Dear Tadeusz, Ever since this topic occured a few weeks ago on Lutenet, I tried to find a native Polish speaker to approve or disapprove my memory: The wife of a friend of mine was Polish (unfurtunately she died 20 years ago) who - as I remember - told me it was a proverbial phrase in Polish even today referring to the vanity of doing something someone has already accomplished at the highest possible level. Anyway, she quoted it by heart that's for certain.
1. Now is it really a proverb presently? (The one Polish speaker I could find didn't know about it.) 2. Or was it a proverb at that time and Jan Kochanowski was only using it for a special purpose? 3. It never was a proverb, only my friend's wife was well versed in old Polish poetry and I misunderstood her. Thanks for the answer and best regards, Gabor Domjan --- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tadeusz Czechak" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2004 9:30 AM Subject: Re: Bakfark > This is a methaphore , commonly used in apparent , but mistaken meaning . > Jan Kochanowski , Polish poet , 16th cent in his epigram told the following > story > A guy asked very much to spend the night with married lady , who didn't want > him . To explain him why she does'n want , lady invites him to the bath > together with her husband. While both naked at the bath ,the man see , how > rich and fantastic is the husband equipped by Nature , especially comparing > with himself. > Not everyone may take (play) the lute after Bakfar - that's the conclusion. > > cheers - Tadeusz Czechak > > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, September 13, 2004 6:28 PM > Subject: Bakfark > > > > There is a quote that goes something like: > > > > "nobody should play the lute after Bakfark" > > > > Can someone tell me 1) the source of this quote 2) the interpretation: > does it mean that that Bakfark had no equal and that his skill couldn't be > matched by anyone else? or does it mean that no one could match the WAY > Bakfark played the lute (his performance style, for example)? > > > > Thanks, > > > > Kenneth > > > > > > > > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
