“清明”译话《清明》——25个平行英译本
编者按
清明节又名踏青节，在仲春与暮春之交，是中华民族的传统节日，大约始于周代，距今已有二千五百多年的历史。作为最重要的祭祀节日之一，这一天人们会带着亲人去扫墓、祭祖。此外，清明亦是一种节气的名称，据《历书》记载：“春分后十五日，斗指丁，为清明，时万物皆洁齐而清明，盖时当气清景明，万物皆显，因此得名。” 可见，清明时节一到，大地气温便升高，正是春耕、植树、春游踏青的大好时节。
正值清明节之际，上海语言学通讯与林苑两大公众号合作，与大家分享杜牧的七绝《清明》，历来广为传诵。该诗着重刻画了清明时节在绵绵春雨中祭祀的行人神态以及诗人春游踏青的心境，场景色彩清淡，心境先愁后喜。首句交代环境、烘托气氛；次句刻画人物，突出其凄乱之心境；三句笔锋一转，以借问形式来间接地反映了诗人想摆脱凄冷的迫切心境；尾句写牧童以肢体语言作答，为全诗之精妙所在。可见，诗人运用了由低到高、逐步上升、置高潮于尾句的诗技，音韵由悲转喜，余韵邈然，耐人寻味。
另外小编亦收集到了25个英译本，按收集获取时间先后排序，不分优劣。译者分别为许景城，杨宪益、戴乃迭，许渊冲、许明，赵彦春，吴钧陶，孙大雨，蔡廷干，万昌盛、王僴中，吴伟雄，徐忠杰，龚景浩，曹顺发，丁祖馨，任治稷、余正，唐一鹤，黃宏发，黄新渠 ，托尼·巴恩斯通、周平，林建民，邢全臣，都森、陈玉筠，王力伟，赵甄陶，陈君朴，佚名（维基百科）。以飨读者，可供课堂教学及相关学术研究。各位译者英译文化负载词“清明”上采用的策略不尽相同，大体上归为音译（比如徐忠杰，丁祖馨，任治稷、余正，黃宏发，托尼·巴恩斯通、周平，林建民 ，都森、陈玉筠，陈君朴 ，佚名（维基百科）的译本）、直译（比如赵彦春，吴钧陶，孙大雨，龚景浩，唐一鹤，邢全臣，王力伟 ，赵甄陶 ）、意译（许景城，杨宪益、戴乃迭，许渊冲、许明，万昌盛、王僴中，吴伟雄，曹顺发）。蔡廷干别具一格地将“清明节”译为All Souls' Day，化用了西方国家“万圣节”的英文表达“All Saints' Day”。在英译“雨纷纷”、“断魂”、“牧童”、“遥指”、“杏花村”时，译文各有千秋。此外，在形式和押韵格式上，25个译本大体上有韵体（aaba，aabb，aabc）和散文体。具体细节处，望读者自赏自析。
清明时节雨纷纷，
路上行人欲断魂。
借问酒家何处有，
牧童遥指杏花村。
Tomb Sweeping Day
By Du Mu
Tr. Peter Jingcheng Xu (许景城 译)
Tomb Sweeping Day sees drizzles running ‘n flying,
and hearts lost in gloom, mourners on paths crying.
‘Any tavern near and far?’ I ask a boy,
who points to Almond Bloom Vill beyond eyeing.
In the Raining Season of Spring
By Du Mu
杨宪益、戴乃迭 译
It drizzles endless during the rainy season in spring,
Travelers along the road look gloomy and miserable.
When I ask a shepherd boy where I can find a tavern,
He points at a distant hamlet nestling amidst apricot blossoms.
选自：古诗苑汉英译丛《唐诗》，外文出版社，2001。《英语世界》2016-04-04、《21世纪英文报》2015-04-05 及http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
The Mourning Day
By Du Mu
许渊冲、许明 译
A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day(1);
The mourner's heart is going to break on his way.
Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?
A cowherd points to a cot 'mid apricot flowers.
注：(1) The Mourning Day begins by a drizzling rain and ends by the mourner’s sorrow in wine. This quatrain enjoys great popularity in China.
选自：《英语世界》2016-04-04、《21世纪英文报》2015-04-05 及http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
Pure Brightness Day
By Du Mu
Tr. Zhao Yanchun
赵彦春 译
The rain rustles on at Pure Brightness Day；
The traveler's tired, his soul in dismay.
Where is a tavern? He asks a shepherd,
Who points to Apricot Bloom faraway.
选自：Translating China Forum, 2015-4-4
The Pure Brightness Day
By Du Mu
吴钧陶 译
It drizzles thick and fast on the Pure Brightness Day,
I travel with my heart lost in dismay.
"Is there a public house somewhere, cowboy?"
He points at Apricot Village faraway.
