The Three Apples: Payne & Scott
Scott: About two months ago she fell sick; I took all imaginable care of her, and spared nothing that could promote her speedy recovery. After a month thus passed she began to grow better, and expressed a wish to go to the bath. Before she went, “Cousin,” said she (for so she used to call me out of familiarity), “I long for some apples; if you would get me any, you would greatly please me. I have longed for them a great while, and I must own it is come to that height, that if I be not satisfied very soon, I fear some misfortune will befall me.” “I will cheerfully try,” said I, “and do all in my power to make you easy.”
Payne: We lived happily together till the beginning of this month, when she fell grievously ill. I fetched the doctors to her and she recovered slowly; and I would have had her take a bath; but she said, “There is something I long for, before I go to the bath.” “What is it?” asked I, and she replied, “I have a longing for an apple, that I may smell it and bite a piece of it.”
Analysis: Much of the two translations are similar in regards to framework. However, the tone of Scott’s translation seems to be written in modern language and is essentially summarized. Payne is very descriptive and leaves every granular detail leading up to each event. Scott’s translation comes to an abrupt halt; he does not provide his rationale behind the murder of his wife whereas Payne’s literature progressively works its way up to this point. At the end of Scott’s work, the reader is directed to an additional piece that describes the events of the murder in, “The Lady who was murdered & the young man her husband.” Scotts translation also mentions that the bride had her head cut off and her remaining parts quartered whereas Pane’s addition was less gruesome. In Payne’s version, the wife was also wearing a veil and the imagery of a bride came to mind. The latter version only mentioned the leaves and fabric with a body inside. The two excerpts above represent just two differences amongst the text. Scott’s text mentions that the bride feels a misfortune is among her if she does not eat an apple. The other translation merely mentions a desire for an apple and does not hint on any repercussion for not eating it which the bride hinted on previously.