水调歌头·明月几时有
苏轼原作:
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。
英文译作:
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!
在此,小编不得不感叹一句,中文实在博大精深,其精妙之处断不是其他语言可以翻译出的。虽然林语堂先生实为大师级别,但也无法还原中文的意境。因此,小编一直都认为中国人很少有人拿到诺贝尔文学奖也是有原因的——没有一种语言可以复刻中国文字的韵味和灵魂!
话又说远了,但是如果在四级考试中,你能将“人有悲欢离合,月有阴晴圆缺”写成英文的'模样"The moon does wax, the moon does wane, and so men meet and say goodbye.(引用林老的翻译)",想必阅卷老师对你的印象一定增分不少呢!