The personal pleasure derived from translation is the excitement of trying to solve a thousand small problems in the context of a large one. Mystery, jigsaw, game, kaleidoscope, maze, puzzle, see-saw, juggling -- these comparisons capture the “play” element of translation without its seriousness. The chase after words and facts requires imagination. There is an exceptional attraction in the hunt for the right word, just out of reach, the gap of meaning between two languages that one scours a dictionary to fill. The relief of finding it, the smile after hitting on the right word when others are still struggling, is extremely rewarding, equal to the satisfaction of filling in the whole picture, but more concrete