选自：《英语世界》2016-04-04、《21世纪英文报》2015-04-05 及http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
The Clear-and-Bright Feast
By Du Mu
孙大雨 译
Upon the Clear-and-Bright Feast of spring, the rain drizzleth down in spray.
Pedestrians on countryside ways, in gloom are pinning away.
When asked "Where a tavern fair for rest, is hereabouts to be found",
The shepherd boy the Apricot Bloom Vill, doth point to afar and say.
选自：孙大雨，《古诗文英译集》，上海外语教育出版社，1997、《英语世界》2016-04-04、《21世纪英文报》2015-04-05 及http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
All Souls’ Day
By Du Mu
蔡廷干 译
The rain falls thick and fast on All Souls' Day,
The men and women sadly move along the way.
They ask where wineshops can be found or where to rest,
And there the herdboy's fingers Almond-Town suggest.
选自：蔡廷干 （《唐诗精品百首英译》，湖北教育出版社，1994）、《英语世界》2016-04-04、《21世纪英文报》2015-04-05 及http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
The Tomb-visiting Day
By Du Mu
万昌盛、王僴中 译
The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day,
So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.
When asked where could be found a tavern bower,
A cowboy points to yonder village of the apricot flower.
选自：《中国古诗一百首》，大象出版社，1999。《英语世界》2016-04-04、《21世纪英文报》2015-04-05 及http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
The Mourning Day
By Du Mu
吴伟雄 译
It drizzles thick and fast on the Mourning Day,
The mourner's heart is going to break on his way.
When asked for a wineshop to drown his sad hours?
A cowboy points to a hamlet amid apricot flowers.
选自：《英语世界》2016-04-04、《21世纪英文报》2015-04-05 及http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
The Qingming Festival
By Du Mu
徐忠杰 译
During the Qing-ming Festival,
Is daily continual rain.
People, going to the country,
Form an almost unbroken train.
“Is there a wine shop hereabouts?”
We enquire of a peasant lad.
“Apricot Flower Village yonder,
Is a shop where wine can be had.”
选自：http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
The Day of Clear and Bright1
By Du Mu
龚景浩 译
’Round clear and bright showers are so frequent;
Wayfarers on the road feel despondent.
“Tell me, Buffalo Boy, is there a tavern somewhere?”
The lad pointed to a hamlet with blossoming apricot trees way down the road.
Note: (1) Day of Clear and Bright: The first day of the fifth solar term according to the Chinese lunar calendar; a day devoted to visiting ancestors’ graves.
选自：http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
The Mourning Day
By Du Mu
曹顺发 译
A fine rain falls on the tomb-sweeping day,
All mourners are heartbroken on their way.
“A wine shop to rid my sorrow, but where?”
A cowherd points Apricot Cot “O’er there”.
选自：http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
Qingming Festival1
By Du Mu
丁祖馨 译
Qingming rains never seem to end.
The traveler along this road is overcome by dejection.
“Where can I find a tavern?”
“Apricot Village, way down the road,”
A cow boy replies pointing his finger.
注：1. Qingming festival –a Chinese festival which falls in early April.
选自：http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
Qingming Festival
By Du Mu
任治稷、余正 译
Qingming season1 nonstop misty rain,
People look miserable along the way.
Tell me if there is a tavern around here,
Shepherd boy fingers Villa Apricot over there.
Note: 1. The day of the Qingming Festival marking the fifth of the 24 Solar Terms, traditionally observed as a festive occasion for family reunion and paying homage to ancestral graves by sweeping and trimming the surroundings of the grave, a.k.a. Grave Sweeping.
选自：http://www.en84.com/dianji/shi/201504/00000608.html
Pure Brightness (Qing Ming) Festival
By Du Mu
唐一鹤 译
It’s drizzling thickly and profusely
On the Pure Brightness Day.
Away farer is overwhelmed with sorrows
On his way.
“Excuse me, can you tell me
Where to find a wineshop in the village?”
“Over there,” the shepherd boy pointing to
The distant Apricot Blossoms Village.
选自：唐一鹤（《英译唐诗三百首》，天津人民出版社,2005）、http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_48670cb201017iei.html
Qingming
Du Mu (803-852)
Translated by Andrew W.F. Wong (Huang Hongfa)
譯者: 黃宏發
It is Qingming, early April, a season of mizzles and gloom,
Away from home, a wayfarer, faring into gloom and doom.
O where can be found a tavern, my good lad, if I may ask?
There! points the herd-boy to a village where apricots bloom.
Notes:
* This English rendition is in hexameter (6 metrical feet) while the original is in 7-character lines. The rhyme scheme is AABA as in the original.
* Title and line 1: “Qingming” 清明 is a Chinese festival (for family reunion and visiting ancestral graves) which falls on the 5th (occasionally 4th or 6th) of April. I have, therefore, included “the Fifth of April” in both the title and line 1. I had considered dropping “Qingming” altogether from line 1, e.g. “’Tis again the Fifth of April” or “’Tis again early April”, but have decided otherwise. Revised 5.4.2013: I have now decided for "It is Qingming, early April" and "Qingming, Early April" for the title.
