La
Dernière Translation
by
Millôr Fernandes
translated from Brazilian Portuguese by Clifford E. Landers
When
an old translator dies
Does
his soul, alma, anima,
Free
now of its wearisome craft
Of
rendering
Go
straight to heaven, ao céu,
al cielo,
au ciel, zum Himmel,
Or
to the hell – Hölle – of the great
traditori?
Or
will a translator be considered
In
the minute hierarchy of the divine
(himmlisch)
Neither
fish, nor water, ni posson ni l’eau
Nem água,
nem piexe, nichts, assolutamente
niente?
What
of the essential will this
mere
intermediary of semantics, broker
of
the universal Babel, discover?
Definitive
communication, without words?
Once
again the first word?
Will
he learn, finally!,
Whether
HE speaks Hebrew
Or
Latin?
Or
will he remain infinitely
In
the infine
Until
he hears the Voice, Voz, Voix, Voce,
Stimme, Vox,
Of
the Supreme Mystery
Coming
from beyond
Flying
like a birdpássarouccelapájarovogel
Addressing
him in…
And
giving at last
The translation of Amen?
(from E. Landers, C. 2001. Literary Translation: a Practical Guide. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters)
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