"The honorable, the king's attorney, is informed by a friend of the
Hi all. I think translations should have more bibliographic information. For example, consider the record for the Count of Monte Cristo http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1184#bibrec . The following vital information is missing: * That the author Alexandre Dumas wrote the book in French, and that this is a translation * Who did the translation, and when it was first published Information about the translation is important because translations can be copyright while the original work is public domain. * * * Also, this particular translation is questionable. For example, in the story, Captain Edmond Dantes is accused of aiding the exiled Napolean, by an anonymous letter to the king's attorney. The letter is read and re-read several times during the adventure. The wording varies each time! (I assume Dumas was not so sloppy in the original) throne and religion, that one Edmond Dantes, mate of the ship Pharaon, arrived this morning from Smyrna, after having touched at Naples and Porto-Ferrajo, has been intrusted by Murat with a letter for the usurper, and by the usurper with a letter for the Bonapartist committee in Paris. Proof of this crime will be found on arresting him, for the letter will be found upon him, or at his father's, or in his cabin on board the Pharaon."
"'The king's attorney is informed by a friend to the throne and the
religions institutions of his country, that one named Edmond Dantes, mate of the ship Pharaon, this day arrived from Smyrna, after having touched at Naples and Porto-Ferrajo, has been the bearer of a letter from Murat to the usurper, and again taken charge of another letter from the usurper to the Bonapartist club in Paris. Ample corroboration of this statement may be obtained by arresting the above-mentioned Edmond Dantes, who either carries the letter for Paris about with him, or has it at his father's abode. Should it not be found in the possession of father or son, then it will assuredly be discovered in the cabin belonging to the said Dantes on board the Pharaon.'"
Dantes paused a moment, then said, "This is it, word for word: 'The
king's attorney is informed by a friend to the throne and religion, that one Edmond Dantes, mate on board the Pharaon, this day arrived from Smyrna, after having touched at Naples and Porto-Ferrajo, has been intrusted by Murat with a packet for the usurper; again, by the usurper, with a letter for the Bonapartist Club in Paris. This proof of his guilt may be procured by his immediate arrest, as the letter will be found either about his person, at his father's residence, or in his cabin on board the Pharaon.'"
"The king's attorney is informed by a friend to the throne and religion
that one Edmond Dantes, second in command on board the Pharaon, this day arrived from Smyrna, after having touched at Naples and Porto-Ferrajo, is the bearer of a letter from Murat to the usurper, and of another letter from the usurper to the Bonapartist club in Paris. Ample corroboration of this statement may be obtained by arresting the above-mentioned Edmond Dantes, who either carries the letter for Paris about with him, or has it at his father's abode. Should it not be found in possession of either father or son, then it will assuredly be discovered in the cabin belonging to the said Dantes on board the Pharaon." * * * What do you think? -Matt ps. I think Project Gutenberg ought to have public comment pages that everyone can use. A private mailing list, that requires you sign up—and wait a day for your account to activate—before you can even read it, is prohibitive for many potential contributors. pps. Fourth time lucky.