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Autumn Lake I remember quite clearly now when the story happened. The autumn leaves were floating in measure down to the ground, recovering the lake, where we used to swim like children, under the sun was there to shine. That time we used to be happy. Well, I thought we were. But the truth was that you had been longing to leave me, not daring to tell me. On that precious night, watching the lake, vaguely conscious, you said: "Our story is ending." The rain was killing the last days of summer. You had been killing my last breath of love, since a long time ago. I still don't think I'm gonna make it through another love story. You took it all away from me. And there I stand, I knew I was going to be the one left behind. But still I'm watching the lake, vaguely conscious, and I know my life is ending.
参考译文 秋之湖 我仍清晰地记得故事发生的时候。秋叶翻飞,飘落 一地。我们曾经孩子般戏水畅游过的小湖盖满落叶,在太阳下闪着光。那时我们幸福过。哦,我是这样认为的。可事实上你早就想离开我,只是不敢告诉我罢了。在那美丽的夜晚,眼望湖水,恍惚中听见你说:我们的故事已到尽头。 雨水扼杀着所剩无几的夏日,而你很久以来也在扼杀我奄奄一息的爱。我仍不认为自己会再去经历另一段爱情故事。你把一切都带走了。我只有悄然伫立,早已明白自己将会是那个被遗弃的人。而我依然凝望着湖水,恍惚中,生命正离我而去。
匆 匆朱自清 • 燕子去了,有再来的时候;杨柳枯了,有再青的时候;桃花谢了,有再开的时候。但是,聪明的,你告诉我,我们的日子为什么一去不复返呢?——是有人偷了他们罢:那是谁?又藏在何处呢?是他们自己逃走了:现在又到了哪里呢? • 我不知道他们给了我多少日子;但我的手确乎是渐渐空虚了。在默默里算着,八千多日子已经从我手中溜去;象针尖上一滴水滴在大海里,我的日子滴在时间的流里,没有声音也没有影子。我不禁头涔涔而泪潸潸了。 • 去的尽管去了,来的尽管来着,去来的中间,又怎样的匆匆呢?早上我起来的时候,小屋里射进两三方斜斜的太阳。太阳他有脚啊,轻轻悄悄地挪移了;我也茫茫然跟着旋转。于是——洗手的时候,日子从水盆里过去;吃饭的时候,日子从饭碗里过去;默默时,便从凝然的双眼前过去。我觉察他去的匆匆了,伸出手遮挽时,他又从遮挽着的手边过去,天黑时,我躺在床上,他便伶伶俐俐地从我身边垮过,从我脚边飞去了。等我睁开眼和太阳再见,这算又溜走了一日。我掩着面叹息。但是新来的日子的影儿又开始在叹息里闪过了。 • 在逃去如飞的日子里,在千门万户的世界里的我能做些什么呢?只有徘徊罢了,只有匆匆罢了;在八千多日的匆匆里,除徘徊外,又剩些什么呢?过去的日子如轻烟却被微风吹散了,如薄雾,被初阳蒸融了;我留着些什么痕迹呢?我何曾留着象游丝样的痕迹呢?我赤裸裸来到这世界,转眼间也将赤裸裸地回去罢?但不能平的,为什么偏要白白走这一遭啊? • 你聪明的,告诉我,我们的日子为什么一去不复返呢?
