Posted by John Collins (194.164.38.14) on May 21, 2003 at 23:22:23:
In Reply to: Question for John Collins posted by grim on May 21, 2003 at 19:15:35:
Hi Grim,
There are a few alternative translations on small bits of text but no significant differences have surfaced other than what gets posted here. The problems in translation are compounded by the fact that some of the writing is handwritten and therefore open to subjective interpretation. The printed text has its own difficulties, partly because it is in a language spoken nearly three hundred years ago and also because much of it is in rhyming couplets, and the author (Bessler) did not baulk at altering the word endings now and again, to fulfill the rhyme. (And the spelling is variable - and it's in German, which is difficult to transpose into English with all the nuances of phrase intended by the author.)
The major part of the documentation that I hold is handwritten and awaits translation and interpretation at some date.
As and when I receive new pieces of translation which seem to me to be relevant to what we are all interested in, I'll post them here or pass them to Steve in case he wishes to place them in some suitable part of his site.
JC
: Hi John
: Have there been any more "looser" translations done on some of the more sticky points of Bessler's clues, as posted in the past?
: The more fluent form of translation is a lot easier to follow.
:
: Thanks
: grim