Kaufman's "Faust" translation

First scene ("Night")

Disclaimer: I don't know German and I haven't read or seen Faust in any format.

Kaufman is as loyal in technique as any translator -- of any work -- I've identified. When Goethe breaks his pentameter, this way or that, Kaufman follows, this way or that. He rhymes the right lines. It's astounding. I know English is Germanic, but Kaufman leaps through many hoops when the languages lose phase.

German:

Der Herr: Kennst du den Faust?

    Mephistopheles: Den Doktor?

        Der Herr: Meinen Knecht!

            Mephistopheles: Furwahr!

English:

The Lord: Do you know Faust?

    Mephistopheles: The doctor?

        The Lord: Aye, my servant.

            Mephistopheles: Lo!

This is iambic hexameter in both languages (as far as I can interpret the German), and Kaufman shuffles syllables between speakers to make sure of it. This can't be easy, yet he sustains it through many pages.

But it's not just metric loyalty that's impressive; considering that constraint, Kaufman's poetry is a technical achievement. Rigid to the German, it reads like English poetry. Again, I know English is Germanic, but this can't be easy. Kaufman finds rhymes and style to make it all work.

However, a critical caveat lurks: it's hard to follow. Kaufman takes his technical constraints seriously, as I would, at clarity's expense. I almost need SparkNotes. A year ago I might have blamed my own reading comprehension, but I've endured some tough classics lately, and I don't think Faust should be my hardest. Maybe Kaufman is too deep in his heritage of German philosophers.

This makes Faust slow going, for an already slow reader, but I'm not sure I would ask for anything different. Indeed, when I read modern "readable" translations, I ask for technical loyalty or traditional style. Now I have those, and I won't complain about the readability. A translator can hardly achieve it all. But I will acknowledge the readability.

Maybe it will improve. If not, I'll see if I can digest enough of the story to continue, and I'll appreciate the formal achievement. I used to say I was more interested in Shakespeare's language than his drama. Kaufman's Faust is so far an exhibition of the former interest, but I'll see if I can indulge the latter as well, as I proceed.