(no subject)

"This edition has the modest aim of providing a readable text (i.e. one in which the plausible emendation is generally preferred to the cautious crux); a not wholly unreadable translation, in which, however, absolute naturalness of expression has sometimes been sacrificed in the interests of accurate reflection of the meaning and the varying stylistic levels of the Greek; and a concise commentary, usable both by those reading the play in translation and by those reading it in Greek, with the main emphasis placed on dramatic and poetic technique rather than linguistic or textual matters."

That is the first sentence of the preface to my textbook for Euripides' Orestes.

If anyone has any god damn idea what the parenthetical comment means, please let me know, because I sure as hell don't. I know what a crux is when it comes to bouldering routes, but when it's talking about translation choices? And a "cautious crux"? The hell?

This bodes ill.

(no subject)

I have to say, the difficulties of the first sentence of this play lasted for two hours, some crying, and a serious re-evaluation of my long-term career goals. (Why can't I just study Latin? I like Latin. Latin verbs only have four basic forms to memorize, and two moods, and two voices. Latin knows how to deploy a well-executed pluperfect when it's needed. Latin compound verbs often strongly resemble English words with similar meanings. I like Latin.) Fortunately, it got a little easier after that.

Slightly.

( Fun with Electra! )