荷塘月色 朱自清 (中英文 译文)(1)

荷塘月色朱自清这几天心里颇不宁静。今晚在院子里坐着乘凉，忽然想起日日走过的荷塘，在这满月的光里，总该另有一番样子吧。月亮渐渐地升高了，墙外马路上孩子们的欢笑，已经听不见了；妻子在屋里拍着润儿，迷迷糊糊地哼着眠歌。我悄悄地披了大衫，带上门出去。MoonlightovertheLotusPondIthasbeenratherdisquietingthesedays.Tonight,whenIwassittingintheyardenjoyingthecool,itoccurredtomethattheLotusPond,whichIpassbyeveryday,mustassumequiteadifferentlookinsuchmoonlitnight.Afullmoonwasrisinghighinthesky;thelaughterofchildrenplayingoutsidehaddiedaway;intheroom,mywifewaspattingtheson,Run-er,sleepilyhummingacradlesong.Shruggingonanovercoat,quietly,Imademywayout,closingthedoorbehindme.TheMoonlitLotusPondThesepastfewdaysIhavebeenexceedinglyrestless.Thisevening,asIsatinmycourtyardenjoyingthecoolnightair,IsuddenlythoughtofthelotuspongalongwhichIwasusedtotakingdailywalks,andIimaginedthatitmustlookquitedifferentunderthelightofthisfullmoon.Slowlythemoonclimbedinthesky,andbeyondthewallthelaughterofchildrenplayingontheroadcouldnolongerbeheard.MywifewasinsidepattingRuner(Thenameofoneoftheauthor’schildren)asshehummedafaintlullaby.Igentlythrewawrapovermyshouldersandwalkedout,closingthegatebehindme. 沿着荷塘，是一条曲折的小煤霄路。这是一条幽僻的路；白天也少人走，夜晚更加寂寞。荷塘四面，长着许多树，蓊蓊郁郁的。路的一旁，是些杨柳，和一些不知道名字的树。没有月光的晚上，这路上阴森森的，有些怕人。今晚却很好，虽然月光也还是淡淡的。AlongsidetheLotusPondrunsasmallcinderfootpath.Itispeacefulandsecludedhere,aplacenotfrequentedbypedestrianseveninthedaytime;nowatnight,itlooksmoresolitary,inalush,shadyambienceoftreesallaroundthepond.Onthesidewherethepathis,therearewillows,interlacedwithsomeotherswhosenamesIdonotknowthefoliage,which,inamoonlessnight,wouldloomsomewhatfrighteninglydark,looksverynicetonight,althoughthemoonlightisnotmorethanathin,greyishveil.Borderingthepondisameanderinglittlecinderpath.Itisasecludedpath;duringthedayfewpeopleuseit,andatnightitisevenlonelier.Therearegreatnumbersoftreesgrowingonallsidesofthelotuspond,lushandfertile.OnonesideofthepaththerearesomewillowtreesandseveralvarietiesoftreeswhosenamesIdonotknow.Onmoonlessnightsthispathisdarkandforbidding,givingoneaneeriefeeling.Butthiseveningitwasquitenice,eventhoughtheraysofthemoonwerepale.路上只有我一个人，背着手踱着。这一片天地好像是我的；我也像超出了平常的自己，到了另一个世界里。我爱热闹，也爱冷静；爱群居，也爱独处。像今晚上，一个人在着苍茫的月下，什么都可以想，什么都可以不想，便觉是个自由的人。白天里一定要做的事，一定要说的话，现在都可不理。这是独处的妙处；我且受用这无边的荷香月色好了。Iamonmyown,strolling,handsbehindmyback.Thisbitoftheuniverseseemsinmypossessionnow;andImyselfseemtohavebeenupliftedfrommyordinaryselfintoanotherworld.Ilikeasereneandpeacefullife,asmuchasabusyandactiveone;Ilikebeinginsolitude,asmuchasincompany.Asitistonight,baskinginamistymoonshineall bymyself,IfeelIamafreeman,freetothinkofanything,orofnothing.Allthatoneisobligedtodo,ortosay,inthedaytime,canbeverywellcastasidenow.Thatisthebeautyofbeingalone.Forthemoment,justletmeindulgeinthisprofusionofmoonlightandlotusfragrance. Findingmyselfaloneonthepath,Ifoldedmyhandsbehindmeandstrolledalong.Thestretchoflandandskythatspreadoutbeforemeseemedtobelong tome,andIseemedtotranscendmyownexistenceandenteranotherworld.Ilovenoise,butIalsolovequiet;Ilovecrowds,butIalsoloveseclusion.Onanightliketonight,allaloneunderthisvastexpanseofmoonlight,IcanthinkwhateverIwish,orthinkofnothingIwish.Ifeelmyselftobetrulyfreeman.ThethingsImustdoandthewordsImustsayduringthedaytimeIneednotconcernmyselfwithnow;thisisanexquisitesecludedspot,aplacewhereIcanenjoythelimitlessfragranceofthelotusesandthelightofthemoon.