翻译范进中举吴敬梓

1、0918翻译: 范进中举（吴敬梓）Translation: Fan Jin Passing Civil Exam (Wu Jingzi)(translated by: alexcwlin; edited by: Adam Lam)范进进学回家，母亲，妻子俱各欢喜。Fan Jin successfully entered county school. When he returned home he made his mother and wife very happy upon telling them about his accomplishment.正待烧锅做饭，只见他丈人胡屠户，手里拿着

2、一副大肠和一瓶酒，走了进来。Just when they were about to start a fire in cooking supper, his father-in-law, Hu Tuhu, walked in with a set of large intestines and a bottle of wine.范进向他作揖，坐下。Fan gave him a clenched-fists bow (6) and then sat down.胡屠户道：我自倒运，把个女儿嫁与你这现世宝，Hu said: “It must be my bad luck that my daught

3、er is married to a useless bum like you.历年以来，不知累了我多少。In all these years, you have caused me plenty of grief.如今不知因我积了甚么德，带挈你中了个相公，Now I must have accumulated some divine good fortune so that you could ride on my coattail to score a seat in school as a scholar.我所以带个酒来贺帝你。Now I am bringing some wine to

4、 celebrate your achievement.”范进唯唯连声，Fan meekly mumbled his accord.叫浑家把肠子煮了，烫起酒来，He asked his wife to cook the intestines and warm the wine.在茅草棚下坐着。母亲自和媳妇在厨下造饭。Then he and his father-in-law sat under a reed-awning while the two women prepared meal in the kitchen.胡屠户又吩咐女婿道：你如今既中了相公，凡事要立起个体统来。Hu instru

5、cted the son-in-law: “Now that you have become a scholar, everything that you do needs to follow a protocol of respectability.比如我这行事里，都是些正经有脸面的人，又是你的长亲，For example, the people in my line of work are decent and dignified individuals who are your elder associates.你怎敢在我们跟前装大？You must be careful not to

6、put on airs (1) before us.若是家门口这些做田的，扒粪的，不过是平头百姓，Those people in front of the house who make a living in farming or raking faeces are merely commoners.你若同他拱手作揖，平起平坐，这就是坏了学校规矩，If you greet them with clenched-fists bows or treat them as your equals, then you would be violating the schools established

7、practices.连我脸上都无光了。In doing so, even I would be embarrassed.你是个烂忠厚没用的人，You are a stubbornly honest and hopeless person.所以这些话我不得不教导你，免得惹人笑话。I have to say all these things to teach you so that people wont laugh at you.”范进道：岳父见教的是。Fan said: “Dad, thank you for teaching me all these things. Youre absolu

8、tely correct.”胡屠户又道：亲家母也来这里坐着吃饭。Hu continued to speak, “Ask your mother to come over and sit here for supper.老人家每日小菜饭，想也难过。Life must be tough for an old lady like her who eats very little every day.我女孩儿也吃些。My daughter will eat some as well.自从进了你家门，这十几年，不知猪油可曾吃过两三回哩！All these ten-odd years since she

9、was married into your family, I dont know if she has been fed lard for more than two or three times.可怜！可怜！That is a real pity!”说罢，婆媳两个都来坐着吃了饭。After he finished talking, the daughter and her mother-in-law came over to sit down for supper together.吃到日西时分，胡屠户吃的醺醺的。They ate until evening and Hu was feel

10、ing tipsy on wine.这里母子两个，千恩万谢。Both the mother and son expressed their utmost gratitude to Hu.屠户横披了衣服，腆着肚子去了。Hu put on his clothes and left with his bulged tummy. -次日，范进少不得拜拜乡邻。On the next day, Fan Jin went to pay visits to neighborhood villagers.魏好古又约了一班同案的朋友，彼此来往。Wei Haogu arranged with a group of

11、classmates to associate regularly with one another.因是乡试年，做了几个文会。Provincial level Imperial Exam was going to be conducted in that year and the classmates held several academic discussion group meetings.不觉到了六月尽间，这些同案的人约范进去乡试。Very soon it was the end of June, and those classmates asked Fan to go togeth

