People have different points of view on the criteria applicable to poetry translation.This paper focuses on what kind of principle should be followed in poetry translation.It starts with a brief introduction of one interesting dispute over the standards and criteria applicable to poetry translation.Based upon a brief summary of the two conflicting theories raised by Professor Xu Yuanchong(许渊冲)and Professor Liu Yingkai(刘英凯),this paper compares two Chinese versions of Thomas Hardy’s"The Darkling Thrush"for the purpose of establishing the idea that"faithfulness"should be treated as the paramount principle and criteria in poetry translation.
