Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:
And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught
The Sultán's Turret in a Noose of Light.
一版其一(四版其一)
夜天如碗日如璆,星斗纷纷避一投。又见东君呼梦醒,金光长索撼宫楼。
○碗:碗也。《吴志·廿宁传》:“孙权特赐米酒众殽,宁先以银碗酌酒,自饮两碗。”璆:与球同,美玉也。此作玉球用。○东君:洪兴祖《楚辞补注》:“东君,日也。《汉书·郊祀志》有东君。”○原文云:“觉矣!晨掷玉球于夜天之碗,迫星斗尽飞散也。观乎!东君之猎也,抛金光之长索,弋苏丹之高塔。”Dreaming when Dawn's Left Hand was in the Sky
I heard a Voice within the Tavern cry,
"Awake, my Little ones, and fill the Cup
Before Life's Liquor in its Cup be dry."
一版其二(四版其二)
客舍旅人惊梦时,一声高唤破初曦。郎今不饮将何待?转眼徒为朝露悲。
○初曦:天之始光也。孙嵩《立春日》:“残冬初曦巧弄频。”○朝露:汉乐府《长歌行》:“青青园中葵,朝露待日晞。”秦嘉《赠妇诗三首》其一:“人生譬朝露,居世多屯蹇。”○黄克孙译文即用此本,曰:“一抹朝暾染四埵,隔门客舍语依稀:‘生涯莫放金尊懒,人易凋零酒易晞’。”Woke—and a thousand scatter'd into Clay:
And this first Summer Month that brings the Rose
Shall take Jamshýd and Kaikobád away.
一版其八(四版其九)
不辞看尽万花红,顷刻风飘到土中。万点如尘君那见,只随春殉古英雄。
○风飘:杜甫《曲江二首》其一:“一片花飞减却春,风飘万点正愁人。”○四版之更易甚少,译文则重命意也。Of Kaikobád and Kaikhosrú forgot!
Let Rustum lay about him as he will,
Or Hátim Tai cry Supper——heed them not.
一版其九(四版其十)
春风殉尽只由他,古帝名王干我何!不问大人龙战怒,闲听小雅《鹿鸣》歌。
○四版首二句更易,译文略事调整。Others—"How blest the Paradise to come!"
Ah, take the Cash in hand and wave the Rest;
Oh, the brave Music of a distant Drum!
一版其十二(四版其十三)
或教富贵赚渠侬,或觅蓬莱竟不逢。为报及时行乐好,远方丧鼓任咚咚。
○及时行乐:《古诗十九首》其十五:“ 为乐当及时,何能待来兹?”○四版字句有更易,意犹同也。译文末句一依原文。To talk; one thing is certain, that Life flies;
One thing is certain, and the Rest is Lies;
The Flower that once has blown for ever dies.
一版其二十六(四版其六十三)
知也无涯生有涯,何如与我共金卮?君看今日花成海,不到明年树上枝。
○金卮:金制酒器也。陆厥《京兆歌》:“寿陵之街走狐兔,金卮玉碗会销铄。”○原文云:“来!与老莪默饮哉!辩也付多方者耳。吾生如驰,惟此为信也。惟此为信也,馀皆是诳。不见花开一度,终付飘零。”较四版易首二句,译文以庄子言慨叹。Asking, "What Lamp had Destiny to guide
Her little Children stumbling in the Dark?"
And—"A blind Understanding!" Heav'n replied.
一版其三十三(四版其三十四)
仰对苍苍问一言,可能示我道根源?高天潜运如相答:“汝自冥行道自昏。”
○苍苍:天之色也。《庄子·逍遥游》:“天之苍苍,其正色邪?”○潜运:暗中运转也。王屮《头陀寺碑文》:“一音称物,宫商潜运。”○原文云:“吾乃呼彼运行之天,问曰:‘运命以何灯烛,昭示冥行中匍匐之婴孩?’天曰:‘瞽知也。’”I watch'd the Potter thumping his wet Clay:
And with its all obliterated Tongue
It murmur'd—"Gently, Brother, gently, pray !"
一版其三十六(四版其三十七)
晚市闲来看冶陶,冶中陶土作悲号:“君当太古原吾与,今日君工且缓操。”
○四版易“晚市”为“行途”耳。How Time is slipping underneath our Feet:
Unborn TO-MORROW, and dead YESTERDAY,
Why fret about them if TO-DAY be sweet!
一版其三十七
但将美酒满吾杯,叹甚光阴逝不回?明日未来前日尽,只消今日笑颜开。
○明日二句:原文云:“但得今日之欢,何有于未生之明日,已死之昨日也!”One Moment, of the Well of Life to taste—
The Stars are setting and the Caravan
Starts for the Dawn of Nothing—Oh, make haste!