12、er for the Provincial Exam.范进因没有盘费，走去同丈人商议，Fan did not have enough money to pay for the traveling, and so he went to discuss the situation with his father-in-law.被胡屠户一口啐在脸上，骂了个狗血喷头，道：不要失了你的时了！Hu spit on Fans face and told him off in saying: “Dont waste your time.你自己只觉得中了一个相公，就癞虾蟆想吃起天鹅肉来！You thought

13、you have passed one exam to be a scholar and now youre daydreaming about hitting the bigtime.我听见人说，就是中相公时，也不是你的文章，I heard someone told me that you didnt write your essay that passed the exam.还是宗师看见你老，不过意，舍与你的。The master-examiner felt pity on you because you were old and let you pass.如今痴心就想中起老爷来！Now

14、you are fantasizing about passing the Imperial Exam to become a master.这些中老爷的都是天上的文曲星！All those who make the grade in the exam to become masters are Wisdom Stars from heaven.你不看见城里张府上那些老爷，Havent you seen those masters in Zhang Familys mansion?都有万贯家私，They are loaded with money.一个个方面大耳？In addition, th

15、ey all have square faces and big ears.像你这尖嘴猴腮，也该撒抛尿自己照照！A person like you with pointed mouth and monkey cheeks should pee on the ground to check out what you really look like from the reflection.不三不四，就想天鹅屁吃！You dont look respectable and yet you are dreaming big.趁早收了这心，My advice is you should give up

16、 your pipe dream early.明年在我们行里替你寻一个馆，Next year let me find you a shop through my connections in my line of business.每年寻几两银子，养活你那老不死的老娘和你老婆是正经！That way you can earn a few liangs of silver a year in order that you can support your long-overdue-to-die mother and your good-natured wife.你问我借盘缠，You ask me

17、 to loan you some money for traveling.我一天杀一个猪还赚不得钱把银子，I slaughter a pig a day and have been unable to earn a “qian” and change of silver.都把与你去丢在水里，叫我一家老小嗑西北风！Lending that to you would be like throwing it in water and what do my family have left to live on.”一顿夹七夹八，骂的范进摸门不着。Hus mumbo-jumbo in lashing

18、out at Fan left Fan scratching his head on what that was all about.辞了丈人回来，Fan said goodbye to his father-in-law and came home.自心里想：宗师说我火候已到，He thought: “Master said my knowledge is proficient enough for the exam.自古无场外的举人，Nobody can ever become a successful candidate without actually entering the tes

19、t center.如不进去考他一考，如何甘心？How could (8) I live with myself if I dont give it a try in the exam?”因向几个同案商议，瞒着丈人，到城里乡试。So he found a way to participate in the Imperial Exam inside the city behind his father-in-laws back after discussing the matter with a few classmates.出了场，即使回家。家里已是饿了两三天。After writing the

20、 examination, he came home and his family had been starved for two to three days.被胡屠户知道，又骂了一顿。Hu Tuhu found out and of course he gave Fan more lecturing. -到出榜那日，家里没有早饭米，On the day the exam results came out, the Fan family ran out of rice for breakfast.母亲吩咐范进道：我有一只生蛋的母鸡，The mother instructed Fan Jin:

21、 “I have an egg-laying hen.你快拿到集上去卖了，买几升米来煮餐粥吃，Quickly take it to the market to sell and see if you can get a few shengs of rice for cooking congee to eat.我已是饿的两眼都看不见了。I am going blind from starving.”范进慌忙抱了鸡，走出门去。Fan hurriedly took the hen and went out the door.才去不到两个时候，只听得一片声的锣响，After he had gone o

22、ut for less than four hours, a series of gong sounds rang out.三匹马闯将来。Three horses galloped in.那三个人下了马，把马拴在茅草棚上，一片声叫道：快请范老爷出来，The riders got off the mounts, tied the horses to the thatch-shack and shouted: “Ask Master Fan to come out quick.恭喜高中了！We want to congratulate him for passing the Imperial Ex

