英文翻譯對比：後出師表 (諸葛亮)

(諸葛亮/英文翻譯對比：後出師表Zhuge Liang)

a. Post-Battle Memorandum to His Majesty

b. Second Memorial to the Throne on his Expedition

a. translated by alexcwlin/edited by Adam Lam

b. translated by (潘正英[據一來源])

先帝深慮漢、賊不兩立，王業不偏安，

a. Upon much deliberation, our late Emperor recognized that our Shu Han Dynasty could not co-exist with the evildoers.

b. Having considered the fact that the House of Han could not allow the insurgents to live under the same heaven

王業不偏安，

a. Also our Empire could not be complacent staying put at a corner of the nation.

b. and that its imperial activity ought not be contented with the enjoying of one-sided peace and tranquility,

故托臣以討賊也。

a. As such, he charged me with the responsibility to bring those outlaws to their knees.

b. the late emperor instructed your servant to have the insurgents suppressed.

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以先帝之明，量臣之才，固知臣伐賊，才弱敵強也。

a. With late Emperor』s perceptiveness and assessment of my limitations, he was well aware that my conquest mission was greatly disadvantaged.

b. His Majesty, though fully aware of your servants inability to carry out this instruction, trusted him without hesitation;

然不伐賊，王業亦亡。

a. Yet not seizing those evildoers will mean the eventual demise of our sovereignty.

b. for the trend of events is that should the rebels not be quelled the imperial destiny would be bound to go to rack,

惟坐而待亡，孰與伐之？是故托臣而弗疑也。

a. The decision was whether to sit tight and wait for our doom, or take the aggression to subjugate our enemy? Therefore commissioning me for the task was without hesitation.

b. so it would seem far much better to fight against them than succumb to them without resistance.

臣受命之日，寢不安席，食不甘味。

a. On the day I received the assignment, I lost much sleep and appetite over it.

b. Upon receiving His Majestys order, your servant was quite lost in thinking, enjoying no sound sleep and having no good appetite.

思惟北征。宜先入南。

a. In considering taking over the north, it was advisable to start with going south.

b. He was of the opinion that in order to be able to dispatch an expeditionary force to the north, it was essential that matters should first be settled in the south,

故五月渡瀘，深入不毛，

a. So in the fifth month we crossed Lu River and ventured deep into badlands.

b. and he therefore ventured to cross the Lu River in the fifth moon, entering right into the barren region

并日而食；

a. In the process, we could only eat once every second day.

b. and setting a dietary limit to himself.

臣非不自惜也，

a. It』s not that I』m oblivious to my own well-being.

b. It is not that he did not know how to care about himself,

顧王業不可得偏安於蜀都，

a. But it』s just that we could not sit on our laurels in our Shu Han domain.

b. but that the imperial dignity should not tolerate the maintenance of one-sided peace in Szechuen;

故冒危難，以奉先帝之遺意也，

a. Therefore I risk great dangers in fulfilling late Emperor』s wishes.

b. this is where he has endeavored to act upon the late emperors instructions, though at his own risk.

而議者謂為非計。

a. Dissenters claimed the plan was ill-advised.

b. Such a course of action there are, however, many who are now disposed to criticize or deprecate.

今賊適疲於西，又務於東，

a. Now the evil』s troops are exhaustingly tested in the west and heavily engaged in the east.

b. Now the rebels are being engaged in the east and getting exhausted in the west;

兵法乘勞，此進趨之時也。

a. Military strategy suggests it』s an opportune time to launch attack when your enemy is spread thin.

b. this is certainly a most propitious time to start a campaign, for taking advantage of the adversarys misfortunes is a good policy in military tactics.

謹陳其事如左：

a. I respectfully present my opinions of the matters as follows:

b. Your servant begs to submit his views as follows:

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高帝明並日月，謀臣淵深，然涉險被創，危然後安。

a. Han Dynasty founding Emperor Gao』s brilliance rivaled that of the sun and moon. His advisers were broad in knowledge and clever in battle stratagem. Yet he sustained injuries in plunging into dangers. Peace was restored only at the cost of perils.

b. With the acumen of Kao Ti — which can be likened to the brilliancy of the sun and moon — and with the counsels of his wise advisers, peace and order was not maintained until many difficulties had been surmounted and untold sufferings sustained.

