TRANSLATION OF “SIR ORFEO” INTO SPANISH

Jose Antonio Alonso Navarro

doi:10.18522/2415-8852-2019-4-69-83

Abstract

Here we present a translation into Spanish of the medieval English poem titled “Sir Orfeo”, which was composed in the late 13th or early 14th centuries within the WestminsterMiddlesex area. Our main spur has been to disseminate it amongst the modern Spanish-speaking readers due to its literary beauty and its story, a story which is not certainly innovative; however, it is innovative as to the way its author has succeeded in adapting the classical or Ancient Greek myth to the medieval English mindset of the readers or listeners of the time so as to arouse their interest, entertain them and teach them with a didactic purpose. The poem comprises all the elements inherent to a prototypical lay (or lai): a knight-king, a love story, a physical and spiritual quest, the otherworld (or fairyland), and moral and spiritual values which should be taken into account by the audience. We have attempted to make the translation of “Sir Orfeo” into Spanish as faithful as possible regarding the original English poem in order to maintain its literary essence, freshness and character. “Sir Orfeo” was a very popular poem in its time, and there is no doubt that it will become popular again in the 21st century in the light of different perceptions and approaches.

Highlights

Introduction to the Medieval English poem “Sir Orfeo” In the introduction written by the editors Anne Laskaya and Eve Salisbury for the digital version of “Sir Orfeo” [Laskaya, Salisbury], we may read that the earliest known Middle English version of this English poem is preserved in the Auchinleck manuscript, which dates from about 1330–1340
We do not know who wrote “Sir Orfeo”, but in view of its linguistic features we do know by the above-mentioned editors that it was composed in the late 13th or early 14th centuries within the Westminster-Middlesex area
Its earliest source might have been a text written in old French

Summary

Introduction

Introduction to the MedievalEnglish poem “Sir Orfeo” In the introduction written by the editors Anne Laskaya and Eve Salisbury for the digital version of “Sir Orfeo” [Laskaya, Salisbury], we may read that the earliest known Middle English version of this English poem is preserved in the Auchinleck manuscript ( called Advocates), which dates from about 1330–1340. – Señor, dijo Orfeo, – sabed ante todo que tan solo soy un pobre trovador, y que es costumbre nuestra entrar en las casas de los señores con el objeto de ofrecer nuestras trovas, incluso aunque no seamos bienvenidos.

Results

Conclusion