4.11《琵琶行》名家英译.doc

杨宪益、戴乃迭 译: Song of the Lute PlayerBai Juyi ? In the tenth year of the reign of Yuanhe, I was demoted to the assistant prefectship of Jiujiang. The next autumn, while seeing a friend off at Pengpu, I heard someone strumming a lute in a boat at night, playing with the touch of a musician from the capital. I found upon inquiry that the lutist was a courtesan from Changan who had learned from the musicians Mu and Cao but growing old and losing her looks, she had married a merchant. Then I ordered drinks and asked her to play a few tunes. After playing, in deep distress, she told me of the pleasures of her youth and said now that her beauty had fades she was drifting from place to place by rivers and lakes. In my two years as an official away from the capital I had been resigned enough, my mind at peace, but moved by her tale that night I began to take my demotion and exile to heart. So I wrote a long poem and presented it to her. It has 612 words and I call it the Song of the Lute Player.浔阳江头夜送客，枫叶荻花秋瑟瑟。 主人下马客在船，举酒欲饮无管弦。 醉不成欢惨将别，别时茫茫江浸月。 By the Xunyang River a guest is seen off one night;Chill the autumn, red the maple leaves and in flower the reeds;The host alights from his horse, the guest is aboard,They raise their cups to drink but have no music.Drunk without joy, in sadness they must part;At the time of parting the river seems steeped in moonlight; 忽闻水上琵琶声，主人忘归客不发。 寻声暗问弹者谁？琵琶声停欲语迟。 移船相近邀相见，添酒回灯重开宴。 Suddenly out on the water a lute is heard;The host forgets to turn back, the guest delays going.Seeking the sound in the dark, we ask who is the player.The lute is silent, hesitant the reply.Rowing closer, we ask if we may meet the musician,Call for more wine, trim the lamp and resume our feast; 千呼万唤始出来，犹抱琵琶半遮面。 转轴拨弦三两声，未成曲调先有情。 Only after a thousand entreaties does she appear,Her face half-hidden behind the lute in her arms.She tunes up and plucks the strings a few times,Touching our hearts before even the tune is played; 弦弦掩抑声声思，似诉平生不得志。 低眉信手续续弹，