白居易诗《道州民》英文翻译赏析
道州民，多侏儒，长者不过三尺馀。市作矮奴年进送，
号为道州任土贡。任土贡，宁若斯，不闻使人生别离，
老翁哭孙母哭儿。一自阳城来守郡，不进矮奴频诏问。
城云臣按六典书，任土贡有不贡无。道州水土所生者，
只有矮民无矮奴。吾君感悟玺书下，岁贡矮奴宜悉罢。
道州民，老者幼者何欣欣。父兄子弟始相保，
从此得作良人身。道州民，民到于今受其赐，
欲说使君先下泪。仍恐儿孙忘使君，生男多以阳为字。
Arthur Waley阿瑟韦利的英文翻译
THE PEOPLE OF TAO-CHOU
In the land of Tao-chou
Many of the people are dwarfs;
The tallest of them never grow to more than three feet.
道州民，多侏儒，长者不过三尺馀。
They were sold in the market as dwarf slaves and yearly sent to Court;
Described as “an offering of natural products from the land of Tao-chou.”
市作矮奴年进送，号为道州任土贡。
A strange “offering of natural products”; I never heard of one yet
That parted men from those they loved, never to meet again!
任土贡，宁若斯，不闻使人生别离，“宁”译者按照“岂;难道”理解，所以“I never heard of.”
Old men—weeping for their grandsons; mothers for their children!
老翁哭孙母哭儿。
One day—Yang Ch’ēng came to govern the land;
He refused to send up dwarf slaves in spite of incessant mandates.
一自阳城来守郡，不进矮奴频诏问。Incessant, continuing or following without interruption, unceasing
He replied to the Emperor “Your servant finds in the Six Canonical Books
‘In offering products, one must offer what is there, and not what isn’t there’
城云臣按六典书，任土贡有不贡无。
On the waters and lands of Tao-chou, among all the things that live
I only find dwarfish people; no dwarfish slaves.”
道州水土所生者，只有矮民无矮奴。
The Emperor’s heart was deeply moved and he sealed and sent a scroll
“The yearly tribute of dwarfish slaves is henceforth annulled.”
吾君感悟玺书下，岁贡矮奴宜悉罢。Annul, to declare or make legally invalid or void
The people of Tao-chou,
Old ones and young ones, how great their joy!
Father with son and brother with brother henceforward kept together;
道州民，老者幼者何欣欣。父兄子弟始相保，
From that day for ever more they lived as free men.
The people of Tao-chou
Still enjoy this gift.
从此得作良人身。道州民，民到于今受其赐，
And even now when they speak of the Governor
Tears start to their eyes.
欲说使君先下泪。
And lest their children and their children’s children should forget the Governor’s name,
When boys are born the syllable “Yang” is often used in their forename.
仍恐儿孙忘使君，生男多以阳为字。