Collected and back-translated by Dr Marie N. Sørbø, Associate professor of English literature, Volda University College, Norway

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 Unpublished manuscript for radio play, produced by the national broadcasting channel NRK.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 Unpublished manuscript for theatre, produced by the national travelling company Riksteatret 1964/65.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.’