the wicked

We cannot directly identify the writer whom we are forced to read in a language other than his. Rather, all we can do is sense his soul through translation. There are elements such as violet rays and others that we do not see or understand their essence, but they affect what is around them in a way from which we can infer the nature of the forces that caused them. This is the case with literature that we are forced to read in translation. It affects the translator in ways that enable us to penetrate into his depths. The better the translation helps us in this path. Even the best translations do not allow us anything other than this heuristic aid. It does not connect us directly to the spirit and essence of the original. This often results in loss to the reader. However, this does not always happen. Who can understand the triviality of Edgario''s poem "The Crow" through his lieutenant''s wonderful translation? The English poem is a "piece of archives," but in French it has stunning magic, magnificence, and power.