译者 | 林语堂翻译经验: “之乎者也”怎么译?
林语堂于1940年和1950年先后两度获得诺贝尔文学奖提名。曾创办《论语》《人世间》《宇宙风》等刊物,作品包括小说《京华烟云》《啼笑皆非》。
散文和杂文文集《人生的盛宴》《生活的艺术》以及译著《东坡诗文选》《浮生六记》等。1966年定居台湾,1967年受聘为香港中文大学研究教授,主持编撰《林语堂当代汉英词典》。(《林语堂当代汉英词典》编竣出版,林语堂视此为写作生涯巅峰之作)
林语堂是中国现代著名作家、学者、翻译家、语言学家,《吾国与吾民》、《生活的艺术》等作品在英语世界受到高度评价和广泛喜爱,如今已成经典。
花谢花飞飞满天,红消香断有谁怜?游丝软系飘春榭,落絮轻沾扑绣帘。
Fly, fly, ye faded and broken dreams
Of fragrance, for the spring is gone!
Be hold the gossamer entwine the screens,
And wandering catkins kiss the stone.
试看春残花渐落,便是红颜老死时。一朝春尽红颜老,花落人亡两不知!
Oh, look upon these tender, fragile beauties,
Of perfumed flesh and bone and hair.
The admirer shan’t be there
when her time is up,
And the admired shall no longer care!
——《明清小品(下)·黛玉葬花诗》
kiss一字来译“扑”实在是妙译,展现出了柳絮翻飞飘落的轻盈灵动,译出了原诗的动态美感。林氏译文用字虽与原文字面有所差别,然所呈现出之意境却与原诗悲戚缠绵之情全然相应,未损分毫,最末四句更是将玉殒香消人不知的凄恻之情推向高潮,英文读来也让人不禁泪下。
夫有土者,有大物也。有大物者,不可以物;物而不物,故能物物。
For to have a territory is to have something great. He who has something great must not
regard the material things as material things. Only by not regarding material things as
material things can one be the lord of things.
——《诸子百家·天道与人道》
满口仍用“者也之乎”等字。
…and still using the most polished language of thou and thee and wherefore and is it not so?
——《明清小品(下)·不亦快哉》
《立》
立分久暂,暂可无依,久当思傍。亭亭独立之事,但可偶一为之,旦旦如是,则筋骨皆悬而脚跟如砥,有血脉胶凝之患矣。或倚长松,或凭怪石,或靠危栏作轼,或扶瘦竹为筇;既作羲皇上人,又作画图中物,何乐如之!但不可以美人作柱,虑其础石太纤,而致栋梁皆仆也。The Art of Standing
Stand straight,but do not doit for long. Otherwise, all leg muscles will become stiff and circulation will be blocked up.Lean on something!—on an old pine or a quain trock,or on a balcony or on a bamboo cane. It makes one look like one is in a painting. But do not lean on a lady! The foundation is not solid and the roof may come down!
——《明清小品(下)·随时即景就事行乐之法(节录)》
寻寻觅觅,冷冷清清,凄凄惨惨戚戚。
Sodim,sodark,Sodense,sodull,Sodamp,sodank,Sodead!
——《晋唐心印·声声慢》《行香子》
清夜无尘,月色如银。酒斟时、须满十分。浮名浮利,虚苦劳神。叹隙中驹,石中火,梦中身。
虽抱文章,开口谁亲。且陶陶、乐尽天真。几时归去,作个闲人。对一张琴,一壶酒,一溪云。Random Thoughts, to the Tune of Shinghsiangtse
O the clear moon’s speckles,silver night!
When filling thy cup, be sure to fill it quite!
Strive not for frothy fame or bubble wealth:
A passing dream—A flashing flint—
A shadow’s flight!
O what is knowledge, fine and super fine?
To innocent and simple joys resign!
When I go home, I’ll carry on my back
A load of clouds—
A sweet-toned chin—A pot of wine!
——《东坡笔意·行香子》
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