Translating a translation: the Odusia by Livius Andronicus and its English versions

Translating any classical text poses many issues for the translator, and this is even more true in the case of the Odusia by Livius Andronicus, a work studded with archaisms and figures of speech. A comparison of selected Latin verses with their various English translations shows how difficult it is to translate the Odusia into English. Although both are based on the same edition of the text, the two translations of the entire extant Odusia (Warmington 1957 and Camden 1999) are quite different, especially from the stylistic point of view. Warmington tries to raise the tone of his translation by using elaborate structures and archaic terms, but with differing results. In many cases, instead, Camden provides a clearer and simpler translation, though without poetic claims; thus he loses Warmington’s affected poetic quality but acquires the expository clarity that is fundamental for the audience his translation addresses.