SHAKSPERE IN INDIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4591, 7 December 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHAKSPERE IN INDIA.

A very welcome addition (says the Birmhujham Post) has been made to the Birmingham Shakspere Library, in the shape of a copy of the “ Merchant of Venice,” translated by a native merchant into the Tamil language. The present is made by Mr. Thomas Clarke, an English merchant in Madras, who has forwarded the book to Mr. George Hawsou, for presentation, accompanied by a most interesting letter, of which the following is an extract ;—“Madras, 12th July, 1875. —I am sending by the parcel post, same time as this letter, a parcel addressed to Mr. Dawson. It contains a copy of the ‘ Merchant of Venice,' translated into the Tamil language by V. Vanoogopola Chargar, 8.A., and I shall be much obliged if Mr. Dawson will present it, in my name, to the Birmingham Shakspere Library. The author took his degree in the Madras University, and is now carrying on business in Madras as a merchant. He describes his book (correctly, I believe) as ‘the first attempt ever made to translate a play of Shakspere in Tamil ;’ and it is also, as far as I can learn, the first time any attempt has been made to translate Shakspere into any of the numerous dialects of India. You will see by the preface that the author announces a Sanskrit edition of the same play, which is to be forthcoming this year; and I am informed by a Hindoo friend, that a professor in the Madras College is.at work on a Tamil translation of another of the plays. As I know there are not many Tamil scholars in Birmingham, I thought it would he interesting to lovers of Shakspere to hear what he is like in this strange tongue, or rather, perhaps, in what guise he presents himself for the first time to the Hindoo, who is unable to study him in the original. To this end I asked my native friend (who is a good English scholar) to take the Tamil play, and, without any previous reading of the English version, to retranslate it into English, just as he would do it for an examination. He very kindly complied. I selected, as a passage well known, the speech of Portia in the 4th act, beginning ‘The quality of mercy is not strained ;’ and the following is his version of it : —‘One of the chief elements of mercy is non-restriction. Like the dews from Heaven it falleth upon those below. It contributes to goodness in two ways ; it gives pleasure to the giver as well to the taker. It shows great power in one who is very powerful. To an Emperor it is a more valuable ornament than his diadem. His sceptre shows strength to those of this world ; it is a sign of power and greatness which ensures fear of the royal person. As to mercy, it is above this power ; and it presides in his heart. It is one of the divine symptoms, and when justice seasons mercy, it is only then that the earthly reign will bear a near semblance to the reign Divine. Therefore, oh Jew, although you may have justice on your side, yet think of one thing, namely, if it is done in accordance with justice, none of us will meet heaven. We all pray for mercy ; that prayer inculcates that we should do merciful actions. I tell you all these things simply that you may a little subside the force of your advocacy, hut if you insist in that, the impartial judge of Venice must, at any rate, pass a judgment against that merchant.’ There, that is just word for word as he gave it from the Tamil version. It will give a very good idea of the difficulty the translator of the play has had sometimes to find an equivalent in his own tongue for English words, and even inodes of thought ; and also I think it does him much credit for having so well performed a difficult task, that is, of course, in the rest if the translation is as near to the text as my quotation.”