SH01翻译边城一至八章沈从文.docx

SH01翻译：边城 (第一章: 一至八章)(沈从文)Translation: Border-City (Shen Congwen)(translated by: alexcwlin; edited by: Adam Lam)一九三四年四月二十四日记Diarized on April 24th, 1934-一Chapter One-由四川过湖南去，靠东有一条官路。On the way from Sichuan going to Hunan, there was a government-built road heading towards the east.这官路将近湘西边境到了一个地方名为“茶峒”的小山城时，When this road approached the province boundary line of Xiangxi, it came to a small mountain city called “Chadong”.有一小溪，溪边有座白色小塔，Nearby, there was a stream with a white turret by its side.塔下住了一户单独的人家。Inside the turret lived a single family. -这人家只一个老人，一个女孩子，一只黄狗。This family consisted only of an old man, a young girl and a yellow dog.-小溪流下去，绕山岨流，Circling around the mountain, the little stream flowed slowly down.约三里便汇入茶峒的大河。Approximately three miles downstream, the creek emptied into a big river at Chadong.人若过溪越小山走去，则只一里路就到了茶峒城边。If a person crossed the stream and went over a small hill, then he would arrive at the outskirts (1) of Chadong City located approximately one mile away.溪流如弓背，山路如弓弦，The stream shaped like the arch of a bow with the mountain footpath as the bow-string.故远近有了小小差异。There was a slight difference in distance depending on which route a person took.小溪宽约二十丈，The stream was approximately twenty “zhangs” across in width.河床为大片石头作成。The riverbed was laid with big slaps of rocks.静静的水即或深到一篙不能落底，The tranquil water was so deep that a barge-pole could not reach its bottom.却依然清澈透明，河中游鱼来去皆可以计数。Yet the water was crystal-clear that you could count the fish swimming in it.小溪既为川湘来往孔道，The small stream was a narrow passageway traveling between Sichuan and Chadong.水常有涨落，There were high-water and low-water times.限于财力不能搭桥，就安排了一只方头渡船。Due to financial reasons, a bridge was not built and so a square-head ferryboat was arranged to facilitate travelers.这渡船一次连人带马，约可以载二十位搭客过河，In each trip, this ferry could carry twenty passengers and their horses across the river.人数多时则反复来去。If passenger count was high, then the ferry would make several consecutive trips.渡船头竖了一枝小小竹竿，挂着一个可以活动的铁环，A movable iron ring was hung on a small bamboo stick erected at the front of the ferry.溪岸两端水槽牵了一段废缆，Linking water troughs at both riverbanks was a dilapidated cable.有人过渡时，把铁环挂在废缆上，When people crossed the river, the iron ring would be hung on the cable.船上人就引手攀缘那条缆索，慢慢的牵船过对岸去。A person on the boat would slowly pull on the cable and lead the boat across to the opposite side of the river.船将拢岸了，管理这渡船的，一面口中嚷着“慢点慢点”，When the boat approached shore, the ferry-caretaker would shout: “Take it easy! Slow down!”自己霍的跃上了岸，拉着铁环，Then he would abruptly jump ashore holding onto the iron ring.于是人货牛马全上了岸，翻过小山不见了。Everything on the boat, including people, goods, cows and horses, would get on shore, cross the small hill, and disappear.渡头为公家所有，故过渡人不必出钱。The ferry was a government property, and as such, there was no charge for people crossing in the ferry.有人心中不安，Some people felt ill at ease getting a free ride.抓了一把钱掷到船板上时，They would grab a handful of copper coins and throw them on the ferry-deck.管渡船的必为一一拾起，依然塞到那人手心里去，The caretaker would pick them up one by one and stuff them back to the palms of the persons.俨然吵嘴时的认真神气：“我有了口量，三斗米，七百钱，Then he would put on the same type of serious expression during argument and say: “I get paid enough to feed myself at three dous of rice and seven hundred copper coins.够了。谁要这个!”Thats enough for me and I dont need these.”-但不成，But that wouldnt work.凡事求个心安理得，出气力不受酬谁好意思，People wanted peace of mind and they would feel uneasy if a person did them a favor and would not take their money.不管如何还是有人把钱的。Regardless there were still people who wanted to stuff money into the boatmans pocket.管船人却情不过，He obliged because saying “no” persistently could ruin his rapport with people.也为了心安起见，便把这些钱托人到茶峒去买茶叶和草烟，However, to clear his conscience he asked people to buy tea and tobacco with that money in Chadong.将茶峒出产的上等草烟，一扎一扎挂在自己腰带边，Then he put Chadong-produced top-grade tobacco in small bundles and hung them on his waist band.