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14:35 Sep 20, 2011
English to English translations [Non-PRO] Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase:the dedication to Shakespeare's sonnet
i'm afraid the dedication consists of several lines, so i cannot ask it in a proper way.
what i need is to understand the dedication and then translate it (into turkish). i looked for any modernised/understandable version of it, but couldn't find. can you please help me with it, or tell if there's any website where i can find this version? thanks.
And here is a paraphrase with explanations in square brackets, based on the page I have cited in the discussion:
In setting forth [publishing] (this work), the adventurer [explorer, one who embarks on a risky undertaking], T.T. [Thomas Thorpe, the publisher], wishing success (to his own venture) [that is, hoping that the publication will be a success], wishes all (possible) happiness, and the eternity [immortality or eternal fame] promised by our ever-living [immortal] poet [Shakespeare], to Mr. W. H. [to whom the work is dedicated], the only begetter of the following sonnets [the person solely responsible for inspiring them or procreating them, that is, fertilising or inseminating the poet's creativity so that he metaphorically gave birth to them].
"Wishes all happiness to Mr. W. H." means "desires that Mr. W. H. will be as happy (and successful) as possible".
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 6 hrs (2011-09-20 20:53:27 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
An enormous amount of effort has been devoted to trying to identify "Mr W. H.", and many theories have been proposed. Most people think he was either William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, or Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. It is also generally believed that this "W. H." was the "fair youth" mentioned in the sonnets. This is impossible to determine and has no bearing on the translation, in my opinion.
Nor will the translation be affected by any of the numerous theories about coded messages in the dedication, including those cited by Taña. They can safely be ignored for this purpose.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 6 hrs (2011-09-20 21:12:08 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Thorpe says that he hopes W. H. will attain "the eternity promised by our ever-living poet". Unless this means the eternal life promised by God (an interpretation which few now support), what he means is that Shakespeare's fame and glory as a poet will last for ever, and that W. H. will therefore achieve immortality by having Shakespeare's sonnets dedicated to him.
This dedication is obscure in several respects and has been the object of a colossal amount of speculation and argument. Many believe that it is a cryptogram (a coded message) and that this has influenced the phrasing; Taña has already posted some interesting material on this.
The additional notes on the "onlie begetter", which has several possible meanings, are worth consulting (there is a link to them within the page).
I would just add that "our ever-living poet" is taken here to refer to Shakespeare himself, but some have believed that it refers to God. This is explained in the Wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_sonnets
The dedication is rearranged as follows in the page I have cited, to make it easier to understand:
"The well wishing adventurer, (T.T), in setting forth these ensuing sonnets, wisheth to the only begetter, Mr. W. H., all happiness, and that eternity promised by our ever living poet."
This already helps, I think. A detailed explanation of each term is then given.
Which dedication? Is it this one? http://www.leylandandgoding.com/
If so, you should indicate what is giving you difficulty. Additionally, there are quite a few references on Google to look at. Have you tried a search yourself?
sorry for the lack of clarity. i need the literal "translation" of the dedication itself, which consists of a few lines (i.e. the modern english version of the dedication).
Your question lacks context and clarity. You need to be specific so that others understand what you are asking. What exactly don't you understand? See: http://www.shakespeare-oxford.com/wp-content/oxfordian/to-99... (I am not even sure if this document will help you). Nevertheless.... HTH!
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the dedication to shakespeare's sonnets
modern English
Explanation: Dedication
This might help:
Shakespeare's sonnets are 154 poems in sonnet form written by William Shakespeare, dealing with themes such as the passage of time, love, beauty and mortality.
Dedication page from The Sonnets
The sonnets include a dedication to one "Mr. W.H.". The identity of this person remains a mystery and has provoked a great deal of speculation.
The dedication reads: TO.THE.ONLIE.BEGETTER.OF.
THESE.INSUING.SONNETS.
Mr.W.H. ALL.HAPPINESSE.
AND.THAT.ETERNITIE.
PROMISED.
BY.
OUR.EVER-LIVING.POET.
WISHETH.
THE.WELL-WISHING.
ADVENTURER.IN.
SETTING.
FORTH.
T.T.
Given its obliquity, since the 19th century the dedication has become, in Colin Burrow's words, a "dank pit in which speculation wallows and founders". Don Foster concludes that the result of all the speculation has yielded only two "facts," which themselves have been the object of much debate: First, that the form of address (Mr.) suggests that W.H. was an untitled gentleman, and second, that W.H., whoever he was, is identified as "the only begetter" of Shakespeare's Sonnets (whatever the word "begetter" is taken to mean).
...
Read on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_sonnets#Dedication
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 hrs (2011-09-20 18:47:35 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Here is another study you might find useful; published in 1999, Volume II, in The Oxfordian:
Secrets of the Dedication to Shakespeare’s Sonnets,
by John M. Rollett
Mr. Rollett refers to a Shakespeare scholar, Leslie Horson, who claimed to have finally determined the identity of the mystery person to whom the Sonnets were dedicated, and offers explanations to each word, line by line, and even between the lines. I am not convinced that you will find the answer to your question, but it certainly is an enjoyable read. :)
"THERE it is, so familiar, and so obscure: what an amazing production! There’s nothing remotely like it anywhere else in Elizabethan or Jacobean literature. What does it mean, for a start What is it trying to tell us? The opening phrase is so well-known, “To the onlie begetter,” but how many people know that the spelling of “onlie” is very rare indeed? It could have been, in its tiny way, a clue to something quite unsuspected until very recently. Surely there is rather more in the Dedication than first meets the eye. ...." http://www.shakespeare-oxford.com/wp-content/oxfordian/to-99...
Ildiko Santana United States Local time: 19:09 Native speaker of: Hungarian, English PRO pts in category: 4
4 hrs confidence: peer agreement (net): +3
the dedication to shakespeare\'s sonnet
paraphrase below
Explanation: Here, again, is the dedication in its original form:
And here is a paraphrase with explanations in square brackets, based on the page I have cited in the discussion:
In setting forth [publishing] (this work), the adventurer [explorer, one who embarks on a risky undertaking], T.T. [Thomas Thorpe, the publisher], wishing success (to his own venture) [that is, hoping that the publication will be a success], wishes all (possible) happiness, and the eternity [immortality or eternal fame] promised by our ever-living [immortal] poet [Shakespeare], to Mr. W. H. [to whom the work is dedicated], the only begetter of the following sonnets [the person solely responsible for inspiring them or procreating them, that is, fertilising or inseminating the poet's creativity so that he metaphorically gave birth to them].
"Wishes all happiness to Mr. W. H." means "desires that Mr. W. H. will be as happy (and successful) as possible".
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 6 hrs (2011-09-20 20:53:27 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
An enormous amount of effort has been devoted to trying to identify "Mr W. H.", and many theories have been proposed. Most people think he was either William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, or Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. It is also generally believed that this "W. H." was the "fair youth" mentioned in the sonnets. This is impossible to determine and has no bearing on the translation, in my opinion.
Nor will the translation be affected by any of the numerous theories about coded messages in the dedication, including those cited by Taña. They can safely be ignored for this purpose.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 6 hrs (2011-09-20 21:12:08 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Thorpe says that he hopes W. H. will attain "the eternity promised by our ever-living poet". Unless this means the eternal life promised by God (an interpretation which few now support), what he means is that Shakespeare's fame and glory as a poet will last for ever, and that W. H. will therefore achieve immortality by having Shakespeare's sonnets dedicated to him.
Charles Davis Local time: 04:09 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
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thank you very much!
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