曲曲折折的荷塘上，弥望的是田田的叶子。叶子出水很高，像亭亭的舞女的裙。层层的叶子中间，零星地点缀着些白花，有袅娜地开着的，有羞涩地打着朵儿的；正如一粒粒的明珠，又如碧天的星星，又如刚出浴的美人。微风过处，送来缕缕清香，仿佛远处高楼上渺茫的歌声似的。这时候叶子与花叶有一丝的颤动，像闪电般，霎时传过荷塘的那边去了。叶子本是肩并肩密密地挨着，这边宛然有了一道凝碧的波痕。叶子底下是脉脉的流水，遮住了，不能见一些颜色；而叶子却更见丰致了。Alloverthiswindingstretchofwater,whatmeetstheeyeisasilkenfieldofleaves,reachingratherhighabovethesurface,liketheskirtsofdancinggirlsinalltheirgrace.Hereandthere,layersofleavesaredottedwithwhitelotusblossoms,someindemurebloom,othersinshybud,likescatteringpearls,ortwinklingstars,orbeautiesjustoutofthebath.Abreezestirs,sendingoverbreathsoffragrance,likefaintsingingdriftingfromadistantbuilding.Atthismoment,atinythrillshootsthroughtheleavesandlilies,likeastreakoflightning,straightacrosstheforestoflotuses.Theleaves,whichhavebeenstandingshouldertoshoulder,arecaughtshimmeringinanemeraldheaveofthepond.Underneath,theexquisitewateriscoveredfromview,andnonecantellitscolor;yettheleavesontopprojectthemselvesallthemoreattractively.Onthesurfaceofthewindingandtwistinglotuspoundfloatedanimmensefieldofleaves.Theleavesfloatedhighinthewater,risingupliketheskirtsofadancinggirl.Amidthelayersofleaveswhiteblossomsadornedthevista,somebeguilinglyopenandothersbashfullyholdingtheirpetalsin.Justlikeastringofbrightpearlsorstarsinabluesky,orLikelovelymaidensjustemergingfromtheirbath.Agentlebreezefloatedbybringingwithitwavesofacrispfragrancelikesstrainsofavaguemelodysentoverformdistanttoweringbuildings.Whenthathappenedtheleavesthemselvesweredenselycrowdedtogether,pushingbackandforth,andtheyseemedtobeacrestingwaveofsolidgreen.Beneaththeleavesrestrainedcurrentsofwaterflowed,imprisonedbeneaththem,thecolorforeverhidden,whilethestirringsoftheleaveswereevenmorepronounced.月光如流水一般，静静地泻在这一片叶子和花上。薄薄的青雾浮起在荷塘里。叶子和花仿佛在牛乳中洗过一样；又像笼着轻纱的梦。虽然是满月，天上却有一层淡淡的云，所以不能朗照；但我以为这恰是到了好处–酣眠固不可少,小睡也别有风味的。Themoonshedsherliquidlightsilentlyovertheleavesandflowers,which,inthefloatingtransparencyofabluishhazefromthepond,lookasiftheyhadjustbeenbathedinmilk,orlikeadreamwrappedinagauzyhood.Althoughitisafullmoon,shiningthroughafilmofclouds,thelightIsnotatitsbrightest;itis,however,justrightforme–aprofoundsleepisindispensable,yetasnatcheddozealsohasasavorofitsown..Themoon’srayswerelikeflowingwaters,gentlydepositingtheirmoistureonthelayerofleavesandblossoms.Alightgreenmistfloatedjustabovethelotuspond.Theleavesandblossomslookedasthoughtheyhadbeenbathedinmilk,orlikeablurreddreamswathedinairygauze.Althoughthemoonwasfull,alightcoveringofcloudsintheskypreventeditfromshiningbrightly;yetIhadthepleasantfeelingthatIhadcometoafinespot.Forjustasonecannotdowithoutdeepslumber,stillalightsleephasitsowndelights.月光是隔了树照过来的,高处丛生的灌木,落下参差的斑驳的黑影,峭愣愣如鬼一般;弯弯的杨柳的稀疏的倩影,却又像是画在荷叶上。