中国文学英译絮谈

沙枫

《儒林外史》一段两英译

《儒林外史》这一部长篇小说，有杨宪益夫妇的英译。

翟氏父子（Chu Chai and Winberg Chai）参考了杨氏夫妇的英译本，节译了第五十一回一部分，刊于《学思文粹》一书里。先抄原文一段：

这时正是四月初旬，天气温和，五个人都穿着单衣，出了汉西门来叫船，打点一直到浙江去。叫遍了，总没有一只杭州船，只得叫船先到苏州。到了苏州，凤四老爹打发清了船钱，才换了杭州船，这只船比南京叫的却大着一半。

写来是交待得清清楚楚的。

且先介绍杨氏夫妇的英译：

Since it was the beginning of the fourth month and the weather was warm, all five of them were wearing unlined clothes. Leaving Nanking by the West Gate, they searched for a long time for a boat to Chekiang; but they could not find a single boat to Hangchow, and had to board one for Soochow instead. At Soochow Feng paid the fare, and they changed for a junk to Hangchow which was half as large again as the Nanking boat.

翟氏父子的英译是这样：

It was the early part of the fourth moon, and the weather was warm and mild. Mr. Feng the Fourth (also known as Feng Ming-chi, champion of the unfortunate) and his companions were wearing unlined clothes. When they came out of the West Gate, they made many inquiries for a boat to Chejiang, but they could not find a single boat to Hangchow.

They had to board one bound for Soochow instead. At Soochow, Feng paid the fare, and they changed to junk to Hangchow, which was larger by half than the boat they had taken at Nanking.

两种英译都是老老实实，清楚易懂的。