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华章英韵 |白居易《 问刘十九》倪庆行英译‖总第16期


  导读:倪庆行,山东农业大学外国语学院副教授,对诗歌情有独钟,讲授大学英语,高级英语,翻译等课程,研究方向为语篇分析、汉英对比与翻译。座右铭:生有所为(To live is to function)。


主持人

王如利(Wang Ruli)
丁立群(Ding Liqun)

Introduction

    今天是二十四节气中的小雪,预示着寒冬的正式来临。在写冬天的古诗词中,最温情也最为人熟知的或许就是白居易的《问刘十九》了。本期《华章英韵》有幸邀请到倪庆行老师执笔主译,同时还有倪老师的倾情朗诵,一起欣赏!

     Today is Light Snow of the 24 solar terms in Chinese lunar calendar, which indicates the real approach of the cold winter. In the ancient poems on Winter, the warmest and most familiar one perhaps is “Asking Liu Shijiu” written by Bai Juyi of the Tang Dynasty. We are delighted to have invited Mr. Ni Qinghang for this issue of Chinese Verse in English Rhyme, and he has also provided us a beautiful recitation of the poem. Please enjoy it!

问刘十九
【唐】白居易

绿蚁新醅酒,
红泥小火炉。
晚来天欲雪,
能饮一杯无?

Asking LIU Shijiu

Written by BAI Juyi (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by NI Qinghang

Green ant-like foam floats on the newly-brewed wine,
Flames in the red-clayed miniature stove glow so fine.
At dusk, it is imminent to snow,
Will you come for a drink? Yes or no?

THE TRANSLATOR’S REMARKS
   
    这首小诗反映了诗人言简意赅的写作风格。诗人匠心独运,刻意将三个独特的意象并置一起,从而营造出温馨的气氛。新酿制的米酒,表面漂浮着绿蚁般的泡沫,散发出沁人心脾的芬芳。红炉散发着温暖,火焰上下跳动。初雪不久就会落下,白色的雪花将在空中飞舞盘旋。氛围是多彩的:绿酒、红炉、白雪。生活也应丰富多彩。闲暇娱乐是人之所爱。诗人白居易也不例外。他利用初雪良辰,邀请知己刘十九来他家饮酒。邀请没有华丽的辞藻,有的只是朴实的文字,字里行间浸透的亲密友谊是不言而喻的。读者可凭丰富的想象,勾勒出如下场景:刘十九一收到邀请,即刻拜访白居易,两位知己围坐火炉旁,恣意饮酒,谈锋热烈,无话不谈,最后,也许酩酊,酣然入睡……这些画面再次证明了一个公认的真理:友谊是永恒的主题。

     This little poem reflects Bai Juyi’s writing style, that is, words are simple and easy, yet the meaning behind the words is profound. Through penetrating thoughts, the poet deliberately juxtaposes three distinctive images to create a cozy atmosphere. The newly brewed rice wine, with green ant-like foam floating on the surface, gives off permeating fragrance. The red-clayed miniature stove is radiating warmth, with sharp red flames dancing up and down. Presently, fresh snow will fall down, with white snowflakes swirling in the air. The atmosphere is colorful: green wine, red stove, white snow. So is life. It is advisable for people to find leisure time to enjoy themselves. Bai Juyi is such a person as to avail himself of this wonderful occasion to invite his bosom friend, Liu Shijiu to come to his house to have a drink. His invitation consists not of gorgeous words but simple words, yet the close friendship between the lines is self-evident. Readers can resort to their ample imaginations to picture the following scenes: at the invitation, Liu Shijiu immediately visits Bai Juyi, and the two bosom friends sit beside the red-clayed stove, drinking at will, engaging themselves in a heated conversation on whatever topics, and finally perhaps becoming too tipsy and falling into slumber… These episodes again testify the universally-acknowledged truth that friendship is an eternal theme.

THE TRANSLATOR’S BIO

    倪庆行,山东农业大学外国语学院副教授,对诗歌情有独钟,讲授大学英语,高级英语,翻译等课程,研究方向为语篇分析、汉英对比与翻译。座右铭:生有所为(To live is to function)。

      NNI Qinghang, associate professor of College of Foreign Languages of Shandong Agricultural University, keen on poetry, teaches such courses as “College English” “Advanced English”, “Translation”,with discourse analysis, contrasts between Chinese and English, translation as research favorites. Motto: To live is to function.

责任编辑: 西江月
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