Balbín’s Diva Montis Sancti (1665) and Its Vernacular Versions as a Type of Early Modern Translations

Diva Montis Sancti (1665), written by B. Balbín, is an important work on Marian pilgrimage sites. Within the background of the cultural and historical contexts, the paper compares the Latin text with its translation into Czech (Přepodivná Matka Svatohorská, 1666) by M. V. Štejer and an anonymous German version (Heiliger Berg, 1668). The language analysis of the Latin and Czech versions of the text is underpinned by examples of Štejer’s translation strategies. The article also states the function and presumed readership of the versions. In contrast with the historical / patriotic function of the original aimed at educated European elites, both translations can be in today’s terms characterised as paraphrases, accentuating the religious and educative functions and, therefore, intended for less educated readers.

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