Martorell, however, expresses a feeling of incompetency, and on account of his professional and family affairs and the adversities of fortune which do not permit him to enjoy peace of mind, he feels that he might be justified in declining the noble task. But notwithstanding all these obstacles he will undertake it, for surely the Sovereign Good, who comes to the aid of those who wish to do worthy things, will not fail him in his endeavor. Then in an enterprising spirit he announces:
. . . me atreuire expondre, no solament d'lengua
Anglesa en Portoguesa, mas encara de Portoguesa
en vulgar valenciana: perço que la nacio
don yo so natural sen puxa alegrar e molt ajudar
per los tants e tan insignes actes com hi son.[1]
He asks the prince to accept the book as from a devoted
servant, and begs him to overlook with indulgence
the errors that may be found therein, for in some passages
it was impossible to give a good translation of the
English words. The letter closes as follows:
E perque en la present obra altri no puxa
esser increpat si defalliment algu trobat hi sera;
yo Johanot martorell caualler sols vull portar lo
carrech e no altri ab mi: com per mi sols sia
stada ventilada a servey del molt illustre Princep
e senyor rey spectant don ferrando de portogal:
la present obra e començada a .ii. d'giner
de lany .Mcccclx.[2]
- ↑ I shall undertake to translate, not only from the English language into Portuguese, but also from the Portuguese into the Valencian vernacular: in order that the country of which I am a native may enjoy and be highly benefited by the many very remarkable acts that are described therein.
- ↑ And in order that no other person may be blamed for any faults that may be contained in this work, I, Johanot Martorell, Knight, wish to accomplish this task alone and with the aid of no one else: in order that it may be performed by me alone in the service of the most illustrious Prince and Lord, expectant of the royal crown, Don Ferdinand of Portugal. This work is begun on the second day of January, 1460.