过渡的谁需要这东西必慷慨奉赠。He would generously give away the tobacco to any ferry-commuter who wanted it.有时从神气上估计那远路人对于身边草烟引起了相当的注意时，便把一小束草烟扎到那人包袱上去，Sometimes judging from expression that a distant traveler was considerably interested in his tobacco, he would stick a small bundle of it in the persons cloth baggage.一面说，“不吸这个吗，At the same time he would say: “Dont you smoke this?这好的，这妙的，味道蛮好，This is good, wonderful and great-tasting.送人也合式!”It makes for terrific gift as well.”茶叶则在六月里放进大缸里去，用开水泡好，给过路人解渴。For those tea-leaves, he would make a big vat of tea in June for passers-by (2) to quench thirst.-管理这渡船的，就是住在塔下的那个老人。The person who looked after this ferry was the old man who lived in the turret.活了七十年，从二十岁起便守在这小溪边，He was seventy years old and had been caretaking this small stream since he was twenty.五十年来不知把船来去渡了若干人。During these fifty years, he had ferried countless people back and forth the stream.年纪虽那么老了。本来应当休息了，但天不许他休息，Even though he was old and should have quit working to rest, destiny appeared to get in the way.他仿佛便不能够同这一分生活离开。It seemed he could not be separated from this part of his life.他从不思索自己的职务对于本人的意义，只是静静的很忠实的在那里活下去。He never thought about what work meant to him, but dutifully lived on at that place quietly.代替了天，使他在日头升起时，感到生活的力量，当日头落下时，又不至于思量与日头同时死去的，是那个伴在他身旁的女孩子。The little girl by his side was the equivalent of heaven to him. In her, he felt the vivaciousness of life at sunrise and would not think about death in association at sunset.他唯一的朋友为一只渡船与一只黄狗，唯一的亲人便只那个女孩子。His only friends were the ferry and a yellow dog; his lone relative was the little girl.-女孩子的母亲，老船夫的独生女，The little girls deceased mother was the old boatmans only daughter.十五年前同一个茶峒军人，很秘密的背着那忠厚爸爸发生了暧昧关系。Fifteen years ago, the mother secretly had an affair with a Chadong soldier behind her good-natured fathers back.有了小孩子后，这屯戍军士便想约了她一同向下游逃去。After she was pregnant, the border-guarding soldier wanted to elope with her by going downstream of the river. -但从逃走的行为上看来，一个违悖了军人的责任，一个却必得离开孤独的父亲。But an act of running away was seen as breaching responsibility of a soldier for one of them and leaving a lonesome father behind for the other.经过一番考虑后，军人见她无远走勇气自己也不便毁去作军人的名誉，After much consideration, the soldier realized she did not have the courage to run far away, and it was inappropriate for him to ruin the honor of a soldier.就心想：一同去生既无法聚首，一同去死当无人可以阻拦，So he thought since they could not be together alive, then nobody could stop them if they chose to die concurrently.首先服了毒。He took the poison first.女的却关心腹中的一块肉，不忍心，But the girl was concerned about the fetus in her womb and did not have the heart to kill it.拿不出主张。As such, she could not take a stand.事情业已为作渡船夫的父亲知道，父亲却不加上一个有分量的字眼儿，The situation was found out by the ferry-boatman father and he did not utter a single harsh word.只作为并不听到过这事情一样，仍然把日子很平静的过下去。He simply pretended he never heard of this matter and continued to live a quiet life.女儿一面怀了羞惭一面却怀了怜悯，仍守在父亲身边，The daughter was both shameful and sympathetic, but continued to stay by her fathers side.待到腹中小孩生下后，却到溪边吃了许多冷水死去了。After the baby was born, she went to the stream and died from drinking a lot of cold water.在一种近于奇迹中，这遗孤居然已长大成人，一转眼间便十三岁了。In a development that approached miracle, the orphan surprisingly grew up to be thirteen years old in a flash.为了住处两山多篁竹，翠色逼人而来，老船夫随便为这可怜的孤雏拾取了一个近身的名字，叫作“翠翠”。Since there were plenty of bamboo on the two hills near where they lived and they were overwhelmed with the color green, the old boatman casually gave this piteous orphan a handy name, “Cuicui” (which meant “green” in Chinese). -翠翠在风日里长养着，Cuicui was brought up amidst wind and sun.把皮肤变得黑黑的，Her skin was tanned dark.触目为青山绿水，一对眸子清明如水晶。With green mountains and bluish water everywhere in sight, her eyes were clear as crystal.自然既长养她且教育她，Nature brought her up and educated her. 为人天真活泼，Her demeanor was innocent and lively.处处俨然如一只小兽物。She starkly resembled a little wild animal from top to bottom.