今陛下未及高帝，謀臣不如良、平，而欲以長策取勝，坐定天下，

a. At this time, Your Majesty is not as accomplished as Emperor Gao, and your advisers do not measure up to those under him including Zhang Liang and Chen Ping. Yet you attempt to seal victory and unite the nation through maintaining status quo for the long-term.

b. Seeing that Your majesty is not such as Kao Ti and Your Majestys advisers are not such as Chang Liang and Chen Ping, how is it possible to expect to win, while sitting tight and making no attempt to move?

此臣之未解一也。

a. This is the first point your humble servant here fails to understand.

b. This the first point not understood by your servant.

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劉繇、王朗各據州郡，論安言計，動引聖人，群疑滿腹，眾難塞胸，今歲不戰，明年不征，使孫策坐大，遂並江東，

a. Formerly Liu You and Wang Lang occupied their respective provinces. In discussing the strategy of playing it safe, they quoted words of wisdom from past sages. With minds full of doubts and bellies full of fear, they kept procrastinating war year after year. As a result, Sun Ce grew stronger as time wore on and eventually he annexed Jiangdong District.

b. While holding their respective counties, Liu Yu and Wang Lang always quoted from the sages in discussing the situation and in laying their plans, but they were so prone to suspicion and so easily overwhelmed with fear that they failed to make up their mind to fight year after year, until Sun Tse began to rise and annex the entire territory of Kiangtung.

此臣之未解二也。

a. This is the second point your humble servant here fails to understand.

b. This is the second point not understood by your servant.

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曹操智計，殊絕於人，其用兵也，彷彿孫、吳，然困於南陽，險於烏巢，危於祁連，逼於黎陽，

a. Cao Cao』s smarts and wits were superb. His deployments of military tactics were comparable to those of Sun Wu and Wu Qi. Yet he was besieged in Nanyang, won a close victory in Wuchao, barely avoided injury in Qilian Mountain, and ran into stronghold at Liyang.

b. Notwithstanding the fact that his resourcefulness was almost superhuman and his proficiency in strategies could favorably be compared with that of Sun Ping and Wu Chi, Tsao Tsao was once besieged at Nanyang, then escaped narrowly from Wuchao, then suffered seriously at Chilien, and was finally vehemently pursued at Liyang.

幾敗北山，殆死潼關，

a. Several times he went down in defeat at Mount Beishan. In Tongguan he narrowly escaped death.

b. At Peis Lan he was nearly put to rout; at Tungkwan his escape from death was by a hair-breadth.

然後偽定一時耳。

a. After all these, he was only able to enjoy a brief period of calm in his feigned empire.

b. After all this, he was only able to find himself settling down to enjoy temporary peace.

況臣才弱，而欲以不危而定之，

a. Furthermore, your serving officials are incapable and you wish to reach national unification without taking risks.

b. Now in the case of one of much weaker caliber such as your servant, how could settlement be expected without having to go through dangers?

此臣之未解三也。

a. This is the third point your humble servant here fails to understand.

b. This is the third point not understood by your servant?

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曹操五攻昌霸不下，

a. Five times Cao Cao was frustrated in his attempts to capture Changba.

b. In his attacks on Changpa on five different occasions Tsao Tsao was repulsed;

四越巢湖不成，

a. Four times he failed to cross Lake Chao.

b. in his attempt to cross Lake Chao for four times he met with no success.

任用李服而李服圖之，

a. He took Li Fu under his wing but Li turned around and plotted against him.

b. He employed Li Fu and Li Fu betrayed him;

委任夏侯而夏侯敗亡，

a. He appointed Xia Hou to high post but Xia Hou was killed in defeat.

b. he trusted Hsia How and Hisa How was killed.

先帝每稱操為能，猶有此失，

a. Our late Emperor highly praised Cao, and yet Cao had such blunders.

b. He was admired by the late emperor for his ability, yet he could not avoid such failures.

況臣駑下，何能必勝？

a. Moreover, I am very mundane in ability, and how possibly could I guarantee victory at all times?

b. Then how could one of your servants inability be sure of success?

此臣之未解四也。

a. This is the fourth point your humble servant here fails to understand.

b. This is the fourth point not understood by your servant.