23、am.”母亲不知是甚事，吓得躲在屋里；The mother did not know what was going on and she was scared stiff hiding inside the house.听见了，方敢伸出头来，说道：诸位请坐，After hearing those words, she poked her head out and said: “Please take a seat, gentlemen.小儿方才出去了。My son just went out.”那些报录人道：原来是老太太。Those people delivering the good new

24、s said: “Oh, you are the mother.”大家簇拥着要喜钱。They were crowding around asking for lucky money.正在吵闹，又是几匹马，二报、三报到了，In the midst of all the clamoring, the second group of good-news messengers came followed by the third group.挤了一屋的人，茅草棚地下都坐满了。The house was packed with visitors and even the thatch-shack was

25、 full of people sitting on the floor.邻居都来了，挤着看，Neighbors came as well and they were trying to squeeze inside the house to see what was happening.老太太没奈何，只得央及一个邻居去寻他儿子。Old Mrs. Fan had no choice but begged a neighbor to go find his son. -那邻居飞奔到集上，一地里寻不见；The neighbor ran towards the market and couldnt

26、find Fan Jin anywhere along the way.直寻到集东头，见范进抱着鸡，手里插个草标，It was not until he searched all the way to the east side of the market that he saw Fan holding the hen with a straw-sign attached to indicate it was for sale.一步一踱的，东张西望，在那里寻人买。Fan was plodding and looking around to find a buyer.邻居道：范相公，快些回去！T

27、he neighbor said: “Mr. Scholar Fan, go home quick.你恭喜中了举人，Congratulations (5)! You have passed the Provincial Imperial exam.报喜人挤了一屋里。Your house is packed with good-news messengers.”范进道是哄他，Fan thought the neighbor was pulling his leg.只装不听见，低着头往前走。So he pretended he did not hear and continued walking

28、with his head down.邻居见他不理，走上来，就要夺他手里的鸡。The neighbor saw Fan was ignoring him and so he walked up and wanted to take the chicken away from his hand.范进道：你夺我的鸡怎的？Fan said: “Why do you want to grab my chicken?你又不买。You are not buying, are you?”邻居道：你中了举了，叫你家去打发报子哩。The neighbor said: “You have passed the I

29、mperial Exam and you are asked to come home to send the messengers away.”范进道：高邻，你晓得我今日没有米，要买这鸡去救命，Fan said: “Neighbor Gao, you know I run out of rice today and need to sell this chicken to save lives.为甚么拿这话来混我？Why are you saying these things to trick me?我又不同你顽，Im not fooling around with you.你自回去罢，Yo

30、u go back and leave me alone.莫误了我卖鸡。Dont get in the way while I am selling chicken.”邻居见他不信，The neighbor saw he didnt believe what he said.劈手把鸡夺下，掼在地下，一把拉了回来。So he snatched the chicken away from him, flung it to the ground, and dragged him along to go home.报录人见了道好了，The messengers saw him and said: “T

31、hats fantastic.新贵人回来了。Our new bigwig is back.”正要拥着他说话，范进三两步走进屋里来，Just when they were going to surround him to talk, Fan quickly got inside the house.见中间报帖已经升挂起来，上写道：捷报贵府老爷范讳进高中广东乡试第七名亚元。He saw the document in reporting the good news had already been hung up that read: “This is a brief notification t

32、hat Master Fan Huijin at your house scored Number Seven in ranking of Guangdong Provincial Imperial Exam.京报连登黄甲。The official yellow document will follow.” -范进不看便罢，看了一遍，又念一启蒙，Everything was fine with Fan Jin before he looked at the notice. After reading it once and reciting it once, it dawned on him

33、what actually had happened.自己把两手拍了一下，笑了一声，道：噫！好了！He clapped his hands together, let out a laugh, and said: “Oh, thats terrific!我中了！I passed the exam.”说着，往后一交跌倒，牙关咬紧，不省人事。After saying that, he fell backward clenching his teeth and fainted.老太太慌了，慌将几口开水灌了过来。The old Mrs. Fan got panicky and scrambled to

