translations

As well as the originals - which I love - would it also be worth considering putting up some of the great translations that have been made? One that immediately springs to mind is Arthur Golding’s Metamorphoses. A classic which Shakespeare used as much as the bible. And now out of copyright.
I studied Latin & Greek, but they’re a bit rusty now - to put it mildly. I would love to be able to read the original without any help at all. But that’s an impossible dream.
Putting more translations up might help people read the originals - I know it would for me. It’s such a shame that most translations on the web are terrible, pseudo-Shakespearean language versions from the 19th century. Which I know I can’t read.
What about even asking members to post their translations?

Well, if members posted their translations, you’d have be aware that there may well be mistakes in them. I certainly wouldn’t post mine :blush: .
As for translations of the original, well Textkit already has many of those (Classical E-books section), so if someone has a scanned copy of this book lying around … I’m sure Jeff would just too glad to make it available for download here.

I think I have a word file of Golding’s Metamorphoses somewhere. It’s a glorious read, English at its best. I could root it out & email it to whoever can put it up here, if you like.
Yes, members’ translations would be full of errors, but if they’re posted with that proviso, I think other members would enjoy reading them. And I’m sure some members would get a kick out of others reading their translations. Instead of that horrible Victorian language you’re usually forced to read. My personal favourite epithet I found in a translation of Homer - “clandestinely-begotten”. He couldn’t write “bastard”:slight_smile:
I’ve been looking for an “honest” translation of Aristophanes for 10 years. The Penguin translation is an insult to profanity.