Reading Amadís in Constantinople: Translation as Diasporic Cultural

ProductionDavid Wacks

University of Oregon

MLA 2012

http://davidwacks.uoregon.edu

Diaspora(s)

Sefarad Ottoman

Zion

The cultural work of translation in diaspora

• What are the unique characteristics/functions of translation in diaspora?

• How does the work mediate between the diasporic communities and their cultures?

Amadís de Gaula

• Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo (Zaragoza 1508)• Iberian adaptation of Arthurian romance

(12th c, Chrétien de Troyes)• First chivalric novel published in Spain• Numerous translations: Hebrew 1541, French

1544, Italian, English, German, etc• Lampooned by Cervantes in Don Quijote

Hebrew translation of Amadís de Gaula

• Jacob Algaba (Constantinople 1541)• 1st book of Amadís (of 4 books)• First novel in Hebrew (Joseph Dan 1977)

Hebrew secular prose editions

• Isaac ibn Sahula, Meshal Haqadmoni 1497• Vidal Benvenist, Melitsat ‘Efer ve-Dina 1521• Emmanuel Ha-Romi, Mahbarot 1535• Judah al-Harizi, Tahkemoni 1540• Judah Ibn Shabbetay, Minhat Yehudah 1543• Jacob Algaba, Amadís de Gaula 1541

Hebrew editions of secular prose translations

• Jacob Algaba, Amadís de Gaula 1541• Joseph Hakohen, Sefer ha-Indi’ah ha-

hadashah ; ve-Sefer Fernando Qortes 1568

Diasporic cultural production

• Khachig Tölölyan: “Turning and re-turning”• Jonathan Boyarin: “echoing back and forth”• Mediate between culture of homeland (‘Zion’)

and culture of hostlands (Spain, Ottoman Empire)

• Dialogue between different diasporic communities– Geography– Time (manuscript to print)

Packaging Sephardic culture

• Sephardic culture for wider diasporic audience• inter-community communication• Converts Sephardic prestige into common

currency (print culture)

Audience?

• Sefaradim themselves would not need translation

• Romaniote Jews (Minna Rozen)• Ottoman Jews beyond Constantinople

(Avraham Ya’ari)• Buyers of Hebrew books like al-Harizi, et al

What does the text do?

• Literary system– Bridges historiography and fiction– (European) Novel– Chivalry

• Text– De-christianize– Judaize– Mediate conventions of chivalry/courtliness

First novel in Hebrew

"there is no truth in the claim that it was the Jews of Ashkenaz that brought European culture to the tents of Israel”

Dan, Joseph. “The First Hebrew Novel: Jacob Algabe’s Amadis of Gaul.” Moznayim 45 (1977): 181-188.

First novel in Hebrew

“It was the first time that long, detailed stories of the battles of knights, chivalry and love, friendship and long-standing enmity with evil wizards and powerful giants appeared in print in Hebrew.”

Dan, Joseph. “The First Hebrew Novel: Jacob Algabe’s Amadis of Gaul.” Moznayim 45 (1977): 181-188. Print.

What does the work do?

• De-christianize• “Judaize”• Adapt courtly/chivalric conventions

De-christianize

“¡Sancta María!”

Holy Mary!

" המלך אדוני !!"חיי

Long live my Lord the King!

Oaths:

De-christianize

“un hermitaño que curará de mi alma”

A monk who will tend to my soul (ie confession)

" לרפאיני איש "שום

Some (any) man who might cure me

Mortally wounded knight seeks help:

De-christianize

“y mandóla quemar”

and he ordered that she be burnt [to death]

" ממגדל יושמטוה"גבוה

So they dropped her from a tall tower

Punishment for traitorous woman:

Judaize

• Almost completely free of Biblical and Rabbinical allusions

• Stands apart from other Soncino editions (Judah al-Harizi, Judah Ibn Shabbetay, etc)

Judaize

“que le oviesese memoria”

That he remember him

" ישכחו שלא"בתפילותיו

Asks that he not be forgotten in his prayers

Hermit bids Galaor farewell, asks

Judaize

“diole el Donzel del Mar en descubierto en la pierna izquierda tal herida…”

The Knight of the Sea dealt him such a blow on his unprotected left leg…

" יריכו על אותו ויךבמקוםהשמאלית

הגידין "צומת

Then he attacked him on his left thigh in the place where the tendons cross

A serious thigh wound dealt by Amadís to his enemy

" הגידין צומת "במקום

cf. Shulkhan Arukh, Yoreh De’ah, 55:1

Conventions of courtly romance

“Guirnalda”

garland

עטרהcrown

Courtly language

“Muerto soy de corazón”

My [broken] heart has killed me!

" אנוכי , מהלבי "שנטרף

Woe is me, for my heart is rent asunder!

Courtly language

“quiero que me digáis quién es y amarla he”

I want you to tell me who she is, and I will love her (i.e. Instead of you)

" לי נא מיהגדשחר-כמו-הנשקפה

אותה "ואהובPrithee tell me who is she who appears like the dawn (Song of Songs 6:1) and I will love her

Knight challenges Amadís’ love for Oriana:

De-christianize / Adapt courtly love

“mi juizio no puede resistir aquellos mortales deseos de quien cruelmente es atormentado”

My judgment cannot resist those mortal desires by which is it is cruelly tormented

" מחשבה להתרחקתפוש , הזאת לבי כי

ברזל בכבלי "ואסור

[it is impossible] “To distance myself from that thought, for my heart is bound and tied in iron chains”

Conclusions

• Mediate between Zion-Sefarad-Ottoman• Position Sephardic culture in Ottoman Jewish

context• Introduce European novel to Hebrew

audience