34、 pour several gulps of warm water into his mouth to wake him up.他爬将起来，He crawled to get up.又拍着手大笑道：噫！好！Then he clapped his hands and laughed out loud: “Oh fantastic!我中了！I pass.”笑着，Afterwards he laughed some more.不由分说，就往门外飞跑，For no reason he darted out the front door.把报录人和邻居吓了一跳。In doing so, he shock

35、ed the messengers and neighbors.走出大门不多路，一脚踹在塘里，A short distance away one of his feet stepped into a pond and slipped.挣起来，头发都跌散了，两手黄泥，淋淋漓漓一身的水。In struggling to get up, his hair was messed up, his hands were full of yellow dirt (2), and his body was dripping wet with water.众人拉他不住，People were unable to

36、 pull him back.拍着笑着，一直走到集上去了。So they clapped and laughed as all of them went with him to the market.众人大眼望小眼，They looked at one another and were at a loss on what to do.一齐道：原来新贵人欢喜疯了。So they all said: “Our new exalted official has gone crazy from overjoyed.”老太太哭道：怎生这样苦命的事！Old Mrs. Fan said in tears:

37、“What rotten luck we have!中了一个甚么举人，就得了这拙病！He passed some sort of exam and contracted this strange ailment.这一疯了，几时才得好？Once he goes crazy I really dont know when he would recover.”娘子胡氏道：早上好好出去，怎的就得了这样的病！His wife Miss Hu said: “He was fine this morning when he went out and how did he catch this disease

38、.却是如何是好？What are we going to do?”众邻居劝道：老太太不要心慌。The neighbors tried to comfort them in saying: “Dont panic, Mrs. Fan.我们而今且派两个人跟定了范老爷。Well arrange to have two people follow Master Fan closely.这里众人家里拿些鸡蛋酒米，且管待了报子上的老爹们，Here well get some eggs, wine and rice from our homes to entertain these Master Messe

39、ngers.再为商酌。Then well figure out what to do.” -当下众邻居有拿鸡蛋来的，有拿白酒来的，也有背了斗米来的，也有捉两只鸡来的。Immediately neighbors brought over eggs, wine, a bucket of rice and a couple of chickens.娘子哭哭啼啼，在厨下收拾齐了，拿在草棚下。While weeping, the wife got all the food organized in the kitchen and took them out to the thatch shack.邻居又

40、搬些桌凳，The neighbors moved some chairs and tables over to Fans place.请报录的坐着吃酒，商议他这疯了，如何是好。While drinking wine on their seats, the messengers talked about how they were going to handle Fans mentally deranged condition.报录的内中有一个人道：在下倒有一个主意，不知可以行得行不得？A messenger (3) said: “I have an idea and I wonder if i

41、t could work.”众人问：如何主意？Others asked: “Whats your idea?”那人道：范老爷平日可有怕的人？The messenger (3) said: “Is there a person whom Master Fan normally is very afraid of?他只因欢喜狠了，痰涌上来，迷了心窍。He is only overly thrilled such that he gets choked up with phlegm and his mind is all fogged up.如今只消他怕的这个人来打他一个嘴巴，说这报录的话都是哄你的

42、，你并不曾中。Now all it takes is for the person whom he fears to whack him one on the mouth and say, Those messengers are feeding you a line and you did not pass.他这一吓，把痰叶了出来，就明白了。Once he gets a jolt and spits out the phlegm, then he would be fine.”众邻都拍手道：这个主意好得紧，妙得紧！The neighbors applauded and one of them

43、 said, “This idea is great and wonderful.范老爷怕的，莫过于肉案上的胡老爹。The person whom Master Fan fears is none other than Senior Hu at the butcher table.好了！快寻胡老爹来。Alright then! Go and find Mr. Hu quickly.他想还不知道，在集上卖肉哩。I suppose he does not know about this yet and is still selling meat in the market.”又一个人道；在集上卖肉

44、，他倒好知道了；Another person said, “If he is selling meat in the market he would have known about this already.他从五更鼓就往东头集上迎猪，Between 3:00 a.m.-5:00 a.m., he has been waiting in the east side of the market to pick up the pig that he ordered.还不曾回来。He has not returned as yet.快些迎着去寻他。Go quickly and find him.”

