[Milton-L] Early reception of PL in Denmark and a more marathon marathon reading suggestion

[Ann Torday Gulden]

This is a by no means comprehensive response to the query about early 
translations of PL into Danish.

  The old Danish/Norwegian edition I own is from  April 1914,it is the 
2nd, edn., published both in Oslo ( then called Kristiania) and 
Copenhagen by the Gyldendalske Bokhandel - Nordisk Forlag (Publishing 
House). My son bought it for me at a jumble sale in Oslo for 4 kroner ( 
about 50 cents)  when he was 8 or so.  In 1914 literary language was the 
same in Denmark and Norway, ie Danish.

John Milton, Det Tabte Paradis
transl. by Uffe Birkedal

The book contains a short bio. of Milton, then an account of the 'poet's 
point of view' with a natty etching  of the ptolomeic system  which 
relates somewhat to Curry's etching in the Merritt Hughes edn. except 
that hell seems to have 2 layers, the bottom one in my book being a 
separate sea of fire (under Hell). Scandinavian gloom, perhaps. No 
telling who drew this one, which is also neatly divided so that heaven 
and Hell occupy exactly half the 'globe' each. Less chaos than in the
Curry version. Scandinavian orderliness, perhaps.

The poem then follows, without the Arguments. There are a few rather 
short explicatory footnotes. The language of the transliteration seems 
rather everyday to me. I must admit this is the first time I have really 
looked at it properly, and it is mouldering away  as I write.

Regarding early translations into Danish, much may be learned from 
contacting the Royal Library in Copenhagen. I have managed to find out 
the following:

The first complete translation of PL and PR ( Det Tabte Paradis og Det 
Gjenvunde Paradis) was pubd. 1790-92, transl. Joh. Henr. Schønheyder

There were fragments before then, more info. on these is available from 
the Library.

PL was read in German before this. Here is the information on this:


-Ernst Gottlieb von, (transl. ) Das verlustigte Paradeis, Zerbst, 1682

Source: Kindler

-Dasverlohrne Paradies / aus dem Englischen Johann Miltons in reimfreye
Verse übersetzet, & mit eignen sowohl als andrer Anmerk. begleitet von
Friedrich Wilhelm Zachariä
Verfasser   Milton, John
Weiterer Verfasser   Zachariae, Justus Friedrich Wilhelm
Jahr  1762 - 1763
Impressum  Altona : Iversen, 1762 - 1763.
Einheitssachtitel  Paradise lost «dt.»
Sonstiger Titel  ¬Das¬ verlorene Paradies


This was a German translation pubd. in Denmark. Altona was Danish until 
1864.

I hope this helps.

By the way, how about a global marathon on the Birthday itself, December 
9, 2008? or on the Saturday following ie 13th, St Lucia's Day,  the day 
when the dark forces must be pushed back? Everyone could read with a lit 
candle headdress. Sorry about the irreverence.





Ann Torday Gulden Dr. Art.
Associate Professor
Project Coordinator, English for Academic Purposes
Faculty of Health Sciences
Oslo University College
PB 4, St. Olavs pl.
0130 Oslo
Norway

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