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| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
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Citation Information
1/2
Iti1TRODUCTION
but with the exercise of my own judgment on the various
readings which that Editor lays before us, —I then compared
the translation with the Geographic Text, and transferred from
the latter not only all items of real substance that had been
omitted, but also all expressions of special interest and character,
and occasionally a greater fulness of phraseology where conden-
sation in Pauthier's text seemed to have been carried too far.
And finally I introduced between brackets everything peculiar
to Ramusio's version that seemed to me to have a just claim to
be reckoned authentic, and that could be so introduced with-
out harshness or mutilation. Many passages from the same
source which were of interest in themselves, but failed to meet
one or other of these conditions, have been given in the
notes.*
91. As regards the reading of proper names and foreign
words, in which there is so much variation in the different MSS.
Mode of and editions, I have done my best to select what
rendering seemed to be the true reading from the G. T. and
proper reading
names. Pauthier's three MSS., only in some rare instances
transgressing this limit.
Where the MSS. in the repetition of a name afforded a choice
of forms, I have selected that which came nearest the real name
when known. Thus the G. T. affords Baldasciain, Badascian,
Badascianz, Badausiam, Balasian. I adopt BADASCIAN, or in
English spelling BADASI-IAN, because it is closest to the real
name Badakhshan. Another place appears as COBINAN,
Cabanat, Cobian. I adopt the first because it is the truest ex-
pression of the real name Koh-benán. In chapters 23, 24 of
Book I., we have in the G. T. Asisinz, Asciscin, Asescin, and in
Pauthier's MSS. Hasisins, Harsisins, etc. I adopt ASCISCIN,
or in English spelling ASHIS-IIN, for the same reason as before.
* This " eclectic formation of the English text," as I have called it for brevity
in the marginal rubric, has been disapproved by Mr. de Khanikoff, a critic worthy of
high respect. But I must repeat that the duties of a translator, and of the Editor of
an original text, at least where the various recensions bear so peculiar a relation to
each other as in this case, are essentially different ; and that, on reconsidering the
matter after an interval of four or five years, the plan which I have adopted, whatever
be the faults of execution, still commends itself to me as the only appropriate one.
Let Mr. de Khanikoff consider what course he would adopt if he were about to
publish Marco Polo in Russian. I feel certain that with whatever theory he might
set out, before his task should be concluded he would have arrived practically at the same system that I have adopted.
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