白居易诗《废琴诗》英译赏析

丝桐合为琴，中有太古声。

古声澹无味，不称今人情。

玉徽光彩灭，朱弦尘土生。

废弃来已久，遗音尚泠泠。

不辞为君弹，纵弹人不听。

何物使之然，羌笛与秦筝。

Arthur Waley阿瑟韦利的英文翻译是

THE OLD HARP

废琴

Of cord and cassia-wood is the harp compounded:

Within it lie ancient melodies.

丝桐合为琴，中有太古声。古琴多用梧桐木制成，译者把“桐木”译为cassia-wood不妥，根据《中国植物志》，应为“Firmiana-wood”

Ancient melodies—weak and savourless,

Not appealing to present men’s taste.

古声澹无味，不称今人情。savourless由savour而来，savour, the taste or smell of something, a particular flavor or smell, a distinctive quality. savourless, “无味”。

Light and colour are faded from the jade stops:

Dust has covered the rose-red strings.

玉徽光彩灭，朱弦尘土生。“徽”指的是琴弦音位的标志。即古琴面板左方的一排圆星点，用玉石、贝壳、磁或金属镶制而成。译者译为“stop”, a device for arresting or limiting motion.

Decay and ruin came to it long ago,

But the sound that is left is still cold and clear.

废弃来已久，遗音尚泠泠。“泠泠”，1.形容清凉;冷清。2.本指流水声。借指清幽的声音。“cold and clear”.

I do not refuse to play it, if you want me to:

But even if I play, people will not listen.

不辞为君弹，纵弹人不听。

How did it come to be neglected so?

Because of the Ch’iang flute and the Ch’in flageolet.[53]

何物使之然，羌笛与秦筝。译者注：Ch’iang flute and the Ch’in flageolet, barbarous modern instruments.