中國(guó)文學(xué)英譯絮談

沙楓

《紅樓夢(mèng)》中一些燈謎的英譯

《紅樓夢(mèng)》第二十二回“制燈迷賈政悲讖語”中，有燈謎多則。王際真翻譯《紅樓夢(mèng)》，只譯了其中幾則，后來把這些燈謎譯全了。

例如，賈寶玉的燈謎，四句話十六個(gè)字，是這樣的：

“南面而坐，北面而朝，像憂亦憂，像喜亦喜。——打一用物”

這一用物，當(dāng)是“鏡子”。

王際真未譯，Hawkes 則譯成如此：

Southward you stare,
He'll northward glare.
Grieve, and he's sad,
Laugh, and he's glad.

——A useful object

譯得蠻不錯(cuò)。

又如探春出的：

“階下兒童仰面時(shí)，清明妝點(diǎn)最堪宜。
游絲一斷渾無力，莫向東風(fēng)怨別離。
——打一玩物”

這一玩物，當(dāng)是“風(fēng)箏”。

王際真的英譯是這樣：

'Tis the season when children's faces are turned toward the sky,
Where it forms a fitting decoration.
But when the gossamer thread breaks and lets it drift
It must not complain of its uncertain fate.

Hawkes 的譯文則是這樣：

In spring the little boys look up and stare
To see me slide so proudly in the air.
My strength all goes when once the bond is parted,
And on the wind I drift off broken-hearted.

后者譯來押韻，而且通俗。

又元妃出的燈謎：

“能使妖魔膽盡摧，身如束帛氣如雷。
一聲震得人方恐，回首相看已化灰。
——打一玩物”

這一玩物，自是“爆竹”。

王際真的英譯是這樣：

It puts to flight all manner of evil spirits,
For though silent-bodied, it has a voice like thunder.
But before its sound has ceased ringing in one's ears
It has already turned into ash.

Hawkes 的譯文是這樣：

At my coming the devils turn pallid with wonder.
My body's all folds and my voice is like thunder.
When, alarmed by the sound of my thunderous crash.
You look round, I have already turned into ash.

“燈謎”的英譯是“l(fā)antern riddle”。

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