塘中的月色并不均匀；但光与影有着和谐的旋律，如梵婀铃上奏着的名曲。Themoonlightisstreamingdownthroughthefoliage,castingbushyshadowsonthegroundfromhighabove,jaggedandcheckered,asgrotesqueasapartyofspectres;whereasthebenignfiguresofthedroopingwillows,hereandthere,looklikepaintingsonthelotusleaves.Themoonlightisnotspreadevenlyoverthepond,butratherinaharmoniousrhythmoflightandshade,likeafamousmelodyplayedonaviolin.Themoon’sraysfiltereddownthroughthetrees,anddark,unevenshadowsofvaryingshadeswerecastbythedensefoliageonthehighground,perilouslydarkandspooky.Thebewitchingshadowscastbythesparse,twistedwillowtreesseemedtobepaintedonthelotusleaves.Themoonlightonthepondwasspreadunevenly,buttheraysandtheshadowswereaconcertofharmony,likeacelebratedtuneplayedonaviolin.荷塘的四面，远远近近，高高低低都是树，而杨柳最多。这些树将一片荷塘重重围住；只在小路一旁漏着几段空隙，像是特为月光留下的。树色一例是阴阴的,乍看像一团雾;但杨柳的风姿,便在烟雾里也辨得出。树梢上隐隐约约的是一带远山，只有些大一意罢了。树缝里也漏着一两点路灯光，没精打采的，是渴睡人的眼。这时候最热闹的，要数树上的蝉声与水里的蛙声；但热闹是它们的，我什么也没有。Aroundthepond,farandnear,highandlow,aretrees.Mostofthemarewillows.Onlyonthepathside,cantwoorthreegapsbeseenthroughtheheavyfringe,asifspeciallyreservedforthemoon.Theshadowyshapesoftheleafageatfirstsightseemdiffusedintoamassofmist,againstwhich,however,thecharmofthosewillowtreesisstilldiscernible.Overthetreesappearsomedistantmountains,butmerelyinsketchysilhouette.Throughthebranchesarealsoacoupleoflamps,aslistlessassleepyeyes.Themostlivelycreatureshere,forthemoment,mustbethecicadasinthetreesandthefrogsinthepond.Butthelivelinessistheirs,Ihavenothing.Onallsidesofthelotuspond,farandnear,onhighgroundandlow,therearetrees,mostofthemwillows.Thesetreescompletelyenvelopthewholeofthelotuspond;onlybythesideofthepatharetheregaps,hereandthereshowingthrough,seeminglylefttherejustsothemooncanshinein.Thecolorsofthetreesareuniformlydark.Atfirstglancetheyresembleabankoffogandmist,buttheslender,gracefulformsofthewillowscanstillbedistinguishedinthatfogandmist.Abovethetreetopsarowofmountainscanbeseeneversoindistinctly,justthehintoftheirshapes,whileoneortwofaintglimmersofroadsidelampsseepthroughtheopeningsofthebranches,appearinglikethewearyeyesofatiredman.Nowthespotwasatitsnoisiest,ifyoucountthechirpingofcicadasinthetreesandthe croakingoffrogsinthewater.Butthenoisewastheirsalone;Iaddednothingtoit.忽然想起采莲的事情来了。采莲是江南的旧俗。似乎很早就有，而六朝时为盛；从诗歌里可以约略知道。采莲的是少年的女子，她们是荡着小船，唱着艳歌去的。采莲人不用说很多，还有看采莲的人。那是一个热闹的季节，也是一个风流的季节。Suddenly,somethinglikelotus-gatheringcrossesmymind.ItusedtobecelebratedasafolkfestivalintheSouth,probablydatingveryfarbackinhistory,mostpopularintheperiodofSixDynasties.Wecanpickupsomeoutlinesofthisactivityinthepoetry.Itwasyounggirlswhowentgatheringlotuses,insampansandsinginglovesongs.Needlesstosay,therewereagreatnumberofthemdoingthegathering,apartfromthosewhowerewatching.Itwasalivelyseason,brimmingwithvitality,andromance.AllofasuddenIwasremindedoflotus-gathering.ThegatheringoflotusesisanoldcustomsouthoftheYangtze,whoseoriginsprobablydatefromveryearlyonbutthatflourishedduringtheSixDynastyperiod.