ABSTRACT
This chapter explores Translating Classical Plays on Vacuum or Agenda. Michael Meyer recalled in his memoirs being in the pub after the first night of the celebrated production of Ibsen's Brand in London in 1959. Recent years have seen the status of the classical translator come under closer, and, perhaps, more welcome scrutiny as more and more people begin to find an interest in the ancient world, even as fewer and fewer are learning the original languages. Each Way translation is followed by my own, as published in 1997 for Methuen Classical Greek Dramatists. Aeneas, would that thy prudence matched thy might of hand! So is it, one man cannot be all-wise, But diverse gifts to diverse men belong, Prowess to thee, to others prudent counsel. Muse, Trojans, fear not to look, the Muse, One of the Song-queens, honoured of the wise. The variety of stylistic registers in Euripides' text poses a challenge to any translator.