45、 -一个人飞奔去迎，走到半路，遇着胡屠户来，A person dashed to locate Hu Tuhu and halfway over there he ran into Hu.后面跟着一个烧汤的二汉，提着七八斤肉，四五千钱，Behind him was a kitchen soup-making helper carrying seven to eight “jins” of meat and four to five thousand copper coins.正来贺喜。They were coming to extend congratulations (5).进门见了老太太.

46、Hu saw Mrs. Fan upon entering the front door.老太太大哭着告诉了一番。While in tears, Mrs. Fan told Hu everything.胡屠户诧异道：难道这等没福？Hu was surprised and said, “Does that mean we dont have the good fortune?”外边人一片声请胡老爹说话。All the noises outside were requesting Mr. Hu to say a few words.胡屠户把肉和钱交与女儿，走了出来。Hu left the meat

47、 and money with his daughter and came out.众人如此这般，同他商议。Those people told him the ins and outs of the situation and discussed with him about the plan in mind.胡屠户作难道：虽然是我女婿，如今却做了老爷，就是天上的星宿。Hu put up a reluctant look and said, “Even though he is my son-in-law, yet he is now a master, which is a divine s

48、tar in the sky.天上的星宿是打不得的！Nobody is allowed to hit a divine star.我听得斋公们说：打了天上的星宿，阎王就要拿去打一百铁棍，Monks told me anyone hitting a divine star would be sentenced by Yama, the Netherworld King, to one-hundred blows with iron-rod,发在十八层地狱，永不得翻身。Also he would be sent to the bottom of the eighteen levels of hel

49、l and would never be incarnated again.我却是不敢做这样的事！I would not dare to do such a thing as hitting him.”邻居内一个尖酸的人说道：罢么！胡老爹，An acid-tongued neighbor said, “Forget that, Mr. Hu.你每日杀猪的营生，You are in the business of slaughtering pig every day.白刀子进去，红刀子出来，Your shiny white knife turns red with blood after dri

50、lling into the body of a pig.阎王也不知叫判官的簿子上记了你几千铁棍；Yama must have asked his registrar to record thousands of iron-rod blows against you on the books.就是添上这一百棍，也打甚么要紧？It would not make a difference in adding on these extra hundred blows, would it?只恐铁棍打完了，也算不到这笔帐上来。I am afraid after the iron-rod is all u

51、sed up in beating you, these additional hundred blows would not have come up as yet.或者你教好了女婿的病，阎王叙功，从地狱里把你提上第十七层来，Maybe after you have cured your son-in-laws illness, Yama would consider the merits and move you up to the seventeenth level of hell.也不可知。Dont discount such a possibility.”报录的人道：不要只管讲笑话。

52、胡老爹，这个事须是这般，The messenger said: “Mr. Hu, all joking aside, this is the way this matter should be handled.你没奈何，权变一权变。There is no other choice and you must be accommodating to the circumstances.”屠户被众人局不过，Hu could not refuse at being cornered by all those people.只得连斟两碗酒喝了，壮一壮胆，把方才这些小心收起，将平日的凶恶样子拿出来，Upo

53、n downing a couple of bowls of wine to boost his courage, he dropped his well-mannered guise and returned to be his normal ferocious self.卷一卷那油晃晃的衣袖，走上集去。He rolled up his oily sleeves a bit and walked towards the market.众邻居五六个都跟着走。Five to six of the neighbors followed him.老太太赶出来叫道：亲家，你只可吓他一吓，却不要把他打伤

54、了！Old Mrs. Fan ran out and shouted, “In-law Hu, just give him a scare and dont hurt him.”众邻居道：这自然，The neighbors said, “Of course that goes without saying.何消吩咐。You dont need to remind us.”说着，一直去了。They kept going as they were speaking. -来到集上，只见范进正在一个庙门口站着，When they arrived at the market, they saw Fan Jin was standing before the front door (4) of a temple.散着头发，满脸污泥，His hair was messed up and his face was splattered with dirt.鞋都跑掉了一只，One shoe was missing.兀自拍着掌，口里叫道：中了！中了！He was still clapping hands and shouting, “I pass! I pass!”胡屠户凶神似的走