Rush • By Zhu Chunshen • Swallows may have gone, but there is a time of return; willow trees may have died back, but there is a time of regreening; peach blossoms may have fallen, but they will bloom again. Now, you the wise, tell me, why should our days leave us, never to return? – If they had been stolen by someone, who could it be? Where could he hide them? If they had made the escape themselves, then where could they stay at the moment? • I don’t know how many days I have been given to spend, but I do feel my hands are getting empty. Taking stock silently, I find that more than eight thousand days have already slid away from me. Like a drop of water from the point of a needle disappearing into the ocean, my days are dripping into the stream of time, soundless, traceless. Already sweat is starting on my forehead, and tears welling up in my eyes. • Those that have gone have gone for good, those to come keep coming; yet in between, how swift is the shift, in such a rush? When I get up in the morning, the slanting sun marks its presence in my small room in two or three oblongs. The sun has feet, look, he is treading on, lightly and furtively; and I am caught, blankly, in his revolution. Thus–the day flows away through the sink when I wash my hands, wears off in the bowl when I eat my meal, and passes away before my day-dreaming gaze as reflect in silence. I can feel his haste now, so I reach out my hands to hold him back, but he keeps flowing past my withholding hands. In the evening, as I lie in bed, he strides over my body, glides past my feet, in his agile way. The moment I open my eyes and meet the sun again, one whole day has gone. I bury my face in my hands and heave a sigh. But the new day begins to flash past in the sigh. • What can I do, in this bustling world, with my days flying in their escape? Nothing but to hesitate, to rush. What have I been doing in that eight-thousand-day rush, apart from hesitating? Those bygone days have been dispersed as smoke by a light wind, or evaporated as mist by the morning sun. What traces have I left behind me? Have I ever left behind any gossamer traces at all? I have come to the world, stark naked; am I to go back, in a blink, in the same stark nakedness? It is not fair though: why should I have made such a trip for nothing! • You the wise, tell me, why should our days leave us, never to return? • 28 March,1922
Transient Days • By Zhang Peiji • If swallows go away,they will come back again. If willows wither, they will turn green again.If peach blossoms fade, they will flower again. But, tell me, you the wise, why should our days go by never to return? Perhaps they have been stolen by someone. But who could it be and who could be hide them?Perhaps they have just run away by themselves. But where could they be at present moment? • I don’t know how many days I am entitled to altogether, but my quota of them is undoubtedly wearing away. Counting up silently, I find that more than 8.000 days have already slipped away through my fingers.Like a drop of water falling off a needle point into the ocean, my days are quietly dripping into the stream of time without leaving a trace. At the thought of this ,sweat oozes from my forehead and tears tickle down my cheeks. • What is gone is gone, what is to come keeps coming. How swift is the transition in between! When I get up in the morning, the slanting sun cast two or three squnrish patches of light into my small room.The sun has feet too,edging away softly and stealthily.And,without knowing it,I am alerady caught in its revolution .Thus the day flows away through the sink when I wash my hands; vanishes in the rice bowl when I hane meal;passes away quietly before the fixed gaze of my eyes when I am lost in reverie. Aware of its fleeting presence. I reach out for it only to find it brushing past my feet.By the time when I open my eyes to meet the sun again ,another day ia already gone.I have a sign,my head buried in my hands.But,in the midst of my sights,a new day is flashing past. • Living in this world with its fleeting days and teeming millions, what can I do but waver and wander and live a transient life ? What have I been doing during the 8,000 fleeting days except wavering and wandering? the bygone days, like wisps of smoke, have been dispersed by gentle winds, and, like thin mist,have been vaporated by the rising sun. What traces have I left behind? No ,nothing,not even gossamer-like traces.I have come to this world stark naked, and in the twinkling of an eye,I am go to back as stark naked as ever. However, I am taking it very much to heart: why should I be made to pass through this world for nothing at all? • O you the wise, would you tell me please: why should our days go by never to return?
窗 • 又是春天,窗子可以常开了。春天从窗外进来,人在屋子里坐不住,就从门里出去。不过屋子外的春天太贱了!到处是阳光,不像射破屋里阴深的那样明亮;到处是给太阳晒得懒洋洋的风,不像搅动屋里沉闷的那样有生气。就是鸟语,也似乎琐碎而单薄,需要屋里的寂静来做衬托。我们因此明白,春天是该镶嵌在窗子里看的,好比画配了框子。
Random Thoughts on the Window • It is spring again and the window can be left open as often as one would like. As spring comes in through the windows, so people——unable to bear staying inside any longer——go outdoors. The spring outside, however, is much too cheap, for the sun shines on everything, and so does not seem as bright as that which shoots into the darkness of the house. Outside the sun-slothed breeze blows everywhere, but it is not so lively as that which stirs the gloominess inside the house. Even the chirping of the birds sounds so thin and broken that the quietness of the house is needed to set it off. It seems that spring was always meant to be put behind a windowpane for show, just like a picture in a frame.
