The Merchant and the Genie: Payne & Lang
Analysis:
The two translations analyzed are from Payne (The Merchant and the Genie) and Lang (The Merchant and the Geninus). Although both translators lived in the same time, around late 19th century, their translations of the Arabian Nights were significantly different. Payne was an English poet who pursued a legal career, whereas Lang was a Scottish poet who was also a contributor in anthropology. The main difference between the two translations is the languages used. Payne uses old-fashioned, archaic language. There are a lot of old words such as thy, thou, dost, verily…which are more often written in legal or ritual contexts. I read Payne’s version first and it is extremely difficult for me to understand because of the language. On the other hand, Land uses very succinct and concise language, and the translation is much easier to understand.
The setting of the story is described quiet differently at the begging of the two translations. Payne’s is short; Lang’s is more descriptive and informative. While Land does not include religion in his translation, Payne has a lot of religious texts. In Payne’s version, it is clear that the merchant strongly believes in fate and in Allah – the God. When the merchant tries to convince the genie, he says there is God’s witness. The genie then quickly accepts his request. While in Lang’s version, it is merely the merchant’s persuasion. The genie also asks a lot of questions in order to trust that the merchant will come back.
Lang’s translation appears to be more conversational since there are more dialogues. The normal language Lang uses makes the genie seem more “friendly” and “human-like”, comparing to Payne’s. In addition, Lang also includes an additional part to mention the story between Schahriar and Scheherazade.
Differences:
Payne:
One day, as he was riding through a certain country, whither he had gone to collect what was due to him, there overtook him the heat of the day and presently he espied a garden before him; so he made towards it for shelter and alighting, sat down under a walnut tree, by a spring of water. Then he put his hand to his saddle bags and took out a cake of bread and a date and ate them and threw away the date stone, when behold, there started up before him a gigantic Afrit, with a naked sword in his hand, who came up to him and said, ‘Arise, that I may slay thee, even as thou hast slain my son.’
Lang:
One day, having to go a long way from home, he mounted his horse, taking with him a small wallet in which he had put a few biscuits and dates, because he had to pass through the desert where no food was to be got. He arrived without any mishap, and, having finished his business, set out on his return. On the fourth day of his journey, the heat of the sun being very great, he turned out of his road to rest under some trees…
When he was thus employed he saw an enormous genius, white with rage, coming towards him, with a scimitar in his hand.
“Arise,” he cried in a terrible voice, “and let me kill you as you have killed my son!”
Payne:
, ‘Verily we are God’s and to Him we return! There is no power and no virtue but in God, the Most High, the Supreme! If I killed him, it was by misadventure, and I prithee pardon me.’
…
Fate has two days, untroubled one, the other lowering, And life two parts, the one content, the other sorrowing. Say unto him that taunteth us with fortune’s perfidy, ‘At whom but those whose heads are high doth Fate its arrows fling?’
Lang:
“Ah, sir, forgive me!” cried the merchant.
“I will have no mercy on you,” answered the genius.
“But I killed your son quite unintentionally, so I implore you to spare my life.”
Payne:
‘Know, O Afrit,’ replied the merchant, ‘that I have a wife and children and much substance, and I owe debts and hold pledges: so let me return home and give every one his due, and I vow by all that is most sacred that I will return to thee at the end of the year, that thou mayest do with me as thou wilt, and God is witness of what I say.’ The genie accepted his promise and released him, whereupon he returned to his dwelling-place and paid his debts and settled all his affairs.
Lang:
Scheherazade, at this point, seeing that it was day, and knowing that the Sultan always rose very early to attend the council, stopped speaking…
When the merchant saw that the genius was determined to cut off his head, he said: “One word more, I entreat you. Grant me a little delay; just a short time to go home and bid my wife and children farewell, and to make my will. When I have done this I will come back here, and you shall kill me.”
“But,” said the genius, “if I grant you the delay you ask, I am afraid that you will not come back.”
“I give you my word of honour,” answered the merchant, “that I will come back without fail.”
Payne:
Then came forward the first old man, he of the gazelle, and kissed the Afrit’s hand and said to him, ‘O genie and crown of the kings of the Jinn, if I relate to thee my history with this gazelle and it seem to thee wonderful, wilt thou grant me a third of this merchant’s blood?’
Lang:
Then the old man leading the hind threw himself at the monster’s feet and said, “O Prince of the Genii, I beg of you to stay your fury and to listen to me. I am going to tell you my story and that of the hind I have with me, and if you find it more marvellous than that of the merchant whom you are about to kill, I hope that you will do away with a third part of his punishment?”