从《诗经.硕鼠》中外英译文对比韵律探讨
2017-07-08 13:59阅读:
从《诗经.硕鼠》中外英译文对比韵律探讨
(曾冲明2017年7月8日)
《硕鼠》
硕鼠硕鼠,无食我黍!三岁贯汝,莫我肯顾。
逝将去汝,适彼乐土。乐土乐土,爰得我所。
硕鼠硕鼠, 无食我麦!三岁贯汝,莫我肯德。
逝将去汝,适彼乐国。乐国乐国,爰得我直。
硕鼠硕鼠,无食我苗!三岁贯汝,莫我肯劳。
逝将去汝,适彼乐郊。乐郊乐郊,谁之永号?
原文三段,每段两行。不仅意思而且文字大同小异。三段中,第一段与第三段,其两行结尾是押韵的(韵母相同);但第二段两行结尾“德”与“直”并不押韵。“德”与“直”是同义字或近义字。此外,三段分别的同义字或近义字“黍”--“麦”--“苗”也是不押韵的。由于三段的其他文字都相同,诗的整体听起来是押韵。因此我认为,英译时就更不必追求以音节押韵,尤其不该因音节押韵而“戴着枷锁跳舞”,以至削足适履,以辞害意。
先请读最早翻译《诗经》的汉学家的译文:
James Legge译:
Large rats! Large rats!
Do not eat our millet.
Three years have we had to do with you,
And you have not been willing to show any regard for us.
We will leave you,
And go to that happy land.
Happy land! Happy land!
There shall we find our place.
Large rats! Large rats!
Do not eat our wheat.
Three years have we had to do with you,
And you have not been willing to show any kindness to us.
We will leave you,
And go to tha
t happy State.
Happy State! Happy State!
There shall we find ourselves right.
Large rats! Large rats!
Do not eat our springing grain!
Three years have we had to do with you,
And you have not been willing to think of our toil.
We will leave you,
And go to those happy borders.
Happy borders! Happy borders!
Who will there make us always to groan?
James
Legge这首诗还是注意以单音押韵,如t,d,s,n等单音。
现在请对比几位中国翻译家以音节押韵的译文:
许渊冲译:
Large Rat
Large rat, large rat,
Eat no more millet we grow!
Three years you have grown fat;
No care for us you show.
We'll leave you now, I swear,
For a happier land,
A happier land where
We may have a free hand.
Large rat, large rat,
Eat no more wheat we grow!
Three years you have grown fat;
No kindness for us you show.
We'll leave you now, I swear,
We'll leave the land of our birth
For a happy state where
We can get what we're worth.
Large rat, large rat,
Eat no more rice we grow!
Three years you have grown fat,
No rewards to our labor go.
We'll leave you now, I swear,
For a happier plain,
A happier plain where
None will groan or complain.
赵彦春译:
Massive rat, massive rat,
Eat not our corn like that!
For three years we've served you;
To us no care you show!
Now we won't you suffice,
Headed for paradise.
Paradise, paradise
So nice, you are so nice!
Massive rat, massive rat,
Eat not our wheat like that!
For three years we've served you;
To us no good you do!
Now we’ll leave you afar,
Headed for Shangri-la.
Shangri-la, Shangri-la
So good, so good you are!
Massive rat, massive rat,
Eat not our sprouts like that!
For three years we've served you;
To us so cold you grow!
Now we won't your kind stand,
Headed for fairyland.
Fairyland, fairyland,
So grand, you are so grand!
东海仙子译:
Big Vole
Big, big vole thee
Eat not my mille
for years I've fed thee
No care you've taken of me
I swear to leave thee
to heaven for merry
heaven, heaven, glee!
Happy there I’ll be.
Big, big vole thee
Don't eat my wheat.
for years I've fed thee
but never got nice treat.
I swear to leave thee
to new land for merry
new land, O! Glee!
It's where I should be.
Big, big vole thee
Don't eat my seedling
for years I've fed thee
Thee never appreciated me
I swear to leave thee
To go to a happy city
happy city, happy city
No complaint nor weep.