At the same time it also becomes clear that the door has a different significance from the window. Of course, doors were made for people to pass through; but a window can also sometimes serve as an entrance or as an exit, and is used as such by thieves and by lovers in novels. In fact the fundamental difference between a door and a window has nothing to do with them being either entrances or exits. When it comes to the admiration of spring, it could be put this way: a door makes it possible for one to go out, whereas a window makes it possible for one not to have to. A window helps to pull down the partition between man and nature. It leads breezes and sunlight in, and keeps part of the spring in the house. It allows one to sit and enjoy the spring in peace, and makes it unnecessary to go looking for it outside.
A Prose on Life • However mean your life is,meet it and live it ;do not shun it and call it hard names.It is not so bad as you are.It looks poorest when you are richest.The fault-finder will find faults in paradise.Love your life,poor as it is.You may perhaps have some pleasant,thrilling,glorious hourss,even in a poor-house.The setting sun is reflected from the windows of the alms-house as brightly as from the rich man's abode;the snow melts before its door as early in the spring.I do not see but a quiet mind may live as contentedly there,and have as cheering thoughts,as in a palace.The town's poor seem to me often to live the most independent lives of any.May be they are simply great enough to receive without misgiving.Most think that they are above being supported by the town;but it often happens that they are not above supporting themselves by dishonest means.which should be more disreputable.Cultivate poverty like a garden herb,like sage.Do not trouble yourself much to get new things,whether clothes or friends,Turn the old,return to them.Things do not change;we change.Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts.
参考译文 • 不论你的生活如何卑贱,你要面对它生活,不要躲避它,更别用恶言咒骂它。它不像你那样坏。你最富有的时候,倒是看似最穷。爱找缺点的人就是到天堂里也能找到缺点。你要爱你的生活,尽管它贫穷。甚至 在一个济贫院里,你也还有愉快、高兴、光荣的时候。夕阳反射在济贫院的窗上,像身在富户人家窗上一 样光亮;在那门前,积雪同在早春融化。我只看到,一个从容的人,在哪里也像在皇宫中一样,生活得心 满意足而富有愉快的思想。城镇中的穷人,我看,倒往往是过着最独立不羁的生活。也许因为他们很伟大, 所以受之无愧。大多数人以为他们是超然的,不靠城镇来支援他们;可是事实上他们是往往利用了不正当 的手段来对付生活,他们是毫不超脱的,毋宁是不体面的。视贫穷如园中之花而像圣人一样耕植它吧!不 要找新的花样,无论是新的朋友或新的衣服,来麻烦你自己。找旧的,回到那里去。万物不变,是我们在变。你的衣服可以卖掉,但要保留你的思想。
YouthSamuel Erman • Youth is not a time of life , it is a state of mind, it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees, it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions, it is the freshness of the deep spring of life.Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of 60 more than a boy of 20.Nobody grows merely by a number of years, we grow old by deserting our ideas.Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.Weather 60 or 16, there is in every human beings heart the lure of wonders, the unfailing childlike appetite for what’s next and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart, there is a wireless station: so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the infinite, so long as you are young.When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you’ve grown old, even at 20,but as long as your aerials are up to catch waves of optimism, there’s hope you may die young at 80.
