O arbusto sangrando à letra

This article presents an experimental translation of a passage from the Aeneid (III, 1-72) traditionally known as “The Bloody Bush” or “The Grave of Polydorus”. The episode, which combines tragic, prodigious and ethical elements, is set in the context of Aeneas’ wanderings after the destruction of Troy, marking a decisive stage in the construction of the epic narrative and in the development of the hero’s character. The translation was carried out based on the notion of literalness proposed by Antoine Berman, which is not limited to the mechanical reproduction of the word order of the original text, but seeks to incorporate structural features characteristic of the source language into the target language. Consequently, the translation aims to preserve the expressive density and otherness of Virgil’s text, maintaining resources such as the fragmented syntax of Latin, while at the same time striving not to exceed certain limits of intelligibility and fluidity of the Brazilian Portuguese. Finally, the theoretical discussion emphasizes how literalness, as thus understood, can transform translation into a space for dialogue between cultures, while also considering the ethical and aesthetic challenges and possibilities involved in this process.