BALTHASAR: For slander lives upon succession,
Forever housèd where it gets possession.William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Comedy of Errors, Act 3, sc. 1, l. 154ff (3.1.154-155) (1594)
(Source)
To Antipholus of Ephesus.
Quotations about:
defamation
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If I believed that my reply were made
To one who ever in the world could dwell,
This flame without all motion would have stayed.
But since there never from this deep of Hell
Turned back again one soul, if truth I hear,
Fearless of infamy my tale I tell.S’i’ credesse che mia risposta fosse
a persona che mai tornasse al mondo,
questa fiamma staria sanza più scosse;
ma però che già mai di questo fondo
non tornò vivo alcun, s’i’ odo il vero,
sanza tema d’infamia ti rispondo.Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) Italian poet
The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 1 “Inferno,” Canto 27, l. 61ff (27.61-66) [Montefeltro] (1309) [tr. Minchin (1885)]
(Source)
These two stanzas (in Italian) were used by T. S. Eliot as the epigraph for his poem, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" (1915).
(Source (Italian)). Alternate translations:If I beliv'd
That my reply were to a person made
Who ever should return into the world,
My Flame should without any motion rest.
But, since none ever from this Gulph alive
Return again, if what I've heard be true;
I'll answer without fear of infamy.
[tr. Rogers (1782), l. 57ff]Thy rig'rous language found a vent
Firm as the rod of fate secures my fame,
As hence no tell-tale goes to spread my shame,
Else were thy rash untimely pray'r deny'd.
But, since the Stygian Bar prevents thy flight,
condemn'd to linker here in endless night,
Listen, sad Soul!
[tr. Boyd (1802), st. 20-21]If I did think, my answer were to one,
Who ever could return unto the world,
This flame should rest unshaken. But since ne’er,
If true be told me, any from this depth
Has found his upward way, I answer thee,
Nor fear lest infamy record the words.
[tr. Cary (1814)]Could I believe I were mine answer making
To one that ever should his path retrace
Back to the world, this flame no more were shaken;
But since none living from our dismal place
Hath e'er remounted, if I hear the truth,
I give thee answer, fearless of disgrace.
[tr. Dayman (1843)]If I thought my answer to one who ever could return to the world, this flame would shake no more;
but since none ever did return alive from this depth, if what I hear be true, without fear of infamy I answer thee.
[tr. Carlyle (1849)]If I thought that I was answering one
Who could return unto the world again,
Still without motion should this flame remain.
But since from out this dungeon never one
To earth returned, if what I've heard is true,
I fear no infamy in answering you.
[tr. Bannerman (1850)]Did I believe my answer now were made
To one again to tread the upper world,
Then should this flame flicker and wave no more;
But since there never from this utter depth
Return'd one living thing, if such the truth,
Then will I answer thee and fear no shame.
[tr. Johnston (1867)]If I believed that my reply were made
To one who to the world would e'er return,
This flame without more flickering would stand still;
But inasmuch as never from this depth
Did any one return, if I hear true,
Without the fear of infamy I answer.
[tr. Longfellow (1867)]If I believed that my reply was to a person who should ever return to the world, this flame would stand without more shaking. But seeing that from this gulf none has returned alive, if I hear the truth, I answer thee without fear of infamy.
[tr. Butler (1885)]If I could believe that my answer might be to a person who should ever return unto the world, this flame would stand without more quiverings; but inasmuch as, if I hear truth, never from this depth did any living man return, without fear of infamy I answer thee.
[tr. Norton (1892)]Could I believe my answer were to one who would ever return to the world, this flame should stand for ever motionless ; but since none ever hath returned alive from out this gorge, if it be truth I hear, fearless of infamy I make my answer to thee.
[tr. Sullivan (1893)]If I believed that my reply were given
To one who might the world, someday, revisit,
This flame would stay at rest without more flutter.
But, forasmuch as from this depth none ever
Did make return alive, if I hear truly.
Fearless of infamy I give thee answer.
[tr. Griffith (1908)]If I thought my answer were to one who would ever return to the world, this flame should stay without another movement; but since one ever returned alive from this depth, if what I hear is true, I answer thee without fear of infamy.
[tr. Sinclair (1939)]If I believed that my reply were made
To one who could revisit earth, this flame
Would be at rest, and its commotion laid.
But seeing that alive none ever came
Back from this pit, if it be truth I hear,
I answer without dread of injured fame.
[tr. Binyon (1943)]If I thought that I were making
Answer to one that might return to view
The world, this flame should evermore cease shaking.
But since from this abyss, if I hear true,
None ever came alive, I have no fear
Of infamy, but give thee answer due.
[tr. Sayers (1949)]If I believed that my reply were made
to one who could ever climb to the world again,
this flame would shake no more. But since no shade
ever returned -- if what I am told is true --
from this blind world into the living light,
without fear of dishonor I answer you.