青春 • 青春不是年华,而是心境;青春不是桃面、丹唇、柔膝,而是深沉的意志,恢宏的想象,炙热的恋情;青春是生命的深泉在涌流。 青春气贯长虹,勇锐盖过怯弱,进取压倒苟安。如此锐气,二十后生而有之,六旬男子则更多见。年岁有加,并非垂老,理想丢弃,方堕暮年。 岁月悠悠,衰微只及肌肤;热忱抛却,颓废必致灵魂。忧烦,惶恐,丧失自信,定使心灵扭曲,意气如灰。 无论年届花甲,拟或二八芳龄,心中皆有生命之欢乐,奇迹之诱惑,孩童般天真久盛不衰。人人心中皆有一台天线,只要你从天上人间接受美好、希望、欢乐、勇气和力量的信号,你就青春永驻,风华常存。 一旦天线倒塌时,锐气便被冰雪覆盖,玩世不恭、自暴自弃油然而生,即使年方二十,实已八十。
原文 • 据当地的一个动人的传说,很久以前,九寨沟的东山上住着一位美丽善良的女神,九寨沟的西山上住着一位勤劳勇敢的男神。两个相处久了便产生了爱情。一天男神为了表达自己的爱慕之情,特意送了一面又大又亮的神镜给女神。女神在接过神镜时,由于心情过于激动,镜子竟然从她颤抖的手中滑落,掉到山下,碎成了108块,从此给九寨沟留下了108个形态各异、晶晶闪亮的湖泊。
参考译文 • A romantic local legend has it that a long, long time ago, there lived a beautiful and kind-hearted goddess in the mountain east of Jiuzhaigou and an industrious and chivalrous god in the mountain west of Jiuzhaigou. As time went by, they fell in love. One day the god presented a big and shiny divine mirror to the goddess as a token of love. The goddess reached out to take the mirror, but she was so excited and nervous that the mirror slipped from her trembling fingers and dropped to the valleys, breaking into 108 pieces. The 108 mirror pieces turned out to be 108 winkling and glittering crystal lakes of different sizes, covering the land of Jiuzhaigou.
乔光朴抬起眼睛,闪电似地扫过全场,最后和霍大道那穿透一切的目光相遇了,倏地这两对目光碰出了心里的火花,一刹那等于交换了千言万语。乔光朴仍是用缓慢平稳的语气说:“我愿立军令状。乔光朴,现年五十六岁,身体基本健康,血压有一点高,但无妨大局。我去后如果电机厂仍不能完成国家计划,我请求撤销我党内外一切职务。到干校和石敢去养鸡喂鸭。乔光朴抬起眼睛,闪电似地扫过全场,最后和霍大道那穿透一切的目光相遇了,倏地这两对目光碰出了心里的火花,一刹那等于交换了千言万语。乔光朴仍是用缓慢平稳的语气说:“我愿立军令状。乔光朴,现年五十六岁,身体基本健康,血压有一点高,但无妨大局。我去后如果电机厂仍不能完成国家计划,我请求撤销我党内外一切职务。到干校和石敢去养鸡喂鸭。
Qiao’s eyes scanned the meeting room and finally met Huo’s. For an instant they exchanged significant glances.“I’m fifty-six and pretty fit. My blood pressure’s a bit high, but that doesn’t matter. If I fail and the plant doesn’t fulfill the quota set by the state, I’ll pack up and go back to cadre school to raise chickens and ducks.”
