如何評價Stephen Mitchell的的英譯道德經？

01-16

其中的一段譯文是這樣的：

The Master does his job

and then stops.

He understands that the universe

is forever out of control,

and that trying to dominate events

goes against the current of the Tao.

Because he believes in himself,

he doesn"t try to convince others.

Because he is content with himself,

he doesn"t need others" approval.

Because he accepts himself,

the whole world accepts him.

大言不慚地說，《道德經》我怎麼也讀過百十來遍。可初看這段英文《道德經》的時候（此節英譯頗唬人，看上去頭頭是道），我怎麼也想不出它對應的老子章節來。

經搜索得知，此節英譯為Stephen Mitchell所譯老子第30章的後半文字。可對照各個版本的文言老子看下來，根本對不上嘛！

於是再搜索，找到Stephen Mitchell英譯本的前言文字，我才終於有了線索：

As to method: I worked from Paul Carus』s literal version, which provides English equivalents (often very quaint ones) alongside each of the Chinese ideograms. I also consulted dozens of translations into English, German, and French. But the most essential preparation for my work was a fourteen-years-long course of Zen training, which brought me face to face with Lao-tzu and his true disciples and heirs, the early Chinese Zen Masters.

要點如下：

1、本書的翻譯主要基於Paul Carus的英譯（差不多算一個舊譯本的轉譯本）；

2、同時參考了英、德、法文的老子譯本；

3、更多參考的是自己十四年的禪修經驗（！）

作者完全不提自己依據的中文文言版本為何！也就是說，譯者似乎根本不懂中文！（作為翻譯家，他也確實沒有另外的譯自中文的譯作）靠！

根據作者的「夫子自道」，我找來Paul Carus的譯本，第30章後半是這樣的：

"A good man acts resolutely and then stops.

He ventures not to take by force.

Be resolute but not boastful; resolute but not haughty;

resolute but not arrogant; resolute because you cannot avoid it; resolute but not violent.

Things thrive and then grow old.

This is called un-Reason.

Un-Reason soon ceases."

- Translated by Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 30

與之對應的是老子今本（王弼、河上公或傅弈本）：

「善有果而已，不敢以取強。果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿驕，果而不得已，果而勿強。物壯則老，是謂不道，不道早已。」

——雖然Paul的譯文也還有問題（如他沒見過古本老子，不了解此節的錯簡重出和注文混入等等），但也算大致靠譜。至少看得出是老子的英譯本來！

結論：

1、Stephen Mitchell此節的所謂翻譯，完全是對Paul carus英譯本的誤解或臆解！跟中文老子全無關係！別人的英文還看不懂，單拿自己14年禪修矇事，忒也過分！

2、Stephen Mitchell的老子譯本居然是英語世界很受歡迎的一個譯本。宗教學者Huston Smith以為"This translation comes as close to being definitive for our time as any I can imagine. It embodies the virtues its translator credits to the Chinese original: a gemlike lucidity that is radiant with humor, grace, largeheartedness, and deep wisdom." ——可見遺毒多深！誤會多深！

3、舉一反三，所謂英譯中華古籍的整體水平如何，可見一斑。

4、聯想到：很多信眾是通過白話佛經認識佛法的，而白話佛經譯自文言佛經，文言佛經多譯自梵文佛經，而佛祖說法所用語言根本不是梵文，連巴利文也還隔著一層…如此一來，用白話佛經認識佛法，跟用Stephen Mitchell譯本認識老子也差不多少。

呵呵…

更多內容，請見

文件名: （二稿）【老子附會：《道德經》八種對勘、拼貼與臆解】（艾習角著）.pdf

文件地址: http://vdisk.weibo.com/lc/2inu1MWPjyIsX1crmjn

提取碼: CJ1M