Editor in China requesting help with translation of certain sentences in BotNS

Antonin Scriabin · 16 Dec 2013, 20:54 · from 2013-December.txt.gz

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From: kierkegaurdian at gmail.com (Antonin Scriabin)
Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2013 15:54:56 -0500
Subject: (urth) Editor in China requesting help with translation of
 certain sentences in BotNS
In-Reply-To: <CAGB0RZ6KUi+Oc63mH18rnVWH33Rs4-iu+F7k42w8vCrf-uAMDA at mail.gmail.com>
References: <CAGB0RZ6KUi+Oc63mH18rnVWH33Rs4-iu+F7k42w8vCrf-uAMDA at mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAM0v-i5K7dW_F15E9URqLBBeG5PAP=-GLmo4-DVpRNZ7OSbERw at mail.gmail.com>

Well, "bluer of cheek" is a variation on the term "blue-blood", of course a
reference to nobility ... you could see the surface veins of those who,
because of their stature in society, had very pale skin (they didn't have
to work outside at physical labor, thus acquiring a tan).

In Solitaire, a black (or red) Jack is placed "on top" of a Queen of the
opposite color (and a different suit, necessarily) ... so perhaps the
"elector" is the Jack and the "patroness" is the Queen?

"Theocenter" might simply mean "godhead", or a reference to the oneness and
simplicity thereof, as the root of all existence, in a Judeo-Christian
sense.  But don't quote me.

Not sure about the other one, I'll have to page through my copy at home to
get the full context.


On Mon, Dec 16, 2013 at 2:58 PM, Daniel Otto Jack Petersen <
danielottojackpetersen at gmail.com> wrote:

> Got this alert from the Goodreads Gene Wolfe group:
>
>
> https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1614149-help-some-details-in-the-shadow?utm_medium=email&utm_source=comment_instant#comment_88705259
>
> "I am a SF editor & Wolfe fan in China, and we are trying to publish The
> Book of New Sun in Chinese. I've done a lot of work in reading and
> translation , yet there are still some sentences I can't understand. Hope I
> can get some help here.
>
> THE HOUSE AZURE
> While I was undressing I said, ?Nevertheless, we all seek to discover what
> is real. Why is it? Perhaps we are drawn to the theocenter. That?s what the
> hierophants say,that only that is true.?
>
> what does "theocenter" mean? I can't find this word in dictionary nor can
> I google it. and what does the whole sentence mean?
> --------------------------------------------
> THE LAST YEAR
> I carried them to her, and she said my beard had shot up like them, and I
> should be bluer of cheek than the run of common men, and the next day
> begged my pardon for it, saying I was that already.
>
> what does "bluer of cheek"and " run of common men" mean here?
> -----------------------------------------
> DORCAS
> ?Your pardon, sieur,? he said. ?But I can?t come no nearer. Wet she may
> be, but she gets too dry for me, or you couldn?t walk upon it.
>
> Does "she" refer to the boat or Cas' body? what does the sentence mean?
>
> ------------------------------------------
> THE PLAY
> confirm the outcome of a love affair by putting the elector of one suit
> atop the patroness of another
>
> If the word suit refer to the some card game, then what does "elector"and
> "patroness"mean?"
>
> --
> Daniel Otto Jack Petersen
>
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