Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1959, Síða 137
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whenever the beginning of a new laisse with a “recapitulation” of this
kind does not coincide with a new chapter in the saga, the verses in question
are frequently left out and must have been regarded as irrelevant by the
translator. An example of an omitted verse of this type has been discussed
above, in connection with the comparison between Fri and the Icelandic
MSS (v. 193, cp. above p. 86). Other omissions of this type are: vv. 259,
703-06, 826-30, 1101-03, 1347-48, 1530-32, 1570 (but cp. add.), 1668-
70( ?), 1734-36, 2134-38, 2164-65, 2167, 2242-43, 2397, 2458-59,
2507-10.
In the other translated sagas it is generally the speeches and (especially)
the monologues that have suffered most at the hånds of the translators
(and scribes). But what is left out is not the speeches as such, only those
of them that discuss, usually with many variations and at great length,
psychological niceties for which the translators had little patience and
probably little understanding. In the Chanson de Roland the speeches, and
even many of the monologues, are short and to the point, and convey
information, and there are therefore relatively few omissions of this type
in Runzivals påttr. The saga usually omits words addressed to inanimate
objects, like v. 445, where Ganeion says to his sword:
“Mult estes bele e clere!”
or verses which convey information that can be inferred from the context,
as when Naimes says to the emperor, in vv. 777-79:
Li quens Rollant, il est mult irascut.
La rereguarde est jugee sur lui:
N’avez baron ki jamais la remut.
But the saga has retained the preceding and the following verses, which
contain the necessary introduction and Naimes’ actual advice to the em-
peror :
776: E dist al rei: “Ben l’avez entendut;
780: Dunez li l’arc que vos avez tendut,
Kms: (Nemes hertogi - mcelti): Herra konungr, segir hann, gef Rollant bogann,
er hann beiSist (p. 50023-24).
The saga sometimes shortens the threats and the boasting of the pagans,
and even Oliver’s triumphant words in v. 1959:
Ico ne di que Karles n’i ait perdut.
The translator has no liking for tears and laments, e.g. Roland’s lament
in vv. 2026—31, beginning with the verses: