French term
specialist in literature, art history
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English
qu’au fond de l’antre où parfois il abrite de statiques amours
In this article Heine is writing about Tibetan statues of Yamantaka that he saw in the Musee Guimet, and comparing them in a rather poetic way to the myth of the Minotaur.
I'm a bit mystified by this:
A moins toutefois que le Minotaure ne livre son entire secret – ou ne le liasse entrevoir – qu’au fond de l’antre où parfois il abrite de statiques amours. Jamais, sauf aux rares instants de cette épouvantable pause, l’expression lascive de sa face irrittée n’atteint pareille intensité.
The first sentence I'm not sure about at all, in the second sentence I'm mainly having trouble with the use of the word 'pause'.
PRO (1): Julie Barber
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Proposed translations
(only) in the depths of his den where he sometimes shelters motionless love affairs/stories
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Note added at 35 mins (2007-12-06 12:15:14 GMT)
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well, I guess there are many ways to put it...
better motionless love...
I suppose "entire secret" is in English and "liasse" is "laisse"
pause- the terrifying break while the Minotaur is eating his prey
The Minotaur reveals his entire secret - or just a glimpse of it - only in the depths of his den, where, from time to time, he shelters motionless love stories.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-12-06 14:51:32 GMT)
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The Minotaur devoured the young maids offered as a sacrifice see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur http://www.theoi.com/Ther/Minotauros.html
It seems to me that "statiques" refers to the appearance of a "corpse", to the fact that they were lifeless - his lifeless loves or lovers.
only reveals ... in the (furthest) depths of his lair where he sometimes hides his loves, ...
I suspect that the 'amour' here means 'an object of love', rather than 'a love affair', and likewise, that 'statiques' implies in fact that they have been turned to stone (as was so often the case in many mythologies).
Not quite sure what was bothering you here, I assume you had noticed the 'ne ... que ...' construction?
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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-12-06 15:34:06 GMT)
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As Mista has kindly brought to my attention, this is in fact the legend of THE Minotaur of Greek mythology, who did indeed devour his conquests — so of course, the 'statiques' must be referring to 'lifeless' or 'inert', rather than my interpretation of turned to stone.
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mistahara (X)
: I agree with "object of love", but he actually ATE them (see explanation below)
2 hrs
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Yes, I see, I hadn't appreciated that this was THE minotaur! So in that case, 'lifeless'
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