[转载]范仲淹 岳阳楼记 (杨宪益、戴乃迭 英译)
2011-12-14 12:05阅读：
庆历四年春，滕子京谪守巴陵郡。越明年，政通人和，百废具兴，乃重修岳阳楼，增其旧制，刻唐贤今人诗赋于其上，属予作文以记之。
In the
spring of the fourth year of the Qingli period (the year 1044),
Teng Zijing was banished from the capital to be governor of Baling
Prefecture. After he had governed the district for a year, the
administration became efficient, the people became united, and all
things that had fallen into disrepair were given a new lease of
life. Then he restored Yueyang Pavilion, adding new splendor to the
original structure and having inscribed on it poems by famous men
of the Tang Dynasty as well as the present time. And he asked me to
write an essay to commemorate this.
予观
夫巴陵胜状，在洞庭一湖。衔远山，吞长江，浩浩汤汤，横无际涯；朝晖夕阴，气象万千；此则岳阳楼之大观也，前人之述备矣。然则北通巫峡，南极潇湘，迁客骚人，多会于此，览物之情，得无异乎？
Now I
have found that the finest sights of Baling are concentrated in the
region of Lake Dongting. Dongting, nibbling at the distant hills
and gulping down the Yangzi River, strikes all beholders as vast
and infinite, presenting a scene of boundless variety; and this is
the superb view from Yueyang Pavilion. All this has been described
in full by writers of earlier ages. However, since the lake is
linked with Wu Gorge in the north and extends to the rivers Xiao
and Xiang in the south, many exiles and wandering poets gather
here, and their reactions to these sights vary
greatly.
若夫霪雨霏霏，连月不开；阴风怒号，浊浪排空；日星隐耀，山岳潜形；商旅不行，樯倾楫摧；薄暮冥冥，虎啸猿啼；登斯楼也，则有去国怀乡，忧谗畏讥，满目萧然，感极而悲者矣！
During a
period of incessant rain, when a spell of bad weather continues for
more than a month, when louring winds bellow angrily, tumultuous
waves hurl themselves against the sky, sun and stars hide their
light, hills and mountains disappear, merchants have to halt in
their travels, masts collapse and oars splinter, the day darkens
and the roars of tigers and howls of monkeys are heard, if men come
to this pavilion with a longing for home in their hearts or nursing
a feeling of bitterness because of taunts and slander, they may
find the sight depressing and fail prey to agitation or
despair.
至若春和景明，波澜不惊，上下天光，一碧万顷；沙鸥翔集，锦鳞游泳，岸芷汀兰，郁郁青青。而或长烟一空，皓月千里，浮光跃金，静影沈璧，渔歌互答，此乐何极！登斯楼也，则有心旷神怡，宠辱偕忘、把酒临风，其喜洋洋者矣！
But
during mild and bright spring weather, when the waves are unruffled
and the azure translucence above and below stretches before your
eyes for myriads of li, when the water-birds fly down to congregate
on the sands and fish with scales like glimmering silk disport
themselves in the water, when the iris and orchids on the banks
grow luxuriant and green; or when dusk falls over this vast expanse
and bright moonlight casts its light a thousand li, when the
rolling waves glitter like gold and silent shadows in the water
glimmer like jade, and the fishermen sing to each other for sheer
joy, then men coming up to this pavilion may feel complete freedom
of heart and ease of spirit, forgetting every worldly gain or
setback to hold their winecups in the breeze in absolute elation,
delighted with life.
嗟夫！予尝求古仁人之心，或异二者之为，何哉？不以物喜，不以己悲，居庙堂之高，则忧其民；处江湖之远，则忧其君。是进亦忧，退亦忧；然则何时而乐耶？其必曰：“先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐矣！”噫！微斯人，吾谁与归！
时六年九月十五日。
But again
when I consider the men of old who possessed true humanity, they
seem to have responded quite differently. The reason, perhaps, may
be this: natural beauty was not enough to make them happy, nor
their own situation enough to make them sad. When such men are high
in the government or at court, their first concern is for the
people; when they retire to distant streams and lakes, their first
concern is for their sovereign. Thus they worry both when in office
and when in retirement. When, then, can they enjoy themselves in
life? No doubt they are concerned before anyone else and enjoy
themselves only after everyone else finds enjoyment. Surely these
are the men in whose footsteps I should follow!
(The time
is: the 15th day of the 9th month, the
6th year.)