人又那么乖，如山头黄麂一样，Like a mountain deer, she was very well-behaved.从不想到残忍事情，从不发愁，从不动气。In her personality, she never had cruel thoughts, became sad, or got angry.平时在渡船上遇陌生人对她有所注意时，便把光光的眼睛瞅着那陌生人，Normally in the ferry when she ran into a stranger who paid attention to her, she would gaze back at him with her bright eyes.作成随时皆可举步逃入深山的神气，Concurrently, she would put on a manner as if she would take off and run deep into the mountain any time.但明白了人无机心后，就又从从容容的在水边玩耍了。But once she understood the person had no ill intention, she would then put down her guard and play leisurely beside the water.-老船夫不论晴雨，必守在船头。Rain or shine, the old boatman would always stand by at the front of the boat.有人过渡时，便略弯着腰，两手缘引了竹缆，把船横渡过小溪。When someone wanted to cross the stream using the ferry, he would bend down slightly and use both hands to guide the boat across the stream along the bamboo-strip rope.有时疲倦了，躺在临溪大石上睡着了，Sometimes when he got tired, he would lie down on the big rock beside the stream to take a nap.人在隔岸招手喊过渡，翠翠不让祖父起身，When people on the opposite shore waved and shouted to indicate they needed to get across, Cuicui would not allow Grandpa to get up.就跳下船去，很敏捷的替祖父把路人渡过溪，She would jump down the boat and swiftly got the travelers across the stream.一切皆溜刷在行，从不误事。Everything proceeded proficiently without ever missing a beat.有时又和祖父黄狗一同在船上，At times, she and the dog would keep Grandpa company on the ferry.过渡时和祖父一同动手，She would help Grandpa with the manual work in operating the ferry.船将近岸边，祖父正向客人招呼：“慢点，慢点”时，When the ferry was getting close to shore, Grandpa would caution the passengers in saying: “Slowly! Take it easy!”那只黄狗便口衔绳子，最先一跃而上，且俨然懂得如何方为尽职似的，把船绳紧衔着拖船拢岸。The dog would carry the rope in its mouth, lead the way to jump on land and haul the boat along shore looking like it knew exactly how to do its job. -风日清和的天气，无人过渡，镇日长闲，On a beautiful day under gentle breeze and lovely sunshine with nobody using the ferry, it would then be a whole day in relaxation. 祖父同翠翠便坐在门前大岩石上晒太阳。Grandpa and Cuicui would sunbath while sitting on a big rock a few steps away from the front door.或把一段木头从高处向水中抛去，At times, they would throw a piece of wood from an elevated spot into the water.嗾使身边黄狗自岩石高处跃下，把木头衔回来。They then egged the dog on to jump down from high up on the rock to retrieve the wood in its mouth.或翠翠与黄狗皆张着耳朵，听祖父说些城中多年以前的战争故事。Other times, Cuicui and the dog would listen to Grandpa telling war stories which happened in the city many years ago.或祖父同翠翠两人，各把小竹作成的竖笛，逗在嘴边吹着迎亲送女的曲子。Some other times, Grandpa and Cuicui would put bamboo-clarinets in their mouths and play wedding ceremony music in sending off or welcoming a bride.过渡人来了，老船夫放下了竹管，独自跟到船边去，横溪渡人，When a traveler came, the old boatman would put down the bamboo pipe and go to the boat alone to ferry the person across.在岩上的一个，见船开动时，于是锐声喊着：The little girl sitting on the rock in watching the boat take off would shout with a resounding voice:-“爷爷，爷爷，你听我吹，你唱!”“Grandpa, listen to me play while you sing.”-爷爷到溪中央便很快乐的唱起来，When Grandpa got to the center of the stream, he would start singing joyously.哑哑的声音同竹管声振荡在寂静空气里，The mix of grated voice and clarinet music vibrated in the peaceful air.溪中仿佛也热闹了一些。(实则歌声的来复，反而使一切更寂静一些了。)Seemingly, the stream became a bit livelier. (Actually with the singing bouncing back and forth, everything turned more tranquil.) -有时过渡的是从川东过茶峒的小牛，是羊群，是新娘子的花轿，翠翠必争看作渡船夫，Sometimes when calves, goats, or bridal-sedan-chair party from Eastern Sichuan coming through Chadong rode on the ferry, Cuicui would eagerly assume the boatperson role in order to take a closer look. 站在船头，懒懒的攀引缆索，让船缓缓的过去。She would stand at the bow and slothfully pull the rope to lead the boat across slowly.牛羊花轿上岸后，翠翠必跟着走，站到小山头，Once the calves, goats or bridal-sedan-chair party got on shore, Cuicui always would follow them from behind right up to the top of the small hill.目送这些东西走去很远了，方回转船上，Then she would stand there and watch until they had gone a good distance before she turned back to the boat.