中国文学英译絮谈

沙枫

《红楼梦》中一些灯谜的英译

《红楼梦》第二十二回“制灯迷贾政悲谶语”中，有灯谜多则。王际真翻译《红楼梦》，只译了其中几则，后来把这些灯谜译全了。

例如，贾宝玉的灯谜，四句话十六个字，是这样的：

“南面而坐，北面而朝，像忧亦忧，像喜亦喜。——打一用物”

这一用物，当是“镜子”。

王际真未译，Hawkes 则译成如此：

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

——A useful object

译得蛮不错。

又如探春出的：

“阶下儿童仰面时，清明妆点最堪宜。
游丝一断浑无力，莫向东风怨别离。
——打一玩物”

这一玩物，当是“风筝”。

王际真的英译是这样：

'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 的译文则是这样：

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.

后者译来押韵，而且通俗。

又元妃出的灯谜：

“能使妖魔胆尽摧，身如束帛气如雷。
一声震得人方恐，回首相看已化灰。
——打一玩物”

这一玩物，自是“爆竹”。

王际真的英译是这样：

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 的译文是这样：

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.

“灯谜”的英译是“lantern riddle”。