Jun 9, 2013 14:38
11 yrs ago
French term
toutes les heures tournent
French to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
A very literary work about the Theseus legend. He finally encounters the Minotaur in the Labyrinth. The meeting is portrayed in Theatrical terms "Par les coulisses, Thésée est arrivé jusqu'à la loge du protagoniste."
It continues:
"L'éclairage favori, évidemment, est celui de cette heure que l'on appelle « chien et loup ».
Cependant, toutes les heures tournent au Labyrinthe."
There are strong homosexual undertones, so I'm thinking of: "The preferred lighting, of course, is that of 'cock-shut' time" for the first sentence [J. Florio: "Cock-shut, or twilight, as when a man cannot discerne a dog from a Wolfe."]
Any nice literary suggestions for the second sentence?
TIA.
It continues:
"L'éclairage favori, évidemment, est celui de cette heure que l'on appelle « chien et loup ».
Cependant, toutes les heures tournent au Labyrinthe."
There are strong homosexual undertones, so I'm thinking of: "The preferred lighting, of course, is that of 'cock-shut' time" for the first sentence [J. Florio: "Cock-shut, or twilight, as when a man cannot discerne a dog from a Wolfe."]
Any nice literary suggestions for the second sentence?
TIA.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
1 hr
Selected
all time is twisted
The Labyrinth twists/distorts time as well as space.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Barbara."
30 mins
Timothy Rake
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
My business is translating your business
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English to French
Related KudoZ points
:
4
the hours wound up like a spring
NOt sure if the image you want is one of "tenseness", but the endless wind of a spring does convey some sense of a labyrinth. Good luck
Note from asker:
| Thanks Timothy. Like all the answers, this is perfectly possible, I've chosen the answer that seems to fit best into the overall context. |
1 hr
All time is lost in a maze
another "twist" - if you'll pardon the expression..
Note from asker:
| Thanks Colin. Yes, twist/bent etc work! Like all the answers, this is perfectly possible, I've chosen the answer that seems to fit best into the overall context. |
2 hrs
Kévin Bernier
France
France
Native in French
France
Translator & Game Loc Specialist | EN-FR
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France)
Works in: English to French
every hour tumbles around in the maze
Just a suggestion.
Note from asker:
| Thanks Kévin. Nice and literary. Like all the answers, this is perfectly possible, I've chosen the answer that seems to fit best into the overall context. |
+2
2 hrs
time does not stand still
Not very poetic perhaps, but the meaning here is that even at twilight, time does not stop.
Note from asker:
| Thanks Emma. That's the meaning OK, but the piece is so literary that I'm going to go for something different. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
27 mins
|
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Thanks, Nikki.
|
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| agree |
Verginia Ophof
1 day 59 mins
|
+1
2 hrs
all the hours tick away in the Labyrinth
Another suggestion, trying to get the idea of "l'heure tourne', and (hopefully!) the idea that the said hours may get somehow lost in the Labyrinth.
Note from asker:
| Thanks katsy. I think it does capture the sense of temps perdu. Like all the answers, it's perfectly possible and I've chosen the answer that seems to fit best into the overall context. |
3 hrs
the sun pursues its course
sounds rather literary!
Note from asker:
| Thanks Jane. Yes, a nice literary variation! Like all the answers, this is perfectly possible, I've chosen the answer that seems to fit best into the overall context. |
Discussion
''Entre chien et loup'' is a ''the'' single idiomatic Expression I know. I could be wrong.
à propos: By me saying that: Thésée is in the labyrinth ''from dusk to sunrise'', I mean to say: that is there ''all night''.
Thou trieth; ye try.