一版其三十八(四版其四十八)
渴饮何妨片刻留?甘泉一脉出荒丘。星光空赚胡商队,远逐黄沙天尽头。
○星光二句:原文云:“星移斗转,商队晨兴大漠之中,直赴无何有之乡。”The Two-and-Seventy jarring Sects confute:
The subtle Alchemist that in a Trice
Life's leaden Metal into Gold transmute.
一版其四十三(四版其五十九)
酒士硁硁术可誇,傲然七十二方家。能收君泪如铅水,鍊作黄金买岁华。
○硁硁:从容貌。《新唐书·裴均传》:“均字君齐,以明经为诸暨尉。数从使府辟,硁硁以才显。”○四版易 The subtle Alchemist 为 The sovereign Alchemist ,译文易“士”为“仙”也。The Quarrel of the Universe let be:
And, in some corner of the Hubbub coucht,
Make Game of that which makes as much of Thee.
一版其四十五
儒墨从教辩是非,独从天运识几微。闲中袖手观争论,彼此空馀一笑讥。
○天运:天命也。陶潜《责子》诗:“天运苟如此,且尽杯中物。”○几微:微妙也。《汉书·萧望之传》:“愿陛下选明经术,温故知新,通于几微谋虑之士以为内臣,与参政事。”○袖手:閒逸貌。韩愈 《石鼎联句》序:“道士哑然笑曰:‘子诗如是而已乎?’即袖手耸肩,倚北墙坐。”○原文云:“任多方者辩哉!吾独与天地精神相往来。尘嚣之外独踞一隅,与嘲汝者为嘲谑耳。”'Tis nothing but a Magic Shadow-show,
Play'd in a Box whose Candle is the Sun,
Round which we Phantom Figures come and go.
一版其四十六(四版其六十八)
里外高低不住旋,马骑灯里舞蹁跹。一生阳燧孤明火,照出纷纷是大千。
○原文云:“出入高下之间,但马骑灯之戏耳。灯中之烛火则日,环之者则如幻影之吾辈也。”译文“阳燧孤明火”,兼烛火与日言之也。End in the Nothing all Things end in—Yes—
Then fancy while Thou art, Thou art but what
Thou shalt be—Nothing—thou shalt not be less.
一版其四十七(四版其四十二)
醇酒妇人聊且娱,终随万物到虚无。一朝临化消其宝,今日何曾我丧吾?
○临化消其宝:陶潜《饮酒》其十一:“客养千金躯,临化消其宝。”○我丧吾:《庄子·齐物论》:“今者吾丧我,汝知之乎?”○后二句原文云:“君试思哉!若汝之是终为无,汝何丧!”是与无之际,无以译,饰以渊明之句。With old Khayyám the Ruby Vintage drink:
And when the Angel with his darker Draught
Draws up to Thee——take that, and do not shrink.
一版其四十八(四版其四十三)
君来共我倒金杯,好见玫瑰江畔开。一旦忘川川上去,孟婆捧酒可堪哀?
○倒金杯:吴芾《志道相见和前韵》:“肯辞痛饮倒金杯。”○我:原文之老莪默也。○孟婆:亦以译天使也,忘川则以附会,与四版之译文同。Beset the Road I was to wander in,
Thou wilt not with Predestination round
Enmesh me, and impute my Fall to Sin?
一版其五十七(四版其八十)
人生漂荡苦消魂,处处相逢有酒樽。我到樽前沉湎尽,事从天定待何言!
○四版易夷犹为决绝,故译文末句辞气不同。Of Ramazán, ere the better Moon arose,
In that old Potter's Shop I stood alone
With the clay Population round in Rows.
一版其五十九(四版其八十二)
侧耳将除禁食天,望中新月待初悬。行来独向陶家肆,瓮缶成行拥我前。
○侧耳二句:四版易“侧耳”为“瞩目”,易“月”为“日”,译文相应。Some could articulate, while others not:
And suddenly one more impatient cried—
"Who is the Potter, pray, and who the Pot?"
一版其六十(四版其八十七)
亦有能言有不能,忽来小缶颇相矜。“若知天下无同异,匠器区区辨几曾?”
○相矜:译原文之“躁直”也。○几曾:那曾也。贯休《上冯使君渡水僧障子》:“跣足拄巴藤,潺湲渡几曾。”徐积《谢颖叔》:“不醉黄花我几曾。”And daub his Visage with the Smoke of Hell;
They talk of some strict Testing of us—Pish!
