Introduction to the translation of ‘The Theologians’ by Jorge Luis Borges:
Stories are rarely translated literally but usually keeping in view the readership the story might have. Borges is a writer who has gained worldwide fame since he was first published in English translation in 1964 after he had been discovered by the US, and he is currently standard reading material for undergraduates in western universities. The story translated (only partly) literally here deals with two theologians who are both entrusted with refuting a heresy, the chosen refutation to be used against the heresiarchs before condemning them to death. The story is told from the perspective of the lesser of the theologians Aurelian who is secretly in competition with the greater one, John of Pannonia. The three short passages given below are translations that pertain to the moment when Aurelian receives the other one’s refutation, perceives it immediately to be superior to his own,the resulting emotions it arouses and the way he deals with them.

‘The Theologians’ translated by James E Irby, from Labyrinths (1964)
Aurelian felt an almost physical humiliation. He thought of destroying or reforming his own work; then, with resentful integrity, he sent it to Rome without modifying a letter. Months later, when the council of Pergamum convened, the theologian entrusted with impugning the Monotones' errors was (predictably) John of Pannonia; his learned and measured refutation was sufficient to have Euphorbus the heresiarch condemned to the stake..

‘The Theologians’ translated by Andrew Hurley, from Collected Fictions (1999)
Aurelian felt an almost physical sense of humiliation. He considereddestroying or reworking his own manuscript; then, with grudging honesty,he sent it off to Rome without changing a letter. Months later, when theCouncil of Pergamo was convened, the theologian entrusted with refutingthe errors of the Monotoni was (predictably) John of Pannonia; his learned, measured refutation was the argument that condemned the heresiarch Euphorbus to the stake.

The present translation (2019)
Aurelian experienced an almost bodily humiliation. He wanted to tear uphis indictment of the Annulars, did so almost, decried his own so elaborate demonstrations, wished to write them over; but he did not change a single letter, in the end, and with rancorous probity sent his dissertation to Rome. The Council of Pergamon, convoked some months after, entrusted to John of Pannonia the task of confuting the errors of the Monotones: predictably. The Council of Pergamon, convoked some months after, entrusted to John of Pannonia the task of confuting the errors of the Monotones: predictably. His learned and withal measured refutation sufficed to condemn to the stake their heresiarch Euphorbus.

Editor


Here is the translator’s own note to his translation:
The Theologians is a tale out of the collection El Aleph, titled afterthe story grown so famous now – a ficcion favoured among academic students of Borges, particularly, for allowing them to ask if the egregious Carlos Argentino Daneri there is a parody of some Gongorist contemporary: a parody likely, very much so, from the votary of Quevedo that Borges professed himself, if not a contemnor of Gongora quite. The common reader who knows these gilded names, and has come to think so as well, may balk at how Los Teologos has been rendered here: where locutive distensions paper over the quevedoso abruptions (so chancily to speak) that abound in the original. A man more knowing and deft than I am --- some adept of the Baroque in English, say, a literatus who could transcribe Browne toward Bacon, suppose, and conversely, could effect just such contrascription, abscription even --- such a translator might have been able to devise an English more apt to the Spanish of the original.




 


Complete Story: The Theologians