Style Translated
(Suffice it to compare Claudel with only one of these
eminences [ literally, greatness ]: the one who owes him
everything.
The one who entered the profession [ literally, career ]
before his elder had left it.
The one who feeds on dust there, showing no trace of his
elder's virtues.
Yes, indeed ! Let us compare Claudel and this ostrich of
the sands.
Littre [ the French Webster, of course ] says: "The ostrich
is the largest bird of all known birds. It's size prevents it from
flying."
Yes indeed.
And a bird that thereupon dashes off in long strides across
the Oriental desert, the desert of Anabasis, and all we see
of it is a chicken's behind.
Yes indeed, indeed. A lightweight light in more senses than
one.
We'll be picking up some of the feathers lost on the way.)
eminences [ literally, greatness ]: the one who owes him
everything.
The one who entered the profession [ literally, career ]
before his elder had left it.
The one who feeds on dust there, showing no trace of his
elder's virtues.
Yes, indeed ! Let us compare Claudel and this ostrich of
the sands.
Littre [ the French Webster, of course ] says: "The ostrich
is the largest bird of all known birds. It's size prevents it from
flying."
Yes indeed.
And a bird that thereupon dashes off in long strides across
the Oriental desert, the desert of Anabasis, and all we see
of it is a chicken's behind.
Yes indeed, indeed. A lightweight light in more senses than
one.
We'll be picking up some of the feathers lost on the way.)
