GE to Charles Lee Lewes, London, [9 February 1868]
Title
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, London, [9 February 1868]
Title
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, London, [9 February 1868]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Charles Lee Lewes
Date(s)
- 1868-02-09
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, London, [9 February 1868]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Feb. 10. 68. Hitherto unpublished.
Sunday Morning.
My dear Charlie
I have looked at the three passages you pointed out to me, 724 and now I see their connection, I am quite sure as to the sense.
The Prince says (act 1. scene 7.) -- "Well, yes! I love her, I adore her. I would have you know it! I would have had you know it long ago -- all you who would rather have seen me wear forever the ignominious (degrading) chains of the mad Orsina!" etc.
Marinelli says -- "If I knew a hair of their love or had the faintest suspicion (glimpse) of it -- may all Angels and saints forsake me! -- I would <swear> take the same oath for <the Countess> Orsina. (I would swear that Orsina is just as much in the dark.) Her suspicions are on quite a different track."
In the 2d act, scene 3, Angelo says -- "Content, for my part! -- since (if) it is all the same to you at what price you sell your head (life)" -- Pirro, having been concerned in the robbery of the ring, has at all events risked his head or life: if he refuses his share of the proceeds, he risks (or sells) his head for nothing.
I don't of course send you a translation that has been considered from any other point of view than the representation of the sense. But I want to say, in a hurry, that your effort must be, while not being literal, which would result in the English of a school exercise -- to keep close to the sense, adding no idea, and inserting no idea.
Thy loving
Mutter.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Feb. 10. 68. Hitherto unpublished.
Sunday Morning.
My dear Charlie
I have looked at the three passages you pointed out to me, 724 and now I see their connection, I am quite sure as to the sense.
The Prince says (act 1. scene 7.) -- "Well, yes! I love her, I adore her. I would have you know it! I would have had you know it long ago -- all you who would rather have seen me wear forever the ignominious (degrading) chains of the mad Orsina!" etc.
Marinelli says -- "If I knew a hair of their love or had the faintest suspicion (glimpse) of it -- may all Angels and saints forsake me! -- I would <swear> take the same oath for <the Countess> Orsina. (I would swear that Orsina is just as much in the dark.) Her suspicions are on quite a different track."
In the 2d act, scene 3, Angelo says -- "Content, for my part! -- since (if) it is all the same to you at what price you sell your head (life)" -- Pirro, having been concerned in the robbery of the ring, has at all events risked his head or life: if he refuses his share of the proceeds, he risks (or sells) his head for nothing.
I don't of course send you a translation that has been considered from any other point of view than the representation of the sense. But I want to say, in a hurry, that your effort must be, while not being literal, which would result in the English of a school exercise -- to keep close to the sense, adding no idea, and inserting no idea.
Thy loving
Mutter.
Signature
Mutter.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Charles Lee Lewes, London, [9 February 1868], Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/92207