白居易诗《卖炭翁》英译赏析

卖炭翁，伐薪烧炭南山中。

满面尘灰烟火色，两鬓苍苍十指黑。

卖炭得钱何所营？身上衣裳口中食。

可怜身上衣正单，心忧炭贱愿天寒。

夜来城外一尺雪，晓驾炭车辗冰辙。

牛困人饥日已高，市南门外泥中歇。

翩翩两骑来是谁？黄衣使者白衫儿。

手把文书口称敕，回车叱牛牵向北。

一车炭，千余斤，宫使驱将惜不得。

半匹红绡一丈绫，系向牛头充炭直。

Arthur Waley阿瑟韦利的英文翻译：

THE CHARCOAL-SELLER

An old charcoal-seller

Cutting wood and burning charcoal in the forests of the Southern Mountain.

卖炭翁，伐薪烧炭南山中。

His face, stained with dust and ashes, has turned to the colour of smoke.

The hair on his temples is streaked with gray: his ten fingers are black.

满面尘灰烟火色，两鬓苍苍十指黑。

The money he gets by selling charcoal, how far does it go?

It is just enough to clothe his limbs and put food in his mouth.

卖炭得钱何所营？身上衣裳口中食。

Although, alas, the coat on his back is a coat without lining.

He hopes for the coming of cold weather, to send up the price of coal!

可怜身上衣正单，心忧炭贱愿天寒。

Last night, outside the city,—a whole foot of snow;

At dawn he drives the charcoal wagon along the frozen ruts.

夜来城外一尺雪，晓驾炭车辗冰辙。

Oxen,—weary; man,—hungry: the sun, already high;

Outside the Gate, to the south of the Market, at last they stop in the mud.

牛困人饥日已高，市南门外泥中歇。

Suddenly, a pair of prancing horsemen. Who can it be coming?

A public official in a yellow coat and a boy in a white shirt.

翩翩两骑来是谁？黄衣使者白衫儿。Prance, to walk or move in a spirited manner : strut; to dance about.

In their hands they hold a written warrant: on their tongues—the words of an order;

They turn back the wagon and curse the oxen, leading them off to the north.

手把文书口称敕，回车叱牛牵向北。

A whole wagon of charcoal,

More than a thousand pieces!

If officials choose to take it away, the woodman may not complain.

一车炭，千余斤，宫使驱将惜不得。

Half a piece of red silk and a single yard of damask,

The Courtiers have tied to the oxen’s collar, as the priceof a wagon of coal!

半匹红绡一丈绫，系向牛头充炭直。