In this paper, Pratt concentrates specifically upon the translation of direct speech passages from Old French into German romance, seeing them as a key to other translative practices. Although the German poets were able to parallel most of the stylistic and rhythmic effects of their models, they frequently chose to innovate or to incorporate features of German literary tradition in their translations. The author prefers to focus on the literary effects of modifications on the form, content, and ethos not only of isolated passages of speech, but of the adaptations as a whole. She concludes that German poets were capable of rendering both form and content of their models quite accurately if they wanted to, but that they frequently modified their source in order to produce new meaning or new poetic effects.