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P F A R I V ~ IText and Translation: Anselm's Proslogion The translation that follows would not have been possible were it not for existing translations. I have tried to take advantage ofthem as well as ofthe unique opportunity provided by this series to offer a translation that is not so much designed to stand alone as to come at the end of, and to appear entirely within the context of, an extensive interpretation. In short, since this translation is not designed to compete with other translations so much as to complete our reading ofAnselm, I have not just felt free to offer a rather free translation but to borrow freely from the insight of other translators. I have, needless to say, also been freed by a format that includes the original text with my translation. I have taken the Latin text from F. S. Schmitt's German translation ofthe Proslogion. The difference between the Latin version he provides with his translation and the one he had offered in the Opera omnia is primarily a matter ofform. I have further interpolated the format he proposes, leaving Schmitt's presentation in the Latin text, while trying in my English version not so much to highlight, as he does, the formalstructure ofthe words as to highlight the rhythm . and flow, indeed, the passion of those passages in which Anselm breaks into prayer. Especially in those cases, I understand the aim ofmy translation to be to produce the poetic affect ofAnselm's prose, not simply to reproduce in English a literal version ofthe Latin. Indeed , a truly literal rendering is often made impossible by the very singsong rhymes ofwhich Anselm is so fond and which depend upon the sound ofthe Latin words. I have also followed Schmitt's method of indicating the scriptural citations that are woven into Anselm's text. Some translators have seen fit to use quotation marks, while others have noted each citation, whether in a separate footnote or in brackets within the I 310 P F A R I V ~ IText and Translation: Anselm's Proslogion The translation that follows would not have been possible were it not for existing translations. I have tried to take advantage ofthem as well as ofthe unique opportunity provided by this series to offer a translation that is not so much designed to stand alone as to come at the end of, and to appear entirely within the context of, an extensive interpretation. In short, since this translation is not designed to compete with other translations so much as to complete our reading ofAnselm, I have not just felt free to offer a rather free translation but to borrow freely from the insight of other translators. I have, needless to say, also been freed by a format that includes the original text with my translation. I have taken the Latin text from F. S. Schmitt's German translation ofthe Proslogion. The difference between the Latin version he provides with his translation and the one he had offered in the Opera omnia is primarily a matter ofform. I have further interpolated the format he proposes, leaving Schmitt's presentation in the Latin text, while trying in my English version not so much to highlight, as he does, the formalstructure ofthe words as to highlight the rhythm . and flow, indeed, the passion of those passages in which Anselm breaks into prayer. Especially in those cases, I understand the aim ofmy translation to be to produce the poetic affect ofAnselm's prose, not simply to reproduce in English a literal version ofthe Latin. Indeed , a truly literal rendering is often made impossible by the very singsong rhymes ofwhich Anselm is so fond and which depend upon the sound ofthe Latin words. I have also followed Schmitt's method of indicating the scriptural citations that are woven into Anselm's text. Some translators have seen fit to use quotation marks, while others have noted each citation, whether in a separate footnote or in brackets within the I 310 311 I Text and Translation text itself. Both practices, however, tend to break up the flow of Anselm's writing. The best solution, I think, is the use of italics. While this also tends to distinguish the biblical citations from Anselm's text rather than to incorporate them into it, it does serve to remind us of the force with which such phrases from Holy Writ would have rung in the ears ofa monastic reader. Finally, one may...

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