漢譯英經典翻譯——陶淵明《歸去來兮辭》林語堂譯

03-13

歸去來兮辭 陶淵明

歸去來兮，田園將蕪胡不歸！既自以心為形役，奚惆悵而獨悲？悟已往之不諫，知來者之可追。實迷途其未遠，覺今是而昨非。

舟遙遙以輕颺，風飄飄而吹衣。問征夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。乃瞻衡宇，載欣載奔。僮僕歡迎，稚子候門。三徑就荒，松菊猶存。攜幼入室，有酒盈樽。引壺觴以自酌，眄庭柯以怡顏。倚南窗以寄傲，審容膝之易安。園日涉以成趣，門雖設而常關。策扶老以流憩，時矯首而遐觀。雲無心以出岫，鳥倦飛而知還。景翳翳以將入，撫孤松而盤桓。

歸去來兮，請息交以絕遊。世與我而相違，復駕言兮焉求？悅親戚之情話，樂琴書以消憂。農人告余以春及，將有事於西疇。或命巾車，或棹孤舟。既窈窕以尋壑，亦崎嶇而經邱。木欣欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流。善萬物之得時，感吾生之行休。

遑遑欲何之？富貴非吾願，帝鄉不可期。懷良辰以孤往，或植杖而耘耔。登東皋以舒嘯，臨清流而賦詩。聊乘化以歸盡，樂夫天命復奚疑！

【林語堂譯】

Ah, homeward

bound I go!

Why not go home,

seeing that my field

and gardens are

overgrown?

Myself have made

my soul serf to my body:

why have vain

regrets and mourn alone?

Fret not over

bygones

and the forward

journey take.

Only a short

distance have I gone astray,

and I know today

I am right,

if yesterday was

a complete mistake.

Lightly floats

and drifts the boat,

and gently flows

and flaps my gown.

I inquire the

road of a wayfarer,

and sulk at the

dimness of the dawn.

Then when I

catch sight of my old roofs,

joy will my

steps quicken.

Servants will be

there to bid me welcome,

and waiting at

the door are the greeting children.

Gone to seed,

perhaps, are my garden paths,

but there will

still be

the

chrysanthemums and the pine!

I shall lead the

youngest boy in by the hand,

and on the table

there stands a cup full of wine!

Holding the pot

and cup, I give myself a drink,

happy to see in

the courtyard the hanging bough.

I lean upon the

southern window with an immense satisfaction,

and note that

the little place is cosy enough to walk around.

The garden grows

more familiar

and interesting

with the daily walks.

What if no one

knocks at the always closed door!

Carrying a cane

I wander at peace,

and now and then

look aloft to gaze at the blue above.

There the clouds

idle away from their mountain recesses

without any

intent or purpose,

and birds, when

tired of their wandering flights,

will think of

home.

Darkly then fall

the shadows and, ready to come home,

I yet fondle the

lonely pines and loiter around.

Ah, homeward

bound I go!

Let me from now

on learn to live alone!

The world and I

are not made for one another,

and why go round

like one looking for what he has not found?

Content shall I

be with conversations with my own kin,

and there will

be music and books

to while away

the hours.

The farmers will

come and tell me that spring is here

and there will

be work to do at the western farm.

Some order

covered wagons;

some row in

small boats.

Sometimes we

explore quiet, unknown ponds,

and sometimes we

climb over steep, rugged mounds.

There the trees,

happy of heart, grow marvelously green,

and spring water

gushes forth with a gurgling sound.

I admire how

things grow and prosper

according to

their seasons,

and feel that

thus, too, shall my life go its round.

Enough!

How long yet

shall I this mortal shape keep?

Why not take

life as it comes,

and why hustle

and bustle like one on an errand bound?

Wealth and power

are not my ambitions,

and unattainable

is the abode of the gods!

I would go forth

alone on a bright morning,

or perhaps,

planting my cane,

begin to pluck

the weeds and till the ground.

Or I would

compose a poem beside a clear stream,

or perhaps go up

to Tungkao

and make a

long-drawn call on top of the hill.

So would I be

content to live and die,

and without

questionings of the heart,

gladly accept

Heavens will.