原文 • 7、敬启者: • 事由:陕西大枣 • 收到你方10月13日函,获悉你方要我报2007年产大枣60公吨,货运纽约,我十分高兴。12 • 现报价如下,并以你方接受函不迟于2007年10月30日到达我方为条件:13 • 60公吨手拣不分等级的陕西大枣,成本加保险费、运费到奥登色价每公吨人民币500元,2007年十一月装运,在香港转船。14 • 按发票总额110%投保综合险和战争险,其他条款与往常一样。15 • 鉴于此地无直达船去纽约,此批货须在香港转船。从香港至纽约所增加的费用已包括在上述报价之内,特此顺告。16 • 谅你已知道,你方所要的这种大枣,近来销路甚好,因此我们报价的有效期不能太长。很明显,不断增长的需要将导致价格的上升,但若我们能及时收到接受函,你方就可能从行市的上涨中得到好处,而一旦错过此价,货定售出难留。 • 盼早复。 • 谨上
参考译文 • 2007年10月15日 • 2.October 15, 2007 • Gentlemen, • Re: Shaanxi Dates • It is gratifying to learn from your letter of October 13 that you are interested in an offer from us for 60 metric tons of dates, 2007 fruit, for shipment to New York. • We are making you, subject to your acceptance reaching us not later than October 30, 2007, the following offer:
“60 metric tons of Shaanxi Dates, 2007 fruit, Handpicked and Ungraded at RMB?500 per metric ton CIF New York for shipment during November, 2007, with transhipment at Hong Kong. Other terms and conditions same as usual, with exception of insurance which will cover All Risks and War Risk for 110% of the total invoice value.” Since no direct steamer is available from here to New York, the parcel will have to be transhipped at Hong Kong. Please note that the additional cost from Hong Kong to New York is included in the quoted price. • As you may have been aware, there has been of late a large demand for dates of the quality you specify, and we are, therefore, unable to hold the offer open for too long. It is obvious that such a growing demand will result in increase of price, but you may profit by this advancing market if you let us have your acceptance immediately. There is, however, very little likelihood of the goods remaining unsold once this particular offer has lapsed. • We look forward to your early reply. • Yours sincerely,
Not even as I shook and trembled uncontrollably in the trenches, did I forget your face. I would sit huddled into the wet mud, terrified, as the hails of bullets and mortars crashed down around me. I would clutch my rifle tightly to my heart, and think again of that very first day we met. I would cry out in fear, as the noise of war beat down around me. But, as I thought of you and saw you smiling back at me, everything around me would be become silent, and I would be with you again for a few precious moments, far from the death and destruction. It would not be until I opened my eyes once again, that I would see and hear the carnage of the war around me. • 即使是当我在战壕中控制不住地颤抖,我也不曾忘记你的容颜。我蜷缩在稀泥中,身边是枪林弹雨,弥漫硝烟,我把步枪紧紧地攥在胸前,一颗惊恐不安的心,还是想起了我们初识的那一天。身旁战火呼啸,恐惧让我想要大声呼叫,直到想起你,仿佛见到你在我身后盈盈浅笑,战场忽然沉寂下来,在这珍贵的瞬间,我觉得自己暂时远离了毁灭和死亡,飞向你的身旁。我拼命想留住这美好,直到睁开眼,周围却依然是血与火的生死战场。
I cannot tell you how strong my love for you was back then, when I returned to you on leave in the September, feeling battered, bruised and fragile. We held each other so tight I thought we would burst. I asked you to marry me the very same day and I whooped with joy when you looked deep into my eyes and said "yes" to being my bride. • 九月休假回到你身边,我疲惫而脆弱,没能再告诉你战火纷飞时我对你的爱有多深。我们只能紧紧拥抱在一起,仿佛要把对方挤碎。也就在那天,面对我的求婚,你深深凝望我的眼睛,答应做我的新娘,而我早已欢喜地大喊大叫。
