古诗三首英译举例

月出

诗经·国风·陈风

月出皎兮。佼人僚兮。舒窈纠兮。劳心悄兮。

月出皓兮。佼人懰兮。舒忧受兮。劳心慅兮。

月出照兮。佼人燎兮。舒夭绍兮。劳心惨兮。

The erudite moon is up, less fair than she

who hath tied silk cords about

a heart in agony,

she at such ease

so all my work is vain.

My heart is tinder, and steel plucks at my pain

so all my work is vain,

she at such ease

as is the inquiring moon

A glittering moon comes out

less bright than she the moon's colleague

that is so fair,

of yet such transient grace,

at ease, undurable, so all my work is vain

torn with this pain.*

* Pound's note: A few transpositions but I think the words are all in the text.

Trans.Ezra Pound The Moon Appears

The moon appears, gleams, yea —

lovely woman, fine, yea —

moves away, graceful, yea —

pains my heart, aches, yea —

The moon appears, splendid, yea —

lovely woman, radiant, yea —

moves away, allures, yea —

pains my heart, burns, yea —

The moon appears, shines, yea —

lovely woman, dazzling, yea —

moves away, smoulders, yea —

pains my heart, forlorn, yea —

Trans.David Prager Branner

Moonrise

The moon shines bright;

My love's snow-white.

She looks so cute.

Can I be mute?

The bright moon gleams;

My lover beams.

Can I care

For her face fair?

The bright moon turns,

With love she burns.

Can I not pine

For her hands fine?

Trans.Yangs A moon rising white

Is the beauty of my lovely one,

Ah, the tenderness, the grace!

Heart’s pain consumes me.

A moon rising bright

Is the fairness of my lovely one.

Ah, the gentle softness!

Heart’s pain wounds me.

A moon rising in splendour

Is the beauty of my lovely one.

Ah, the delicate yielding!

Heart’s pain torments me.

Trans. Arthur Waley

赠张云容舞

唐杨玉环

罗袖动香香不已，

红蕖袅袅秋烟里。

轻云岭上乍摇风，

嫩柳池边初拂水。

Dancing

By Yang Guifei

Wide sleeves sway.

Scents,

Sweet Scents

Incessant coming.

It is red lilies,

Lotus lilies,

Floating up,

And up,

Out of autumn mist.

Thin clouds

Puffed,

Fluttered,

Blown on a rippling wind

Through a mountain pass.

Young willow shoots

Touching

Brushing

The water

Of the garden pool.

—Trans. Amy Lowell

月下独酌

李白

花间一壶酒，独酌无相亲。

举杯邀明月，对影成三人。

月既不解饮，影徒随我身。

暂伴月将影，行乐须及春。

我歌月徘徊，我舞影零乱。

醒时同交欢，醉后各分散。

永结无情游，相期邈云汉。

Last Words

Trans. Herbert A. Giles ~1900?

An arbor of flowers and a kettle of wine:

Alas! In the bowers no companion is mine.

Then the moon sheds her rays on my goblet and me,

And my shadow betrays we’re a party of three!

Thou’ the moon cannot swallow her share of the grog,

And my shadow must follow wherever I jog,

Yet their friendship I’ll borrow and gaily carouse,

And laugh away sorrow while spring-time allows.

See the moon–how she dances response to my song;

See my shadow–it dances so lightly along!

While sober I feel, you are both my good friends;

While drunken I reel, our companionship ends,

But we’ll soon have a greeting without a goodbye,

At our next merry meeting away in the sky.