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自臣到漢中，中間期年耳，然喪趙雲、陽群、馬玉、閻芝、丁立、白壽、劉郃、鄧銅等及曲長、屯將七十餘人，突將、無前、賨叟、青羌、散騎、武騎一千餘人。

a. It』s only been a year since I came to County Hanzhong. Yet we lost Zhao Yun, Yang Qun, Ma Yu, Yan Zhi, Ding Li, Bai Shou, Liu He, Deng Tong, and other high-ranking military officers to a total of seventy some odd people. Gone also were one thousand and then some soldiers from light brigade, cavalry, foreigner recruit, and other regiments.

b. It is only a year since your servant came to Hanchung. During this time, however, generals such as Chao Yun, Yang Chun, Ma Yu, Yen Chih, Ting Li, Pai Show, Liu Ho, Teng Tung, etc., and seventy odd majors and garrison commanders have been dead, together with over a thousand brave generals of foreign birth and well-disciplined cavaliers.

此皆數十年之內所糾合四方之精銳，非一州之所有；

a. Those were all elites assembled over the last several tens of years from places of all directions and not just one province alone.

b. They were among the best of the elements, not belonging to one district only, but gathered together from various sources in all directions during the last tens of years.

若複數年，則損三分之二也，

a. If things continue the way it has been for several more years, then we could have lost two-thirds of our military forces.

b. If it happens that another few years are allowed to pass without any action being taken, the result will be that two thirds of these elements will have been lost.

當何以圖敵？

a. By that time, what would we have left to fight against our enemies?

b. Then with what will the enemy be attacked?

此臣之未解五也。

a. This is the fifth point your humble servant here fails to understand.

b. This is the fifth point not understood by your servant.

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今民窮兵疲，而事不可息；

a. Now our people are penurious and troops are tired. Yet matters are not all over.

b. The people are now impoverished and the military strength is on the wane, yet we cannot afford to rest satisfied with the present condition of affairs.

事不可息，則住與行勞費正等。

a. Since things are not settled, then efforts are much the same whether we sit back and wait or go out on the assault.

b. Under the circumstance, it would seem to involve the same amount of energy whether we stand still in the rear or take the offensive at the front.

而不及今圖之，欲以一州之地，與賊持久，

a. In not taking advantage of the opportunity, are we hoping we could drag it out with the evils with only one province of land?

b. It is, therefore, inexplicable that while few appear to be prepared to take time by the forelock, there are many who are content with the keeping of one district to stand face to face with the rebels.

此臣之未解六也。

a. This is the sixth point your humble servant here fails to understand.

b. This is the sixth point not understood by your servant.

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夫難平者，事也。

a. Yet war is something which is difficult for me to comment on.

b. It may be stated that it is exceedingly difficult to bring the current of events to a standstill.

昔先帝敗軍於楚，當此時，曹操拊手，謂天下已定。

a. In the old days, Cao Cao applauded when our late Emperor was defeated at Chu Region and claimed everything was resolved in the nation.

b. At the time when the late emperor was signally defeated in Hupeh, Tsao Tsao chuckled with glee at the impression that the situation began to be settled in his favor.

然後先帝東連吳越，西取巴蜀，舉兵北征，夏侯授首，此操之失計，而漢事將成也。

a. Later our late Emperor allied with Wu-Yue State and took Ba-Shu Region out west. In launching attack up north, General Xiahou was killed. Those were failings of Cao. Unification of Han Dynasty was in sight.

b. But later, when His Majesty threw in his lot with Wu and Yueh in the east acquired Szechuen in the b. west, and launched a campaign in the north resulting in the killing of Hsia How, it appeared likely that Tsao Tsaos plan was doomed to failure, while that of Han was going to be crowned with success.

然後吳更違盟，

a. But then Wu State broke off the alliance arrangement.

b. Shortly afterwards, however, Wu broke off its agreement;

關羽毀敗，秭歸蹉跌，曹丕稱帝。

a. Our General Guan Yu perished in defeat and we were routed at Zigui District. Cao Pi proclaimed himself to be Emperor.

b. Kuan Yu lost the day; the late emperor got the worst of it at Tzukuei and Tsao Pei assumed the title of emperor.

凡事如是，難可逆見。

a. All things happen in similar fashion. It』s hard to predict.

All this goes to show how this course of things is often too uncertain to admit of forecast.

臣鞠躬盡瘁，死而後已。至於成敗利鈍，非臣之明所能逆睹也。

a. You humble servant here will go all out ceaselessly till death befalls me. Whether things go successfully or unsuccessfully, smoothly or toughly, they are beyond my ability to foretell.

b. Your servant, therefore, desires to do all he can, even to the last drop of his blood, but without being able to foretell the consequences.

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