I'm looking at our wedding photo now, the one on our dressing table, next to your jewellery box. I think of how young and innocent we were back then. I remember being on the church steps grinning like a Cheshire cat, when you said how dashing and handsome I looked in my uniform. The photo is old and faded now, but when I look at it, I only see the bright vibrant colors of our youth. I can still remember every detail of the pretty wedding dress your mother made for you, with its fine delicate lace and pretty pearls. If I concentrate hard enough, I can smell the sweetness of your wedding bouquet as you held it so proudly for everyone to see. • 我现在正看着我们的结婚照片,总是放在妆台上的那张,就在你的首饰盒旁。那时候,我们多么年轻,多么纯真。我记得我们站在教堂的台阶上,开心得像一对甜蜜的鸳鸯,你还说我穿着制服多么英武俊朗。照片已经旧得泛黄了,但我看到的,却只有当年青春的明媚姿彩。我仍然记得你母亲为你做的那件新娘礼服,那些精致的花边和漂亮的珠饰。让我再想一想,我还能闻到那婚礼花束的甜香,你那么骄傲地捧着花,让每一个人分享你的幸福时光。
I remember being so over enjoyed, when a year later, you gently held my hand to your waist and whispered in my ear that we were going to be a family. I know both our children love you dearly; they are outside the door now, waiting. Do you remember how I panicked like a mad man when Jonathon was born? I can still picture you laughing and smiling at me now, as I clumsily held him for the very first time in my arms. I watched as your laughter faded into tears, as I stared at him and cried my own tears of joy. • 一年后,你轻轻地把我的手放到你的腹前,对着我的耳朵悄悄透露这个让我欣喜若狂的好消息:我们就快有宝宝啦。我知道我们的孩子都深深地爱你,他们现在就在门外等候。你还记得乔纳森出生的时候我那手足无措的慌张样子吗?当我笨拙地把他抱在怀里,我还记得你笑话我的样子,我看着他,我们都情不自禁地迸出了开心的泪花。
Sarah and Tom arrived this morning with little Tessie. Can you remember how we both hugged each other tightly when we saw our tiny granddaughter for the first time? I can't believe she will be eight next month. I am trying not to cry, my love, as I tell you how beautiful she looks today in her pretty dress and red shiny shoes, she reminds me so much of you that first day we met. She has her hair cut short now, just like yours was all those years ago. When I met her at the door her smile wrapped around me like a warm glove, just like yours used to do, my darling. • 今天早晨撒拉和汤姆带着小缇西也赶到了。你还记得吗?第一次看到这个可爱的小孙女,我俩高兴地紧紧拥抱。真让人难以相信,她下个月就八岁了。亲爱的,我不得不忍住眼泪告诉你,小家伙今天穿着漂亮的裙子,闪亮的红色小鞋,让我立刻想起当年相遇时的你,连她的短发也像极了年轻的你。当我在门口看到她的时候,她的笑容暖人心脾,这竟然也和你一模一样。
I know you are tired, my dear, and I must let you go. But I love you so much and it hurts to do so. As we grew old together, I would tease you that you had not changed since we first met. But it is true, my darling. I do not see the wrinkles and grey hair that other people see. When I look at you now, I only see your sweet tender lips and youthful sparkling eyes as we sat and had out first picnic next to that small stream, and chased each other around that big old oak tree. I remember wishing those first few days together would last forever. Do you remember how exciting and wonderful those days were? • 我明白,亲爱的,你累了,我应该让你离开。可是爱人即逝,孤侣何伤!这些年我们相濡以沫,白首到老,我总是逗你说你的容颜依然如昔。可这是真的,亲爱的,我真的见不到他人眼里的皱纹和白发。现在我望着你,也还是只能看到你娇嫩温柔的红唇和秋水流盼的眼眸,仿佛我们第一次在那条小溪边野餐,在那棵巨大的老橡树旁追逐嬉戏。那时候我们刚刚在一起,总是盼望那样的日子生生世世,你还记得吗?那些日子是多么激情荡漾,让人不忍回首……
I must go now, my darling. Our children are waiting outside. They want to say goodbye to you. I wipe the tears away from my eyes and bend my frail old legs down to the floor, so that I can kneel beside you. I lean close to you and take hold of your hand and kiss your tender lips for the very last time. Sleep peacefully my dear. I am sad that you had to leave me, but please don't worry. I am content, knowing I will be with you soon. I am too old and too empty now to live much longer without you. • 亲爱的,我应该走了。孩子们都等在外面,他们要和你道别。我擦去了眼角的泪,跪在你的身边,轻轻靠近你,握住你的双手,最后一次吻你。亲爱的,安心地睡吧。这分离扯碎了我的心。别担心,我很快就会来陪伴你。生死茫茫,尘世间没有你,这满腔的衷肠凭谁倾诉?这只影的寂寥复有何欢?
I know it won't be long before we meet again in that small cafe in Hanover Square. Goodbye, my darling wife. • 很快,我们就能在汉诺威广场的那间小咖啡馆里再相逢。再会了,我的爱妻。