teza, published his note, "Quale fosse la Casata di Andreas Divus Justinopolita.n.u.s?" This question I am unable to answer, nor do I greatly care by what name Andreas was known in the privacy of his life: Signore Dio, Signore Divino, or even Mijnheer van Gott may have served him as patronymic. Sannazaro, author of _De Partu Virginis,_ and also of the epigram ending _hanc et sugere_, translated himself as Sanctus Nazarenus; I am myself known as Signore Sterlina to James Joyce's children, while the phonetic translation of my name into the j.a.panese tongue is so indecorous that I am seriously advised not to use it, lest it do me harm in Nippon. (Rendered back _ad verb.u.m_ into our maternal speech it gives for its meaning, "This picture of a phallus costs ten yen." There is no surety in shifting personal names from one idiom to another.)

Justinopolis is identified as Capodistria; what matters is Divus' text.

We find for the "Nekuia" (_Odys_. xi):

"At postquam ad navem descendimus, et mare, Nauem quidem primum deduximus in mare diuum, Et malum posuimus et vela in navi nigra: Intro autem oues accipientes ire fecimus, intro et ipsi Iuimus dolentes, huberes lachrymas fundentes: n.o.bis autem a tergo navis nigrae prorae Prosperum ventum imisit pandentem velum bonum amic.u.m Circe benecomata gravis Dea altiloqua.

Nos autem arma singula expedientes in navi Sedebamus: hanc autem ventusque gubernatorque dirigebat: Huius at per totum diem extensa sunt vela pontum transientis: Occidit tunc Sol, ombratae sunt omnes viae: Haec autem in fines pervenit profundi Oceani: Illic autem Cimmeriorum virorum populusque civitasque, Caligine et nebula cooperti, neque unquam ipsos Sol lucidus aspicit radiis, Neque quando tendit ad clum stellatum, Neque quando retro in terram a clo vert.i.tur: Sed nox pernitiosa extenditur miseris hominibus: Navem quidem illuc venientes traximus, extra autem oves Accepimus: ipsi autem rursus apud fluxum Oceani Iuimus, ut in loc.u.m perveniremus quem dixit Circe: Hic sacra quidem Perimedes Eurylochusque Faciebant: ego autem ensem acutum trahens a foemore, Foveam fodi quantum cubiti mensura hinc et inde: Circ.u.m ipsam autem libamina fundimus omnibus mortuis; Primum mulso, postea autem dulci vino: Tertio rursus aqua, et farinas albas miscui: Multum autem oravi mortuorum infirma capita: Profectus in Ithicam, sterilem bovem, quae optima esset, Sacrificare in domibus, pyramque implere bonis: Tiresiae autem seorsum ovem sacrificare vovi Totam nigram, quae ovibus antecellat nostris: Has autem postquam votis precationibusque gentes mortuorum Precatus sum, oves autem accipiens obtruncavi: In fossam fluebat autem sanguis niger, congregatasque sunt Animae ex Erebo cadaverum mortuorum, Nymphaeque iuvenesque et multa pa.s.si senes, Virginesque tenerae, nuper flebilem animum habentes, Multi autem vulnerati aereis lanceis Viri in bello necati, cruenta arma habentes, Qui multi circ.u.m foveam veniebant aliunde alius Magno clamore, me autem pallidus timor cepit.

Iam postea socios hortans iussi Pecora, quae iam iacebant iugulata saevo aere, Excoriantes combuere: supplicare autem Diis, Fortique Plutoni, et laudatae Proserpinae.

At ego ensem acutum trahens a foemore, Sedi, neque permisi mortuorum impotentia capita Sanguinem prope ire, antequam Tiresiam audirem: Prima autem anima Elpenoris venit socii: Nondum enim sepultus erat sub terra lata, Corpus enim in domo Circes reliquimus nos Infletum et insepultum, quoniam labor alius urgebat: Hunc quidem ego lachrymatus sum videns, misertusque sum aio, Et ipsum clamando verba velocia allocutus sum: Elpenor, quomodo venisti sub caliginem obscuram: Praevenisti pedes existens quam ego in navi nigra?

Sic dixi: hic autem mini lugens respondit verbo: n.o.bilis Laertiade, prudens Ulysse, Nocuit mihi dei fatum malum, et multum vinum: Circes autem in domo dormiens, non animadverti Me retrogradum descendere eundo per scalam longam, Sed contra murum cecidi ast autem mihi cervix Nervorum fracta est, anima autem in infernum descendit: Nunc autem his qui venturi sunt postea precor non praesentibus Per uxorem et patrem, qui educavit parvum existentem, Telemachumque quem solum in domibus reliquisti.

Scio enim quod hinc iens domo ex inferni Insulam in aeaeam impellens benefabricatam navim: Tunc te postea Rex iubeo recordari mei Ne me infletum, insepultum, abiens retro, relinquas Separatus, ne deorum ira fiam Sed me combure con armis quaecunque mihi sunt, Sepulchramque mihi acc.u.mula cani in litore maris, Viri infelicis, et cuius apud posteras fama sit: Haecque mihi perfice, figeque in sepulchro remum, Quo et vivus remigabam existens c.u.m meis sociis.

Sic dixit: at ego ipsum, respondens, allocutus sum: Haec tibi infelix perficiamque et faciam: Nos quidem sic verbis respondentes molestis Sedebamus: ego quidem seperatim supra sanguinem ensem tenebam: Idolum autem ex altera parte socii multa loquebatur: Venit autem insuper anima matris mortuae Autolyci filia magnanimi Anticlea, Quam vivam dereliqui iens ad Ilium sacrum, Hac quidem ego lachrymatus sum videns miseratusque sum aio: Sed neque sic sivi priorem licet valde dolens Sanguinem prope ire, antequam Tiresiam audirem: Venit autem insuper anima Thebani Tiresiae, Aureum sceptrum tenens, me autem novit et allocuta est: Cur iterum o infelix linquens lumen Solis Venisti, ut videas mortuos, et iniucundam regionem?

Sed recede a fossa, remove autem ensem acutum, Sanguinem ut bibam, et tibi vera dicam.

Sic dixi: ego autem retrocedens, ensem argenteum v.a.g.i.n.a inclusi: hic autem postquam bibit sanguinem nigrum, Et tunc iam me verbis allocutus est vates verus: Reditum quaeris dulcem ill.u.s.tris Ulysse: Hanc autem tibi difficilem faciet Deus, non enim puto Latere Neptunum, quam iram imposuit animo Iratus, quem ei filium dilectum excaecasti: Sed tamen et sic mala licet pa.s.si pervenientis, Si volveris tuum animum continere et sociorum."

The meaning of the pa.s.sage is, with a few abbreviations, as I have interpolated it in my Third Canto.