中国文学英译絮谈

沙枫

《归去来辞》的英译

《归去来辞》有几种英译，原文太长，现试介绍第一段的三种译法，作为参考。原文为：

“归去来兮！田园将芜，胡不归？既自以心为形役，奚惆怅而独悲！”

耿亮的译文如下：

Let's go back! My garden and fields are growing waste; and why should I not go back? Since I have made my soul sevant to my body; why should I be regretful and lament?

林语堂的译文如下：

Ah, homeward bound I go! Why not go home, seeing that my field and garden with weeds are overgrown? Myself have made my sould serf to my body; why have vain regrets and mourn alone?

Henry Bain 的译文如下：

Homewards I bend my steps. My fields, my garden, will be closed with weeds; should I not go home? As I could not help leading my soul a bondsman's life, why should I remain to pine?

陶渊明的《归去来辞》，是有序的，但一些如《古文评注》的选集，都只选辞，而不加序。兹抄录其序如下：

“（编者省略其后内容）

••••••

因事顺心，命篇曰《归去来辞》，乙已岁十一月也。”

“乙已岁十一月也”，乙已为晋义熙元年（公元405年），其时陶渊明年四十一岁。陶渊明享年六十三岁。