He's a Good Fellow, and 'twill all be well."
一版其六十四(四版其八十八)
言是凡间恶主人,无情弃汝等埃尘。又言大任劳筋骨,讵料慈恩善且真!
○恶主人:译原文之“酒保”也。○无情句:原文云:“以地狱之烟污其面。”译文衍其意。The Moon of Heav'n is rising once again:
How oft hereafter rising shall she look
Through this same Garden after me—in vain!
一版其七十四(四版其一百)
盈欢明月几曾虚?又向东天光景舒。从此园林还照遍,年年只是不逢予。
○光景舒:陈与义《小阁晨起》:“光景舒层层。”Has chased the Session of the Stars from the Night,
And, to the Field of Heav'n ascending, strikes
The Sultán's Turret with a Shaft of Light.
二版其一(四版其一)
将出东方夜色澄,繁星驱尽唤晨兴。金光长矢中天举,遥射宫楼最上层。
○将出东方:《楚辞·九歌·东君》:“暾将出兮东方。”○早起也。刘向《说苑·辨物》:“黄帝即位……未见凤凰,维思影像,夙夜晨兴。”陶潜《归园田居》其三:“晨兴理荒秽,带月荷锄归。”○长矢:《楚辞·九歌·东君》:“举长矢兮射天狼。”举矢而射之意,此处译之最为显豁矣。The Thread of present Life away to win—
What? for ourselves, who know not if we shall
Breathe out the very Breath we now breathe in!
二版其十四
蛛网空留暗牖悬,一生辛苦只如烟。年华呼吸成消逝,知是他愚是我贤?
○蛛网:薛道衡《昔昔盐》:“暗牖悬蛛网,空梁落燕泥。”○原文云:“宁不愚哉!效彼蜘蛛,倾一生之丝而织为网,何所得耶?吾辈乎!一呼一吸,将无同耶?”And Kings the forehead on his threshold drew——
I saw the solitary Ringdove there,
And "Coo, coo, coo," she cried; and "Coo, coo, coo."
二版其二十
废宫遗柱上淩空,日角龙颜想像中。惟有斑鸠偏称意,自来自去叫春风。
○日角龙颜:帝王之贵相也。日角,《后汉书·光武帝纪上》:“身长七尺三寸,美须眉,大口,隆准,日角。”李贤注引郑玄《尚书中候》注:“日角谓庭中骨起,状如日。”龙颜,眉骨圆起也。《史记·高祖本纪》:“高祖为人,隆准而龙颜,美须髯,左股有七十二黑子。”《梁书·元帝纪》:“陛下日角龙颜之姿,表于徇齐之日;彤云素气之瑞,基于应物之初。”○惟有二句:杜牧《过勤政楼》:“唯有紫苔偏得意,年年因雨上金铺。”"The Flower should open with the Morning skies."
And a retreating Whisper, as I wake—
"The Flower that once has blown for ever dies."
二版其二十八
高语传呼破夕冥:“花光应共晓光醒。”捲帘方顾闻微叹:“开尽一春花自零。”
○夕冥:夜黑也。费昶《思公子》:“夕冥银为烛。”○花光:花色也。庾信 《象戏赋》:“况乃豫游仁寿,行乐徽音,水影摇日,花光照林。”The waving Cypress in your Arms enlace,
Before the Mother back into her arms
Fold, and dissolve you in a last embrace.
二版其四十四
犹及皇天未尽恩,云幡高揭速招魂。不然潜寐黄泉下,那有花枝与酒樽?
○云幡:云旗也。仲殊 《定风波·独登多景楼》:“花戟云幡拥上方。”此指招魂之幡也。招魂:杜甫 《乾元中寓居同谷县作歌》之五“呜呼五歌兮歌正长,魂招不来归故乡。”仇兆鳌注:“古人招魂之礼,不专施于死者。公诗如‘剪纸招我魂’,‘老魂招不得’,‘南方实有未招魂’,与此诗‘魂招不来归故乡’,皆招生时之魂也。本王逸 《楚辞》注。”原文云:“彼招招之黑纱巾,速缠于臂上。”今以云幡招魂译之也。○不然二句:《古诗十九首》其十三:“潜寐黄泉下,千载永不寤。”原文云:“及坤灵之未揽,销汝身于终抱。”译文衍其意。○余旧译曰:“劝君莫待化尘时,空自招招柏树枝。一晌沉酣须尽意,不应辜负到金卮。”以次句无故实而改译。Are in the Prophet's Paradise to stand,
Alack, I doubt the Prophet's Paradise
Were empty as the hollow of one's Hand.
