3 ms·
πολύτροπος literally means "one of many ways" or even more literally "multi-turned". Translating it as "for wisdom's various arts renown'd" is just as much poet
by lalaithion 6y ago
πολύτροπος literally means "one of many ways" or even more literally "multi-turned". Translating it as "for wisdom's various arts renown'd" is just as much poetic license as "complicated".
- Red_Tarsius 6y agoThat's the first line of the proem and complicated tells us nothing about the protagonist. Everyone can be complicated, but only Odysseus is πολύτροπον. It's a quality of character few people possess. I feel like Pope's line, despite the artistic license, kept that uniqueness.
- hombre_fatal 6y agoMy copy in Spanish says the man of many paths (hombre de muchos senderos). "Complicated" seems trite, almost meaningless. Though I'm willing to read beyond the first line of their translation.
- leephillips 6y agoIf it’s good enough for Shaft it’s good enough for this guy.