把船牵靠近家的岸边。且独自低低的学小羊叫着，学母牛叫着，After she hauled the boat alongshore, she would quietly imitate baaing of little goat or mooing of cow by herself alone.或采一把野花缚在头上，独自装扮新娘子。Sometimes, she would mimic a bridge and tie a bunch of wild-flowers on her head. -茶峒山城只隔渡头一里路，买油买盐时，A mile away from the ferry landing was the mountain-city of Chadong where daily supplies such as cooking oil and salt could be purchased.逢年过节祖父得喝一杯酒时，祖父不上城，In Chinese New Year or a festival after Grandpa had a drink of wine, he would skip the regular trip to the city.黄狗就伴同翠翠入城里去备办东西。Then the yellow dog would keep Cuicui company in traveling to town for household supply purchases.到了卖杂货的铺子里，有大把的粉条，大缸的白糖，有炮仗，有红蜡烛，In arriving at a variety store, available for sale in display were noodles in bundles, white-sugar in vat, firecrackers, red candles, etc.莫不给翠翠很深的印象，All of them impressed Cuicui greatly.回到祖父身边，总把这些东西说个半天。When she got back to Grandpa, she always talked about those things she saw for a good half day.那里河边还有许多上行船，百十船夫忙着起卸百货。Over in town, there were many upstream-traveling boats, and hundreds of boatmen were busy loading and unloading goods on and off the boatsm.这种船只比起渡船来全大得多，有趣味得多，This type of boat was much bigger and more interesting than Cuicuis family ferry.翠翠也不容易忘记。Those were things which Cuicui would not easily forget. -附注：(1) “Outskirts” or “Outskirt”There is no such word as “outskirt”, and “outskirts”a plural noun, is the correct spelling. It means the edge of town/city.(2) “Passers-by” or “Passer-bys”Pay attention that the plural form of “passer-by” (meaning somebody going past) is “passers-by” and not “passer-bys”.-二Chapter Two-茶峒地方凭水依山筑城，Chadong built its city by mountain-side and beside the water.近山的一面，城墙如一条长蛇，缘山爬去。On the side near the mountain, there was a long snake-like city wall which crawled along the mountain.临水一面则在城外河边留出余地设码头，湾泊小小篷船。Outside of the city along the river, a section was set aside to build piers where small awning-boats moored.船下行时运桐油青盐，染色的棓子。Boats going downstream would be transporting tung-oil, lake salt and gallnuts (a color-dying ingredient). -上行则运棉花棉纱以及布匹杂货同海味。Boats going upstream would be carrying raw cotton, cotton-yarn, cloth, groceries, and seafood-products.贯串各个码头有一条河街，Linking all the piers was a riverside street.人家房子多一半着陆，一半在水，Many residents houses were half on land and half in water.因为余地有限，那些房子莫不设有吊脚楼。Because available land was limited, sections of those houses were on stilts.河中涨了春水，到水逐渐进街后，During high-water in spring, some of the water would progressively overflow onto the street.河街上人家，便各用长长的梯子，一端搭在屋檐口，一端搭在城墙上，Families living along River Street would rest one side of long ladders on roof-eaves and the other side on the city-wall.人人皆骂着嚷着，带了包袱、铺盖、米缸，从梯子上进城里去，While swearing and screaming, they would bring along their luggage, bedding, rice-vats etc. and climb up the ladders into the city.水退时方又从城门口出城。After water retreated, they would exit the city through the gate.某一年水若来得特别猛一些，沿河吊脚楼必有一处两处为大水冲去，In a certain year when flow of water was particularly strong, one or two locations of the stilt-houses along the river could be washed away.大家皆在城上头呆望。受损失的也同样呆望着，对于所受的损失仿佛无话可说，All the people watched helplessly from the top of the city wall, including those victims who were stunned speechless in witnessing damages being done to their property.与在自然安排下，眼见其他无可挽救的不幸来时相似。Their situations were much like other unfortunate souls who were powerless to do anything when overwhelming natural disaster struck.涨水时在城上还可望着骤然展宽的河面，流水浩浩荡荡，When water rose, those standing on top of the city could see the suddenly broadening river surface and torrential water-flow.随同山水从上流浮沉而来的有房子、牛、羊、大树。Bobbing in mountain water were houses, cows, goats and big trees.于是在水势较缓处，税关趸船前面，便常常有人驾了小舢板，In front of the customhouse, pontoons, and places where water-current slowed down, often there were people in sampans circling arou