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美国中文网
2024.8.8
泰戈尔诗译(7)
61.
Take my wine in my own cup, friend.
It loses its wreath of foam when poured into that of others.
在我自己的杯中饮我的酒吧,朋友。
一倒在别人的杯里,飞溅的泡沫就会消失。
译注
英语中常常有两个名词借助于of表示所属关系,也就是二者主客地位分明。而前者往往是表示后面名词属性特点的形容词名词形式。翻译时往往可以把前面以名词出现的、实质是形容词的名词,译成形容词来形容后面的名词,如果直译往往语义含糊。如本诗的It loses its wreath of foam,直译为:失去泡沫的飞溅。其实就是失去飞溅着的泡沫。另如随后第72首的开头In my solitude of heart,属于同一类型。详情请参阅第72首。
感言
自信是美酒,只有自己才知道它的滋味。
Self-confidence is fine wine. Only oneself knows its taste.
62.
The perfect decks itself in beauty for the love of the Imperfect.
完美为了向缺陷示爱,把自己打扮得花枝招展。
译注
The perfect完美和the Imperfect.不完美,互为反义词。但诗句不仅讲究词义对称,字数也最好对称,这样的句子写出来,看起来字句工整,读起来韵律和谐。因此将“不完美”用“缺陷”取而代之。如果严格按字面翻译,势必成为这样:完美为了向不完美示爱,这样的句子无论如何不如“完美为了向缺陷示爱”。
感言
克服缺陷使人完美;掩饰缺陷使人丑陋。
Overcoming weak points makes a person perfect; glossing over weak points makes a person ugly.
63.
God says to man, "I heal you therefore I hurt, love you therefore punish."
神对人说:“我医治你所以刺疼你,爱你所以惩罚你。”
译注
I heal you therefore I hurt,不能译成“我医治你所以伤害你”。这样的翻译,逻辑混乱,含义矛盾。医治与伤害不能成为主观意念的因果关系。没有医生给病人治病的目的是为了伤害人。Hurt 动词的第一个含义就是“刺疼”、“使人感到疼痛”等。说医生为了给人治病,有时必须采取使人感觉疼痛的办法,比如针灸,这样是合乎逻辑和常理的,也就可以说医生为了给病人医治,因此要刺疼他。
感言
苦药能治病,利刃能割疮。打是疼,骂是爱,难道也是神仙奉行的原则?
Bitter medicines can treat illness; sharp knives can cut sores. Beating is to dote; cursing is to love. Could is be said that this is also the principle followed by gods?
64.
Thank the flame for its light, but do not forget the lamp holder standing in the shade with constancy of patience.
因为光来感谢火焰,但不要忘记举灯人正以持久的耐心站在阴影中。
译注
Thank the flame for its light译成“为火焰的光来感谢火焰”,或者“为火焰的光向火焰表示谢意”这是字对字的直译,似乎有些?嗦。因此还可译成:“感谢火焰发出的光”。不过,这样翻译虽然通顺简洁,但意思却与原文略有出入,因为前者感谢的对象是火焰,后者感谢的对象则是光。
感言
灯前亮,灯下黑。
It is bright before the lamp; it is dark under the lamp.
65.
Tiny grass, your steps are small, but you possess the earth under your tread.
小草呀,你虽然纤纤细步,但你却拥有脚下的大地。
译注
Tiny grass, your steps are small中,把主tiny grass小草单独放在句首作为称谓用语,表明诗人是在和小草面对面的对话。字对字的直译就是:小草,你虽纤纤细步。但这样读起来,语气不连贯,不如在小草后添加一个“啊”字,读来倍感亲切生动。此外,your steps are small
还可以采取反义译法,就是不说“步子小”,而说“步子不大”。这样就可以翻译成:小草呀,你虽然并非大步流星,但你却拥有脚下的大地。这种译法的效果似乎并不算差。
感言
大树屹立悬崖,足踏方寸,但大树还是大树。小草站立大地,足踏万顷,但小草还是小草。
A big tree stands at the steep cliff with only a tiny place to support itself, but it is a big tree after all. A tiny grass stands on the vast earth with thousands upon thousands aches of land to support itself, yet it is a tiny grass after all.
66.
The infant flower opens its bud and cries, "Dear World, please do not fade."
小花蓓蕾初绽,它叫道:“亲爱的世界呀,请不要消失。”
译注
Fade,花可凋谢,世界非花非草,译成凋谢、凋萎欠妥,应是消失。
感言
担心世界会消失吗?杞人忧天。世界不会消失,因为它是永恒的。
Are you worried that the world will disappear? You are just like the man of Qi who was worried that the sky might fall anytime. The world will never disappear because it eternal.
67.
God grows weary of great kingdoms, but never of little flowers.
神对大帝国心生厌倦,但对小花儿却绝然不会。
译注
Weary,是厌倦,并非厌恶。厌恶 detest,含义过甚。
感言
大有大的可厌之处,小有小的可爱之处。
Greatness has its weak points warranting people detesting it. Smallness has its strong points warranting people loving it.
68.
Wrong cannot afford defeat but Right can.
谬误经不起失败,但真理却能。
译注
Right can译成“真理却能。”戛然而止,效果极佳。
感言
真理在谬误和失败的烈火中获得永生。
Truth enjoys its eternal life within raging flames of mistakes and defeats.
69.
I give my whole water in joy, sings the waterfall, though little of it is enough for the thirsty.
我高兴地献出自己全部的水,瀑布唱道,虽然对干渴者来说少许的水就已足够。
译注
这是不折不扣的一对一的直译法。诗人在这里把唱歌者,亦即句子的主语,当作插入语使用,不仅句式显得灵活,更主要的是把歌唱的核心内容突出到极致,以彰显自己的高贵品格。
当然还以灵活翻译成:瀑布唱道:少许的水对干渴者便已足够,但我却将自己全部的水欣然献出。
感言
瀑布居高临下,所以滔滔不绝。
Be at a commanding position, waterfall has an unfailing supply of water.
70.
Where is the fountain that throws up these flowers in a ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy?
突然一阵持续的欣喜若狂,将这些花儿往上抛撒的泉儿,究竟在哪里?
译注
A ceaseless outbreak of ecstasy,不应忽略ceaseless,持续不停、无休无止的意思。
花儿,泉儿,因为是诗,加儿化韵,读起来轻灵爽口。
感言
水花是泉的泪花, 是悲是喜,只有泉知道。
Sprays are the tears of the fountain. It is sorrow or happiness, only fountain knows.