Arthur Golding (Kathye Macias-Ramirez)
Arthur Golding was a Calvinist and English translator born
on May 1535/6 to a wealthy family in East Anglia, England. The majority of his
work consists of the translation of literary works, mostly prose, in Latin and
French to English. His skill of translation kept with the humanistic tradition
set by More, Cheke, Elyot and overall Erasmus. In total, he translated five and
a half million words. Some of his work included the translation of contemporary
protestants: Heinrich Bullinger, William, Prince of Orange, Theodore De Beze,
Jean De Serres, Augustin Marlorat, Niels Hemmingsen, and David Chytraeus and
others like Philippe De Mornay and possibly Antonio Dalla Paglia. In addition,
he also translated many sermons of the late John Calvin. His most recognized
work, however, was Ovid’s Metamorphoses,
first published by Golding in 1567. That same year Golding finalized his work
on Ovid, which consisted of 15 books of poems. His translations were
influential on Elizabethans understanding of classical mythology. This included
famous figures like Shakespeare who was influenced by both, Golding's
translation and the original text. Without his translation, the words of past
writers would have possibly not been so clear. First, even though he kept with
previous methods of close translation and was overall faithful to the original
text, he had a “tendency to exaggerate [the] sense of [the] original text”.
Nevertheless, his expansion of phrases and clauses allowed for the introduction
of a further meaning to be integrated into his work. This was useful because
much of what he was translating was written before biblical times. He made the
effort to keep the main verbs at the end of long sentences. In addition, by
opening Latin absolutes he was paving the shape of English prose. Overall,
Arthur Golding did not leisurely translate his work but instead aimed to
produce a clear understanding of English that helped spread the teachings of
the Protestant Reformation.
Golding's Apollo explains why Daphne should love him:
I am not one that dwelles among the hilles and stonie rockes,
I am no sheepehearde with a Curre, attending on the flockes:
I am no Carle nor countrie Clowne, nor neathearde taking charge
Of cattle grazing here and there within this Forrest large.
Thou doest not know, poore simple soule, God wote thou dost not knowe,
From whome thou fleest. For if thou knew, thou wouldste not flee me so.
In Delphos is my chiefe abode, my Temples also stande
At Glaros and at Patara within the Lycian lande.
And in the Ile of Tenedos the people honour mee.
The king of Gods himselfe is knowne my father for to bee. ... [I.630]
By me is knowne that was, that is, and that that shall ensue,
By mee men learne to sundrie tunes to frame sweete ditties true.
In shooting have I stedfast hand, but surer hand had hee
That made this wound within my heart that heretofore was free.
Of Phisicke and of surgerie I found the Artes for neede,
The powre of everie herbe and plant doth of my gift proceede.
Nowe wo is me that nere an herbe can heale the hurt of love
And that the Artes that others helpe their Lord doth helpelesse prove. (1.621-38)
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