Happy Mid-Autumn's Festival! 读一首 “明月几时有”的英文诗过节！

明天是中秋节，首先祝大家：

I wish you and your family a happy Mid-Autumn Day
and a wonderful life!

祝阖家中秋节快乐，生活美满！

说到中秋节，史上最有名的一首诗词莫过于苏东坡的《水调歌头》了！古人言：“中秋词，自东坡《水调歌头》一出，余词尽废。”说这是写中秋最好的一首词，恐怕没人会反对。

《水调歌头》

苏轼

明月几时有？把酒问青天。不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年？我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒。起舞弄清影，何似在人间？

转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。不应有恨，何事长向别时圆？人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

很多翻译名家都曾经把这首优美的词译成英文。我们为大家选了许渊冲先生、林语堂先生和龚景浩先生三个译本，值此佳节，朗诵一下美好的诗篇，诚佳事乐事也！

《水调歌头》英译一，林语堂版

Prelude to Water Ripple （Song）

Su Shi

How rare the moon, so round and clear!

With cup in hand, I ask of the blue sky,

"I do not know in the celestial sphere

What name this festive night goes by?"

I want to fly home, riding the air,

But fear the ethereal cold up there,

The jade and crystal mansions are so high!

Dancing to my shadow,

I feel no longer the mortal tie.

She rounds the vermilion tower,

Stoops to silk-pad doors,

Shines on those who sleepless lie.

Why does she, bearing us no grudge,

Shine upon our parting, reunion deny?

But rare is perfect happiness –

The moon does wax, the moon does wane,

And so men meet and say goodbye.

I only pray our life be long,

And our souls together heavenward fly!

（by Lin Yutang）

《水调歌头》英译二，龚景浩版

Prelude to Water Ripple （Song）

Su Shi

"When shall we have a bright moon?"

Holding up a wine cup I queried the Blue Heaven:

"Tell me, in the celestial palace up so high

What year in its annals is tonight?"

I'd like to ride the wind and go there

But was afraid it would be too cold up on high

In rose to my feet and danced with my own shadow.

'Twas not too bad down here!

The moon turned round the vermilion penthouse,

Casting its beams down through the lattice windows

And shining on the sleepless.

It need not evoke sadness, you know,

But why is it always so bright when the loved one’s away?

We all have joys and sorrows, partings and re-unions.

The moon, its phases of resplendence,

Waxings and wanings —

Nothing in this world is ever perfect.

I wish a long life to us all.

Then, however far apart we are

We'd still be sharing the same enchanting moonlight.

(By Gong Jinghao)

《水调歌头》英译三，许渊冲版

Prelude to Water Melody

Su Shi

How long will the full moon appear?

Wine cup in hand, I ask the sky.

I do not know what time of the year

'Twould be tonight in the palace on high.

Riding the wind, there I would fly,

Yet I'm afraid the crystalline palace would be

Too high and cold for me.

I rise and dance, with my shadow I play.

On high as on earth, would it be as gay?

The moon goes round the mansions red

Through gauze-draped window soft to shed

Her light upon the sleepless bed.

Why then when people part, is the oft full and bright?

Men have sorrow and joy; they part or meet again;

The moon is bright or dim and she may wax or wane.

There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.

So let us wish that man

Will live long as he can!

Though miles apart, we'll share the beauty she displays.

（by Xu Yuanchong）

你们喜欢哪一个版本的英译呢？Jessie老师觉得，许译语言简洁，林译更有意境，龚译意思直接。三个版本都很美呢！不过，还是中文原词最美。中国的古诗词，翻译成英文，哪怕再好的大家翻译，都始终会少了一些感觉。因为中国的古诗词一向是富含意境，一句话所包含的意思有时得用好几句才能解释清楚，如果英译想表达所有的内在含义，那就会变得啰嗦无比。

要说呢，每种语言都各有其精彩，要深入理解、欣赏文学作品，最好的办法就是看原文。这，其实正是当年Jessie老师学英语的初衷呢。你呢？是否有同样的感受？看得懂咱们优美而博大精深的中文作品，也要能理解有另一种优美的西方文字嘛。

话扯远了…… Let’s just call it a day!

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Happy Every day!

Now it's your time to open your mouth and follow me! 张开嘴巴跟着录音练起来！

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