A Youngned, ní aistriúchán díreach focal ar fhocal é. B'é a bhí ar intinn agam ná "gontacht an fhriotail", mar a déarfá, a bhaint amach. Ach bheinn sásta dá gcuirfí tuairimí eile ar aghaidh.
Youngned, it isn't a direct verbatim translation. What I had in mind to achieve was "pithiness of expression", as they say. I would be pleased if other opinions were forwarded.
Two other variations cross my mind:
1. Is buaine lorg an phinn ná an lámh a threoraigh é. (That would be more like the way one would put it in German if one wanted a wee lyrical twist to it but I'm not sure whether that would be too much gearmánachas in an Irish context.)
2. Is buaine a scríobhtar ná an scríbhneoir féin. (This one is missing the pen, however, and any symbolism that might be attached to it.)
I like your own version 3, although I would prefer "lorg a phinn": Maireann lorg an phinn, ach ní mhaireann an lámh a scríobh é. On second thoughts, I don't think "scríobh" and "lorg" go together at all; "líne" (or other suggestions, please
) would probably be better.
Nó céard faoi: Maireann lorg an phinn, ach ní mhaireann lámh threoraithe an phinn?