二版其六十五
无酒无欢在上宫,神仙学尽竟何功?漫疑君向遥天去,纵使相逢妙手空。
○上宫:仙宫也。《云笈七签》卷二九:“上上禅善无量寿天王……治天王国朱林七宝琼台,乘十二玄龟飞青羽盖,从上宫太仙玉童三十二人。”○妙手空:裴铏《传奇·聂隐娘》有“人莫能窥其用,鬼莫得蹑其踪”之妙手空空儿。○原文所言伊教天堂之说也,译文以神仙事译之。Of what they will, and what they will not—each
Is but one Link in an eternal Chain
That none can slip, nor break, nor over-reach.
二版其七十七
贤哲纷纷说道枢,未知终称彼情无?环中一节虽然在,应自难穷但守株。
○环中二句:司空图《诗品·雄浑》:“超以象外,得其环中。持之匪强,来之无穷。”守株:守株待兔之省。葛洪《抱朴子·明本》:“每见凡俗守株之儒,营营所习,不博达理。”原文云:“无脱,无绝,无逾。”译文以守株译之。I swear I will not call Injustice Grace;
Not one Good Fellow of the Tavern but
Would kick so poor a Coward from the place.
二版其八十六
落落由他怒目瞋,岂将大伪唤为真?筵前宾客多刚直,正怕相逢骂座人。
○落落:磊落也。《三国志·蜀志·彭羕传》:“若明府能招致此人,必有忠谠落落之誉。”怒目瞋:王令《寄王正叔》诗:“怒目瞋以环。”○大伪唤为真:《宋史·吕诲传》:“大奸似忠,大佞似信。”其意似之。○筵前二句:《史记·魏其武安侯列传》:“灌夫为人刚直使酒,不好面谀。”“武安遂怒,劾灌夫骂坐不敬,系居室。”原文云:“酒肆中刚直者正多,必踢彼佞人出也。”译文以灌夫事译之。Whisper among them; as it were, the stirr'd
Ashes of some all but extinguisht Tongue,
Which mine ear kindled into living Word.
二版其九十(四版其八十三)
低语私言总不停,更无九译遣谁听?只如太古冥冥响,向我神聪耳畔醒。
○九译:《史记·大宛列传》:“重九译,致殊俗。”张守节正义:“言重重九遍译语而致。”汉有九译令,犹后世之译官,见《汉书·百官公卿表上》。○冥冥:《诗·小雅·无将大车》:“无将大车,维尘冥冥。”朱熹集传:“冥冥,昏晦也。”○原文云:“彼又私语呢喃,虽其难晓,吾耳犹能使之明,若已熄之古言自死灰中复燃也。”原文之喻意,译文未能出之也。And Why? so ready, but the Wherefor not,
One on a sudden peevishly exclaim'd,
"Which is the Potter, pray, and which the Pot?"
二版其九十四(四版其八十七)
曰死曰生常有言,谈因谈果竟无门。忽来小缶声犹愠:“匠器区区何待论?”
○曰死二句:原文云:“死者生者无不同尔。何也?缘何也?问之也易;其由也,答之也难。”译文但求肖其辞气耳,不必论其条目。Shall Old Acquaintance Old Acquaintance greet,
Under the Branch that leans above the Wall
To shed his Blossom over head and feet.
二版其九十九
辞却春温向冷尘,逢迎恐有旧交亲。墙头又倩东风到,吹落蔷薇覆我身。
○春温:春日之暖也。《史记·田敬仲完世家》:“夫大弦浊以春温者,君也;小弦廉折以清者,相也。”○墙头二句:原文云:“彼处高墙之上,有枝条迤逦而垂,以落花覆我身焉。”译文添译“东风”字。That we might catch ere closed the Book of Fate,
And make The Writer on a fairer leaf
Inscribe our names, or quite obliterate!
二版其一百零六(四版其九十八)
重写圣人河洛书,不须运尽恨其徂。彼时犹及呼司命,直改吾生到太初。
○其徂:往也。韦孟《讽谏诗》:“岁月其徂。”○原文云:“若此世界能更造,及运命之卷未掩也,吾使司命簿者另以新页书吾人名,或径削之。”译文以“重写河洛”译“世界更造”也。Of Universe one luckless Human Soul,
Than drop by drop enlarge the Flood that rolls
Hoarser with Anguish as the Ages roll.