[tr. Ciardi (1954)]If I thought that my answer were to one who might ever return to the world, this flame would shake no more; but since from this depth none ever returned alive, if what I hear is true, I answer you without fear of infamy.
[tr. Singleton (1970)]If I thought that I were speaking to a soul
who someday might return to see the world,
most certainly this flame would cease to flicker;
but since no one, if I have heard the truth,
ever returns alive from this deep pit,
with no fear of dishonor I answer you.
[tr. Musa (1971)]If I thought my reply were meant for one
who ever could return into the world,
this flame would stir no more; and yet, since none --
if what I hear is true -- ever returned
alive from this abyss, then without fear
of facing infamy, I answer you.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1980)]If I thought that I was making my reply
To anyone who would ever go back to the world,
This flame would stay absolutely still;
But since no one ever came back alive
From this deep place, if what I hear is true,
I answer you without fear of infamy.
[tr. Sisson (1981)]If I believed I gave
My answer to one who'd ever go once more
Back to the world, this tongue fo flame would have
No motion. But since, if what I hear is true,
None every returned from this abyss alive,
Not fearing infamy I will answer you.
[tr. Pinsky (1994), l. 89ff]If I believed that my reply were to a person who would ever return to the world, this flame would remain without further shaking;
but since never from this depth has any one returned alive, if I hear the truth, without fear of infamy I answer you.
[tr. Durling (1996)]If I thought my answer was given to one who could ever return to the world, this flame would flicker no more, but since, if what I hear is true, no one ever returned, alive, from this deep, I reply, without fear of defamation.
[tr. Kline (2002)]If I supposed that any word of this
were heard by one who might return to review
the world, my flame would stay forever voiceless.
But since none, if what I hear is true,
has from this deep returned alive, I fear
no ignominy when I answer you.
[tr. Carson (2002)]Should I suppose, in answering, I spoke
to any person who should ever see
the world again, this flame would shake no more.
But since, if all I hear is true, there’s none
who ever yet, alive, escaped these deeps,
I may reply without the fear of infamy.
[tr. Kirkpatrick (2006)]If I but thought that my response were made
to one perhaps returning to the world,
this tongue of flame would cease to flicker.
But since, up from these depths, no one has yet
returned alive, if what I hear is true,
I answer without fear of being shamed.
[tr. Hollander/Hollander (2007)]If I believed that I were making an answer
To someone able to walk again in the living
World, this upright flame would stop its quivering,
But since no person has ever returned alive
From this depth of Hell, if what I hear is true,
I answer you without fear of disgrace.
[tr. Raffel (2010)]If I thought now to afford
An answer to one bound to breathe the air
Again in the fair world, this flame would stand
With no more movement, but since none return
Alive from these depths, if I understand
Correctly what I hear, how could I earn
More infamy that I have now?
[tr. James (2013)]
You injure yourself by your own vindictiveness, and give your enemies too great an advantage, if you accuse them of things that are not true, and tell lies in order to disparage them.
[C’est se venger contre soi-même, et donner un trop grand avantage à ses ennemis, que de leur imputer de choses qui ne sont pas vraies, et de mentir pour les décrier.]
Jean de La Bruyère (1645-1696) French essayist, moralist
The Characters [Les Caractères], ch. 11 “Of Mankind [De l’Homme],” § 150 (11.150) (1688) [tr. Stewart (1970)]
(Source)
(Source (French)). Alternate translations:We are reveng'd on our selves, and give our Enemies too much advantage over us, when we say things of them which are not true, and lie to reproach 'em.
[Bullord ed. (1696)]'Tis reproaching our selves, and giving our Enemies too much advantage over us, to say things of them which are not true, and lie to disparage them.
[Curll ed. (1713)]We are vindictive to our own loss, and give the Staff into our Enemies Hands, when we say things of them which are not true, and lie to defame them.
[Browne ed. (1752)]To say things of our enemies which are not true, and to lie to defame them, is to avenge ourselves on ourselves, and give them too great an advantage over us.
[tr. Van Laun (1885)]
But they that breake bands of civilitie,
And wicked customes make, those doe defame
Both noble armes and gentle curtesie.
No greater shame to man than inhumanitie.Edmund Spenser (c. 1552-1599) English poet
The Faerie Queene, Book 6, Canto 1, st. 26 (1589-96)
(Source)
IAGO: Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash. ’Tis something, nothing;
’Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands.
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him
And makes me poor indeed.William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Othello, Act 3, sc. 3, l. 182ff (3.3.182-188) (1603)
(Source)
Another and more special provision has been made by one of the amendments to the Constitution, which expressly declares, that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press,” thereby guarding, in the same sentence, and under the same words, the freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press, insomuch that whatever violated either throws down the sanctuary which covers the others, — and that libels, falsehood, and defamation, equally with heresy and false religion, are withheld from the cognizance of federal tribunals.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) American political philosopher, polymath, statesman, US President (1801-09)
“Kentucky Resolutions,” Resolution 3 (1798)
(Source)
In protest of the Alien and Sedition Acts.
