Έχω μια απορία σχετικά με την πρώτη σκηνή της πρώτης πράξης του Ιουλίου Καίσαρα. Γιατί και οι δύο αναγνωρισμένοι μεταφραστές του Σαίξπηρ (Ρώτας και Μπελιές) έχουν αποδώσει το «I am a mender of bad soles» ως «Διορθώνω παλιοτόμαρα»; Εμένα μου φαίνεται ότι μιλάει κυριολεκτικά σε όλον αυτόν τον διάλογο. Παραθέτω το κείμενο, παλιό και σύγχρονο από το No Fear Shakespeare.
MURELLUS Where is thy leather apron and thy rule? What dost thou with thy best apparel on? —You, sir, what trade are you?
MURELLUS Where are your leather apron and your ruler? What are you doing, wearing your best clothes? And you, sir, what’s your trade?
COBBLER Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler .
COBBLER Well, compared to a fine workman, you might call me a mere cobbler.
MURELLUS But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.
MURELLUS But what’s your trade? Answer me straightforwardly.
COBBLER A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience, which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.
COBBLER It is a trade, sir, that I practice with a clear conscience. I am a mender of worn soles.
MURELLUS What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty knave, what trade?
MURELLUS What trade, boy? You insolent rascal, what trade?
COBBLER Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me. Yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.
COBBLER Sir, please, don’t be angry. But if your soles are worn out, I can mend you.
MURELLUS What mean’st thou by that? “Mend” me, thou saucy fellow?
MURELLUS What do you mean by that? “Mend” me, you impertinent fellow?!
COBBLER Why, sir, cobble you.
COBBLER Cobble you, sir.
FLAVIUS Thou art a cobbler, art thou?
FLAVIUS You’re a cobbler, are you?
COBBLER Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl. I meddle with no tradesman’s matters nor women’s matters, but withal I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes. When they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neat’s leather have gone upon my handiwork.
COBBLER Sir, I make my living using an awl. I stick to my work; I don’t meddle in politics or chase women. I’m a surgeon to old shoes. When they’re endangered, I save them. The noblest men who ever walked on leather have walked on my handiwork.
MURELLUS Where is thy leather apron and thy rule? What dost thou with thy best apparel on? —You, sir, what trade are you?
MURELLUS Where are your leather apron and your ruler? What are you doing, wearing your best clothes? And you, sir, what’s your trade?
COBBLER Truly, sir, in respect of a fine workman, I am but, as you would say, a cobbler .
COBBLER Well, compared to a fine workman, you might call me a mere cobbler.
MURELLUS But what trade art thou? Answer me directly.
MURELLUS But what’s your trade? Answer me straightforwardly.
COBBLER A trade, sir, that I hope I may use with a safe conscience, which is, indeed, sir, a mender of bad soles.
COBBLER It is a trade, sir, that I practice with a clear conscience. I am a mender of worn soles.
MURELLUS What trade, thou knave? Thou naughty knave, what trade?
MURELLUS What trade, boy? You insolent rascal, what trade?
COBBLER Nay, I beseech you, sir, be not out with me. Yet, if you be out, sir, I can mend you.
COBBLER Sir, please, don’t be angry. But if your soles are worn out, I can mend you.
MURELLUS What mean’st thou by that? “Mend” me, thou saucy fellow?
MURELLUS What do you mean by that? “Mend” me, you impertinent fellow?!
COBBLER Why, sir, cobble you.
COBBLER Cobble you, sir.
FLAVIUS Thou art a cobbler, art thou?
FLAVIUS You’re a cobbler, are you?
COBBLER Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl. I meddle with no tradesman’s matters nor women’s matters, but withal I am indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes. When they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neat’s leather have gone upon my handiwork.
COBBLER Sir, I make my living using an awl. I stick to my work; I don’t meddle in politics or chase women. I’m a surgeon to old shoes. When they’re endangered, I save them. The noblest men who ever walked on leather have walked on my handiwork.