二版其一百零七
乞将司命簿来翻,销去人间一苦魂。日月相催愁似海,涛声夜夜是鸣冤。
○愁似海:秦观《千秋岁》:“春去也,飞红万点愁如海。”○原文云:“自宇宙之卷中,销此不幸之魂为尤佳也。盖其愁苦初如涓滴,而日月相催,终为恨海,汹涌呼号不已也。”Looks for us, Sweet-heart, through the quivering Plane:
How oft hereafter rising will she look
Among those leaves—for one of us in vain!
二版其一百零九(四版其一百)
明月东天又上来,梧桐影里自徘徊。从今夜夜相寻了,只向空园照冷杯。
○明月东天:叶嘉莹《踏莎行》:“只缘明月在东天,从今惟向天东望。”Poor Earth from which that Human Whisper came,
The luckless Mould in which Mankind was cast
They did compose, and call’d him by the name.
三版其三十八 初稿(四版其三十八)
谁抟黄土作人形?名汝为人汝莫听。同是浮尘尤不幸,悲欢离合最伶俜。
伶俜: 孤单貌。《古诗为焦仲卿妻作》:“昼夜勤作息,伶俜萦苦辛。”○原文云:“暂为一听哉!泥土无不同也,其中莫不有凡人不幸之呻吟。彼以之为人之形,然后呼之耳。”译文以哀劝之辞气译之。Have loosely strung the Jewel of Good deed,
Let this one thing for my Atonement plead
That one for Two I never did mis-read.
其一
我如忠恕未躬行,漫自人前有善名。诚愿相邀天道鉴,终身甘足报施平。
○忠恕:《论语·里仁》:“夫子之道,忠恕而已矣。”朱熹集注:“尽己之谓忠,推己之谓恕。”躬行:亲身施行也。《论语·述而》:“躬行君子,则吾未之有得。”○报施:报答也。《史记·伯夷列传》:“天之报施善人,其何如哉?”○原文云:“倘吾以无力之约束,串善行之珠而齐之,吾将因是而祷:吾终不以一当二也。”译文无能达其喻意,而以《史记·伯夷列传》之意衍之也。In Hell, whose fires thyself shall feed in turn;
How long been crying, “Mercy on them, God!”
Why, who art Thou to teach, and He to learn?
其二
狱火炎炎岂用薪?君心焚尽到君身。空思上帝垂哀悯,劳苦呼天错使人。
○炎炎:火烈貌。《史记·天官书》:“﹝天狗﹞所堕及,望之如火光,炎炎冲天。”○上帝:天帝也。《易·象传·豫》:“先王以作乐崇德,殷荐之上帝,以配祖考。”哀悯:哀怜也。《孟子·告子上》“放其心而不知求,哀哉!”赵岐注:“不行仁义者,不由路、不求心者也,可哀悯哉!”○劳苦呼天:《史记·屈原贾生列传》:“人穷则反本,故劳苦倦极,未尝不呼天也;疾痛惨怛,未尝不呼父母也。”And a Young Moon requite us by and by:
Look how the old one, meager, bent and wan,
With Age and Fast, is fainting from the Sky!
其三
欢兮新月待酬偿,莫惜团团旧月光。自把乾坤禁断后,无边风色尽昏黄。
○新月:开斋时所见新生之月也。酬偿:偿斋月之禁也。○团团:圆月貌。苏轼 《次韵毛滂法曹感雨诗》:“空庭月与影,强结三友欢。我岂不足欤?要此清团团。”○旧月:原文云:“斋戒之时日,彼月亦羸弱、佝偻、苍白如老者矣,今从天际逝也。”故虽其团团之时而莫惜也。○禁断:禁绝也。《三国志·魏志·武帝纪》:“禁断淫祀,奸宄逃窜,郡界肃然。”○风色:风光也。温庭筠 《西洲曲》:“西洲风色好,遥见武昌楼。”昏黄:韩偓 《曲江晚思》:“烟月愁昏黄。”自把二句,原文无,衍文意也。Though we have two heads we have one body;
when we have fixed the center for our circle,
We bring our heads together at the end.
其四
规如吾汝形俱有,共一身兮分二首。圆径圆周果取中,合其二首平行走。
○圆径圆周:圆之直径与周长也。取中:取其中则圆心定矣。Has fallen in Grief’s furnace and been suddenly burned;
The shears of Fate have cut the tent-ropes of his life,
And the Broker of Hope has sold him for nothing!
其五
知也有涯如帐庐,无涯天地凭谁覆?帐庐作就误今生,又把来生报施渎。
○原文云:“吾莪默亦尝制知之帐庐也,而终为悲苦之炉火所灼。运命之剪刀既断其帐绳,希冀之估客复售之以空无。”译文以帐庐有涯、天地无涯为喻意,且质言今生与来生也。