诗苑｜苏轼《水调歌头》，英译五版共赏

水调歌头【宋】苏轼 丙辰中秋，欢饮达旦，大醉，作此篇，兼怀子由。
　　明月几时有，把酒问青天。不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年。我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒。起舞弄清影，何似在人间。
　　转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。不应有恨，何事长向别时圆？人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

各版英译

1

许渊冲

The Midautumn Festival

Tune: "Prelude to Water Melody"

How long will the full moon appear?

Wine cup in hand, I ask the sky.

I do not know what time of the year

It would be tonight in the palace on high.

Riding the wind, there I would fly,

Yet I'm afraid the crystalline palace would be

Too high and cold for me.

I rise and dance, with my shadow I play.

On high as on earth, would it be as gay?

The moon goes round the mansions red

Through gauze-draped window soft to shed

Her light upon the sleepless bed.

Why then when people part, is the oft full and bright?

Men have sorrow and joy; they part or meet again;

The moon is bright or dim and she may wax or wane.

There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.

So let us wish that man

Will live long as he can!

Though miles apart, we'll share the beauty she displays.

2

林语堂

How rare the moon, so round and clear!

With cup in hand, I ask of the blue sky,

"I do not know in the celestial sphere

What name this festive night goes by?"

I want to fly home, riding the air,

But fear the ethereal cold up there,

The jade and crystal mansions are so high!

Dancing to my shadow,

I feel no longer the mortal tie.

She rounds the vermilion tower,

Stoops to silk-pad doors,

Shines on those who sleepless lie.

Why does she, bearing us no grudge,

Shine upon our parting, reunion deny?

But rare is perfect happiness--

The moon does wax, the moon does wane,

And so men meet and say goodbye.

I only pray our life be long,

And our souls together heavenward fly!

3

龚景浩

Prelude to Water Ripple

（Song）Su Shi

"When shall we have a bright moon? "

Holding up a wine cup I queried the Blue Heaven:

"Tell me, in the celestial palace up so high

What year in its annals is tonight. "

I'd like to ride the wind and go there

But was afraid it would be too cold up on high

In rose to my feet and danced with my own shadow.

'Twas not too bad down here!

The moon turned round the vermilion penthouse,

Casting its beams down through the lattice windows

And shining on the sleepless.

It need not evoke sadness, you know,

But why is it always so bright when the loved one’s away?

We all have joys and sorrows, partings and re-unions.

The moon, it's phases of resplendence,

Waxings and wanings—

Nothing in this world is ever perfect.

I wish a long life to us all.

Then ,however far apart we are

We'd still be sharing the same enchanting moonlight.

4

朱曼华

Watery-Prelude-Melody

by Su Shi (1036-1101)

In the Chinese Moon Festival, (the 15th day of the 8th Lunar Month), 1077, I fuddled my cap until dawn and wrote this while thinking of my brother Zi Youh.

How many times will the full moon rise?

Upholding a cup of wine, I ask the blue sky.

Tonight I wonder which year is passing by

In the heavenly paradise.

With the wind, I’d like to go there;

I’m afraid it’s too cold in the sky

With the jade-palace being too high.

Dancing to play with a cool shadow

Is analogous to our human world?

The moonlight is over my red corridor,

Looking at my gorgeous door;

Why I’m sleepless, I wonder.

Don’t blame on the moon any more;

Why does it turn full when we are farewell?

Man will vary with vicissitudes of life

The full moon alternates the crescent, rain or shine.

Nothing has been perfect since the ancient time.

However, may you live a long life;

The moon we share across 1000 miles.

5

Shun-Yi Lee

Thinking of You

When will the moon be clear and bright?

With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the blue sky.

I don't know what season it would be in the heavens on this night.

I'd like to ride the wind to fly home.

Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions are much too high and cold for me.

Dancing with my moon-lit shadow

It does not seem like the human world

The moon rounds the red mansion Stoops to silk-pad doors

Shines upon the sleepless Bearing no grudge

Why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?

People may have sorrow or joy, be near or far apart

The moon may be dim or bright, wax or wane

This has been going on since the beginning of time

May we all be blessed with longevity

Though far apart,

We are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.

文拓视野 译悦心灵

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