折柳是唐诗里经典的文化符号,柳谐音“留”,折柳相赠,道尽惜别不舍。古人扬帆出海,更是远赴天涯、前路茫茫,离别之意愈发深沉。十六首咏柳送别的唐诗,承载独属于东方的离愁别绪与人文,经信达雅的英文转译,让东方诗意跨越语言壁垒,在异域语境中绽放独有的光彩。
笔者秉承许渊冲大师提出的“三美论”,即“意美”(传达原诗的意境、情感与深层内涵);“音美”(讲究译文的韵律、节奏和押韵,使之悦耳);“形美”(保持句式的长短、对仗等视觉形式)。坚持“以诗译诗”,而非逐字逐句一一对应直译,在保持原意的基础上,适当跳出束缚,让英文流畅、押韵、典雅、优美、朗朗上口。
下文全部诗作均含杨柳意象,统一文化注解如下:
Note: 1) "Willow" is a homophone of"stay", symbolizing a wish to stay; 2) "Folding Willow" isa Yuefu flute song of parting, inherently carrying the sentiment ofhomesickness and separation.
1、《送别》
唐·王之涣
杨柳东风树,青青夹御河。
近来攀折苦,应为别离多。
Farewell
By Wang Zhihuan (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
East winds caress the willow trees so fair,
Their fresh green lines the royal river there.
The boughs are bruised from constant plucking swirled,
It's just for there are countless partings in the world.
2、《劳劳亭》
唐·李白
天下伤心处,劳劳送客亭。
春风知别苦,不遣柳条青。
The Laolao Pavilion
By Li Bai (TangDynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
Where lies the saddest place beneath the sky?
'Tis the Laolao Pavilion where fond goodbyes draw nigh.
The vernal wind knows parting's bitter scene,
So it is reluctant to hasten the willow twigs to turngreen.
3、《宣城送刘副使入秦》(摘句)
唐·李白
此别又千里,秦吴渺天涯。
月明关山苦,水剧陇头悲。
借问几时还,春风入黄池。
无令长相忆,折断绿杨枝。
Sending Vice Envoy Liu to Qin from Xuancheng(Excerpt)
Li Bai (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
This parting stretches forth a thousand li once more,
Qin and Wu lie far apart, two shores heaven’s vast floor.
O’ermoonlit passes winds bear wanderers’weary pain,
Raging streams by Long Ridge swell the traveller’s mournful strain.
When shall you come back home, I beg and ask of thee?
Spring winds shall sweep through Yellow Pool so merrily.
Do not leave me yearning endless days,
Lest all green willow sprigs be plucked away.
4、《折杨柳》
唐·杨巨源
水边杨柳曲尘丝,立马烦君折一枝。
惟有春风最相惜,殷勤更向手中吹。
Plucking a Willow Branch
By Yang Juyuan (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
By waterside the willows hang pale gold,
I halt my steed and beg a twig to hold.
None but the vernal wind doth cherish deep,
And fondly breathes the twig within my keep.
5、《青门柳》
唐·白居易
青青一树伤心色,曾入几人离恨中。
为近都门多送别,长条折尽减春风。
Willows by the Green Gate
By Bai Juyi (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
A tree of green, steeped in a mournful hue,
To countless souls its parting grief imbues.
Near the city gate where farewells still abide,
Boughs all plucked bare —then spring breezes subside.
6、《离亭赋得折杨柳二首》
唐·李商隐
其一
暂凭樽酒送无憀,莫损愁眉与细腰。
人世死前唯有别,春风争拟惜长条。
其二
含烟惹雾每依依,万绪千条拂落晖。
为报行人休尽折,半留相送半迎归。
To Pluck Willow Branches at the Farewell Pavilion (TwoPoems)
By Li Shangyin (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
Poem One
I lift the cup to ease my weary grief awhile,
Spoil not these willow brows, their slender waiflikestyle.
Of all man’swoes before life’sfinal breath, parting stings most severe;
How could soft spring wind spare these long droopingbranches dear?
Poem Two
Veiled in mist, wreathed in haze, the boughs clingtender low,
Ten thousand strands sweep slow against the sunset’s glow.
Tell travelers, do not pluck every sprig away;
Leave half to bid depart, half greet the ones whostray.
7、《途中寄李二》
唐·李益
杨柳含烟灞岸春,年年攀折为行人。
好风若借低枝便,莫遣青丝扫路尘。
To Li Er on the Road
By Li Yi (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
Mist veils willows on Ba Bridge shore in spring's flow,
Year after year men break boughs for folks who go.
