Voila un homme! Scènes révolutionnaires
Authors of source text
Contributions
- William Shakespeare
- author
- Nicolas de Bonneville
- translator
- Imprimerie du Cercle Social
- publisher
Related resources
- is translation of
- Julius Caesar has translation
- is part of
- Chronique du mois
Held by
Notes
This translation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar appeared in the July 1793 issue of La Chronique du Mois on pages 69-168.
Below are only some of the more interesting changes that Bonneville made to Shakespeare's original source text as part of his translation of the play.
1) In one but very crucial instance Bonneville changes the topic of Cassius's discourse to Brutus by replacing the word "honour" with "liberty". The difference that this makes is obvious if we compare the entire sentence both in the original and translation. (“Well, honour is the subject of my story” (13) “Eh bien! la liberté est le sujet don’t je veux t’entretenir” (78).)
2) In several instances Bonneville very characteristically uses revolutionary language of his time and consistently translates "gentlemen" in Shakespeare as "citoyens". (For example, “Gentlemen all—alas, what shall I say?” (73) “Vous tous, vertueux citoyens…hèlas! que dirai-je?...” (122)).
3) Another replacement seems interesting insofar as it shows how the French Revolution has tried to replace traditional Christian religion with a secular belief in justice, liberty, and equality. Hence, Bonneville has found it fit to translate Shakespeare's calls to "god" as calls for "justice" or even "liberty". (“Therein, ye gods, you make the weak most strong; Therein, ye gods, you tyrants do defeat.” (29) “C’est là, ô justice, que vous armez le foible d’une force invincible; c’est là, ô justice, que vous triomphez des tyrans” (90). or “Let’s carve hims as a dish fir for the gods” (43) “Traitons-le comme une grande victim offerte à la liberté” (100).).
(Daniyar Gazizov)