Same Verse, Different Voice

52 Weeks of Steiner – Week 42

I feel, as if enchanted
In glory of the world, the spirit's weaving;
It has my selfhood's being
In senses' dullness shrouded,
To bestow on me the strength
Which my own I within its bounds
Is powerless itself to give.
—Tr. Liselotte & William Mann
~
I feel enchanted weaving
Of spirit within outer glory.
In dullness of the senses
It has enwrapt my being
In order to bestow the strength
Which in its narrow bounds my I
Is powerless to give itself.
—Tr. Ruth & Hans Pusch
~
I feel as if enchanted
Within the world's fair glory Spirit's weaving:
It has enshrouded my own being
In dullness of the senses,
So It may give to me the strength
Which my own I within its bounds
Is powerless to give itself.
—Tr. Brigitte Knaack
~
I feel the Spirit weave
trance-charmed in the world's array;
in drowsihood of sense
it muffled my sole self
to tender me the strength
myself I am too poor to furnish forth
helpless within these narrow bounds.
—Tr. Owen Barfield

Isn’t it amazing how small changes in translation can shift the entire mood of the same verse? I encourage everyone to visit rsarchive.org’s Calendar of the Soul page and read not only your favourite translators, but ones you might not be familiar with. It can really give a different feel for the verse.

Until next time,
Marina
(This post is part of a weekly serial started on Michaelmas 2023. To see the other entries, please see the post linked HERE and scroll down to the bottom for individual links)