Methinks the lady protest too much

[JPablo]

“Methinks the lady protest too much” it's an allusion to a line from Hamlet by English William Shakespeare. Hamlet’s father, the king of Denmark, is killed and his wife (the queen) shortly thereafter marries the king’s brother Claudius. The king’s ghost appears to Hamlet and accuses Claudius of murdering him and demands revenge. To discover the truth Hamlet convinces some traveling actors to reenact his father’s death. During one scene involving the queen where she vehemently rejects the idea of remarrying after the king’s death, the real Queen is asked how she likes the play and replies with, “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”

“Me parece que la dama protesta demasiado” seems an acceptable translation, although it lacks the "archaic" flavour of "Methinks".
Probably, (to make it a bit archaic) it could be "Paréceme que la dama protesta demasiado".

Any other ideas or comments about this?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by JPablo

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”

“Me parece que la dama protesta demasiado” seems an acceptable translation, although it lacks the "archaic" flavour of "Methinks".
Probably, (to make it a bit archaic) it could be "Paréceme que la dama protesta demasiado".

Any other ideas or comments about this?

Yes, the problem is that the Shakespearean 'protest' does not mean protestar, but more like declarar. Not only is this usually misquoted, it is invariably misunderstood as well.

[JPablo]

Oh, wow!
Thank you, Perikles, I am glad I checked!
How is that "protests" comes to be "declarar"? As in "manifestar"?

(I see that Random House gives "9. to declare solemnly or earnestly; affirm; assert." for "protest", but wouldn't definition 5 ["5. to give manifest expression to objection or disapproval; remonstrate."] not be adequate here?

[aleCcowaN]

HAMLET

Senhora, como acha esta peça?
A RAINHA

A rainha parece-me que faz demasiados protestos.
HAMLET

Mas dada a palavra, não póde faltar.

Traducción de Luis I, Rey de Portugal (1880)

HAMLET.- Y bien, señora, ¿qué tal os va pareciendo la pieza?
GERTRUDIS.- Me parece que esa mujer promete demasiado.
HAMLET.- Sí, pero lo cumplirá.

Traducción de Inarco Celenio -en realidad Leandro Fernández de Moratín- (1798)


traduttore, taditore?

[JPablo]

Bueno, quizá sí... yo ya cambiaría la vieja máxima y diría, "traduttore, creattore", pues ya sabemos que traducir poesía is una "imposibilidad"...

Gracias por los ejemplos, son ilustrativos... Y habrá que leer a Chéspir en inglés... para enterarnos con precisión...

Por cierto, veo que "protestar" (Moliner) no va tan mal,
protestar: Declarar alguien sus creencias, ideas o intenciones.

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by JPablo

Por cierto, veo que "protestar" (Moliner) no va tan mal,
protestar: Declarar alguien sus creencias, ideas o intenciones.

¿Y en qué quedaron los protestos y requiebros de nuestros años mozos?

Al DRAE me remito -por esta vez-

protestar. (Del lat. protestāri).
1. tr. Declarar o proclamar un propósito.
2. tr. Confesar públicamente la fe y creencia que alguien profesa y en que desea vivir.
3. tr. Com. Hacer el protesto de una letra de cambio.
4. intr. Dicho de una persona: Expresar impetuosamente su queja o disconformidad.
5. intr. Aseverar con ahínco y con firmeza. Protestar DE su honor.
6. intr. Expresar la oposición a alguien o a algo. Protestar CONTRA una injusticia.


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[JPablo]

Gracias, Alec! y DRAEC!