Norwegian
Collected and back-translated by Dr Marie N. Sørbø, Associate professor of English literature, Volda University College, Norway
1.
Henrik Rytter (1923) Othello: Móren frå Venezia, Oslo: Det norske samlaget
’(Til Brabantio)
Og vyrde herre,
um manndom ikkje vantar venleik bjart,
er Dykkar verson visst meir ven enn svart.’
Literal back translation: ’if masculinity does not lack beauty bright / is Your son-in-law surely more beautiful than black’.
2.
Ragnvald Skrede (1962) Othello: Móren i Venezia, Oslo . Unpublished manuscript for radio play, produced by the national broadcasting channel NRK. Prepared for radio by Tormod Skagestad.
’Edle Brabantio,
om dygda nokon venleik i seg ber,
langt meire lys enn svart din verson er.’
Literal back-translation: ’if virtue any beauty carries / far more light than black your son-in-law is.’
3.
Gunnar Larsen (1964) Othello: Móren fra Venezia, Oslo. Unpublished manuscript for theatre, produced by the national travelling company Riksteatret 1964/65.
‘Kjære venn,
er mannsmot vakkert, ser en i en fart,
móren er vakrere enn han er svart!’
Literal back-translation: ’if male courage is beautiful, one sees at a glance / the moor is more beautiful than he is black.’
4.
Erik Bystad (1995) Othello, Oslo: Aschehoug.
’om mannsmot også er av skjønnhet gjort,
er Deres svigersønn mer skjønn enn sort.’
Literal back-translation: ’if male courage also is of beauty made / is Your son-in-law more beautiful than black.’