If gentle winds bend low soft sprigs for me to take,
Let not green threads sweep up the dusty travel wake.
8、《杨柳枝词·其八》
唐·刘禹锡
城外春风吹酒旗,行人挥袂日西时。
长安陌上无穷树,唯有垂杨绾别离。
Willow Branch Song (VIII)
By Liu Yuxi (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
Beyond the town wall, spring winds stir the tavernsign,
Wayfarers wave their sleeves as sun dips in the sky.
On Chang'an roads stand trees in endless line—
Only weeping willows knot parting's twine.
9、《送元二使安西》
唐·王维
渭城朝雨浥轻尘,客舍青青柳色新。
劝君更尽一杯酒,西出阳关无故人。
Farewell to Yuan the Second on His Mission to Anxi
By Wang Wei (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
Morning rain in Weicheng Town wets the light dustclean;
The inn's fresh willows show a vernal green.
I urge you, friend, to drink one more cup of wine —
West of Yangguan Pass no old friend of thine.
10、 《蓟北旅思》
唐·张籍
日日望乡国,空歌白苎词。
客亭门外柳,折尽向南枝。
Thoughts in a Northern Journey
By Zhang Ji (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
Day after day I gaze for homeland far away,
I chant white-hemp lays, yet grief will not allay.
By hostel gate the swaying willows stay;
All southward twigs are broken bare today.
11、《淮上与友人别》
唐·郑谷
扬子江头杨柳春,杨花愁杀渡江人。
数声风笛离亭晚,君向潇湘我向秦。
Parting at River Huai
By Zheng Gu (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
At Yangzi's head spring willows gently sway,
Soft floating catkins steep the soul in grief's gray.
From parting pavilion flute notes ring at night;
To Xiaoxiang you go, I turn for Qin — each takes his flight.
12、《堤上柳》
唐·戴叔伦
垂柳万条丝,春来织别离。
行人攀折处,闺妾断肠时。
Willows on the Dyke
By Dai Shulun (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
Myriad willow strands hang low and trail,
Spring weaves fond partings through the misty veil.
Where travelers pluck and break the bough,
Her heartstrings snap and sink in endless woe now.
13、《杨柳枝》
唐·薛能
和花烟树九重城,带雾含风近御营。
应有旧枝无觅处,万条风里卓旌旃
Willow Branches
By Xue Neng (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
Flowers blend with mist-shrouded trees round theimperial wall,
Hazed boughs breathe wind close to the royal camp hall.
Old willow sprigs of yore no eye can trace or find,
Ten thousand strands stand tall like banners in thewind.
14、《苦别离》
唐·邵谒
朝看相送人,暮看相送人。
若遣折杨柳,此地树无根。
Bitter Parting
By Shao Ye (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
At dawn I watch them part with rue,
At dusk I watch them part anew.
If all who part must pluck a willow bough,
Uprooting has left nothing in this ground by now.
15、唐·李白《春夜洛城闻笛》
谁家玉笛暗飞声,散入春风满洛城。
此夜曲中闻折柳,何人不起故园情。
Hearing the Flute in Luoyang on a Spring Night
By Li Bai (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
From whose jade flute the notes in silence rise?
They drift with vernal winds through Luoyang's skies.
The tune of Willow Plucking meets my ear tonight;
Who would not yearn for hometown, filled with tenderplight?
16、唐·杜牧《柳》
数树新开翠影齐,倚风情态被春迷。
依依故国樊川恨,半掩村桥半掩溪。
Willows
By Du Mu (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
New willows stand in rows with verdant grace,
Swaying in breeze, enchanted by spring's embrace.
They share my grief for homeland far away;
O'er bridge and stream their twigs gently stray.
诗歌翻译不应止于字面意义的“对等转换”,本辑摒弃散文式直译,“宁愿破字求神”(打破字词对应),而努力使译文本身成为一首首符合英语审美规范的诗,重在再现原诗的艺术效果和美感体验,而非机械复制原文的语法结构。目标是追求译文读者能获得与原文读者相似的审美反应(即“知之、好之、乐之”——语出许渊冲翻译三境界)。
当然,因水平有限,译作仍存在不足,敬请方家不吝赐教。笔者愿尽绵薄之力,为中华文化对外传播、消解跨文化传播中的“文化折扣”倾尽心力。
综上,一枝杨柳,一脉诗情。这些凝练隽永的译笔,完整留存原作意境与文化底蕴。古典折柳意象挣脱地域束缚,声声别绪流转于不同语言之间。唐诗之美、离别之思跨越山海,在世界文学长河里久久回响,生生不息。(王永利)
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