(317-588AD)Thisweknowfromthepoemsandballadsofthetime.Thelotus-gatherers,wereyoungmaidenswhodriftedinsmallboatsandsangtheirsongsoflove.Itgoeswithoutsayingthatthereweregreatnumbersoflotus-gatherersaswellasthosewhocametowatchthem,forthatwasafestiveandaromanticoccasion.梁元帝《采莲赋》里说得好：于是妖童媛女，荡舟心许：鹢首徐回,兼传羽杯;棹将移而藻挂,船欲动而萍开。尔其纤腰束素，迁延顾步；夏始春余，叶嫩花初，恐沾裳而浅笑，畏倾船而敛裾。AbrilliantdescriptioncanbefoundinLotusGatheringwrittenbytheYuanEmperoroftheLiangDynasty:Sothosecharmingyoungstersrowtheirsampans,heartbuoyantwithtacitlove,passontoeachothercupsofwinewhiletheirbird-shapesprowsdriftaround.Fromtimetotimetheiroarsarecaughtindanglingalgae,andduckweedfloatapartthemomenttheirboatsareabouttomoveon.Theirslenderfigures,girdledwithplainsilk,treadwatchfullyonboard.Thisisthetimewhenspringisgrowingintosummer,theleavesatendergreenandtheflowersblooming-amongwhichthegirlsaregigglingwhenevadinganout-reachingstem,theirskirtstuckedinforfearthatthesampanmighttilt.“Thelotus-gatherers”byEmperorYuanoftheLiangDynasty(552-555AD)tellsitwell:PrincelyladsandalluringmaidensAdriftinaboat,theirheartsinaccord:Theboat’sprowdescribesaslowturnAstheyexchangewinecups;theoarsbecomeintertwined,Andtheboatmovesacrossthefloatingduckweed;ThemaidenswiththeirslenderwaistssimplyboundCastglancesbehindthem.Summerbeginswherethespringleavesoff;Theleavesaretender,theflowersinbloom.Protectingtheirdressesfromthedampness,smilesadorningtheirfaces,Theygatheruptheirskirts,takingcare nottocapsizetheboat.可见当时嬉游的光景了。这真是有趣的事，可惜我们现在早已无福消受了。于是，又记起《西洲曲》里的句子：采莲南塘秋，莲花过人头；低头弄莲子，莲子清如水。Thatisaglimpseofthosemerrymakingscenes.Itmusthavebeenfascinating;butunfortunatelywehavelongbeendeniedsuchadelight.ThenIrecallthoselinesinBalladofXizhouIsland:Gatheringthelotus,IamintheSouthPond,/Theliliesinautumnreachovermyhead;/LoweringmyheadItoywiththelotusseeds./Look,theyareasfreshasthewaterunderneath. Thispaintsforus apictureofthepleasantexcursionsofthosedays.Theymusthavebeentrulymemorableevents;itisapitythatwecannolongerenjoysuchpastimes.Ithenrecalledthelinesfromthe“TuneofWestIsle”:GatheringlotusesatNantanginthefall,Thelotusblossomsriseaboveoutheads.Bendingovertopluckthelotusseeds,Lotusseedsastransparentasthewater.今晚若有采莲人，这儿的莲花也算得“过人头”了；只不见一些流水的影子，是不行的。这令我到底惦着江南了—这样想着，猛一抬头，不觉已是自己的门前；轻轻地推门进去，什么声息也没有，妻已睡熟好久了。Ifthereweresomebodygatheringlotusestonight,shecouldtellthattheliliesherearehighenoughto“reachoverherhead”;but,onewouldcertainlymissthesightofthewater.SomymemoriesdriftbacktotheSouthafterall.Deepinmythoughts,Ilookedup,justtofindmyselfatthedoorofmyownhouse.GentlyIpushedthedooropenandwalkedin.Notasoundinside,mywifehadbeenfastasleepforquiteawhile.Iftonighttherewerelotus-gatherers,thelotusblossomsheretoowould“riseabovetheirheads.”Butitisnotenoughtohavebeforemeonlytheseripplingshadows.AllofthisstirredupinmeasenseoflongingfortheSouth.WiththesethoughtsinmymindIsuddenlyraisemyheadandfoundthatmystepshadcarriedmetomyowngate;Isoftlypusheditopenandentered.Iwasgreetedbycompletesilence;mywifehadlongsincefallenfastasleep.