* Lines 1 and 2: The word “season” 時節 in line 1 refers to a period of time around the festival day, e.g. Christmas season, and does not mean one of the four seasons.
In line 1, I have added the word “gloom” obviously for the rhyme, but can also be justified as giving notice to and reinforcing “gloom and doom” in line 2 which translates 斷魂 (dispirited). I had used “I’m soaked/steeped in” and “I’m, alas, in” to translate 欲 (which means “on the verge of” or “about to”, and not “wish/desire/want”), but have decided for just “faring into” without “I’m”..
* Line 3: I had used “Oh, where can be found (can I find) a tavern, my despondent (dampened) spirits to lift?”, “Where, oh, where, I wonder, can a tavern somehow be found?”, and “Where, oh, where, I wonder, can a tavern be found? I ask.”, but have now decided for “Oh, where can be found a tavern, my good lad, if I may ask?” with “if I may ask” to translate 借問 and “good lad” added to pave the way for the herd-boy in line 4. Revised 5.4.13: I have revised "Oh, where" to read "O where".
* Line 4: I had considered “Thither” and “Yonder” but have decided for “There” which, though not closest to 遙 (far), suffices and which rhymes with “where” in line 3 (perhaps also line 4). I had considered “says”, but have decided to use the literal “points” to translate 指. Revised 5.4.2013: I have deleted the second comma and changed the first to an exclamation mark.
选自：http://chinesepoemsinenglish.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/du-mu-qingming-fifth-of-april.html
Qingming Day
黄新渠 译
As the Qingming Festival comes around,
Thick and fast, the rain is falling down.
On the way to the graveyard to pay homage.
I visit my deceased with a broken heart.
Where may i find a wineshop to kill my sorrow?
A cowboy the way to Apricot Flowers Village shows.
选自：《译海浪花 黄新渠译文译诗选集》，四川民族出版，2004、http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4bcdf1ee0102vjbd.html
On Pure Bright Day
托尼·巴恩斯通、周平合译
Pure bright Season comes with fine fast drizzle
and travelers on the road feel their souls sliced off.
Please tell me where I can find a wine shop?
A cowherd boy points to distant Apricot Blooming Village.
选自：AnchorBook of Chinese Poetry，Random House http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4bcdf1ee0102vjbd.html
Ching Ming Festival
林建民 译
Continuous drizzle on Ching Ming Death Festival days
Pedestrians on the roads seemed to be losing balance
When I try to inquire the whereabout of an alehouse
The cowherd points at distant Apricot Flower Village
选自：《中国古诗英译-整齐美集》，艺联出版社，1990、http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4bcdf1ee0102vjbd.html
Pure Brightness Festival
邢全臣 译
Around the Pure Brightness Day it drizzles quite often,
Men on the way to mourning the dead seem heart-broken.
"Where," may I ask, "to find an inn to drown my grievance"?
The herd boy points to Apricot Hamlet in the distance.
选自：《用英语欣赏国粹》，科学出版社，2010、http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4bcdf1ee0102vjbd.html
The Qingming Festival
都森、陈玉筠 译
In these memorial days, annoying drizzle falls;
Mouners en route feel the pain in their hearts.
Is there any wine shop around here, please?
A cowkid points at a faraway Village Apricots.
选自：《古韵新声》，华中科技大，2013、http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4bcdf1ee0102vjbd.html
Pure Brightness
王力伟译
The rain patters in the term of Pure Brightness
Passengers along the roads are all of unhappiness
I ask where a wineshop is
The shepherd boy points to Xinghua Village
选自：《汉英古诗100首》，花山文艺，2002、
Clear-Bright Day
赵甄陶 译
It's raining very hard on Clear-Bright Day;
The traveler's heart is surely wrung on the way.
"Please, where d'you know of a tavern's waysidecot?"
The cowboy points to flowers of the apricot.
选自：《中国诗词精选英译》，湖南师范大学出版社，2001、
The Qingming Festival
陈君朴译
On the Qingming Day, rain is falling uninterrupted,
And the wayfarer is more than ever broken-hearted;
"Is there any wine shop hereabouts?" A buffalo boy
Points to a distant village where apricots are spotted.
选自：《汉英对照唐诗绝句150首》，上海大学出版，2007、
Qingming Festival
佚名译
On day of Qingming Festival, a drizzly rain falls.
On the road, the traveller, disconsolate.
Enquiring, where can a restaurant be found?
A cowherd boy points, far away, to Apricot Blossom Village.
选自：https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du_Mu
（文章来自公众号“上海语言学通讯”，按语和音频由上海语言学通讯和林苑联袂制作）