下麵那個外國人譯的《沁園春 雪》,我覺得有下列不足,貼出來供大家討論(見評論)。
北國風光,
North country scene:
千裏冰封,
A hundred leagues locked in ice,
評:為在下一行避用音節過多的a ten thousand leagues of,這裏改“千”為“百(a hundred leagues of)”,範圍比原文少十倍,氣勢不如原文。
萬裏雪飄。
A thousand leagues of whirling snow.
評:為避用音節過多的a ten thousand leagues of,改“萬”為“千”(a thousand leagues of),範圍比原文少了十倍,氣勢不如原文。
望長城內外,
Both sides of the Great Wall
評:少譯“望”字,改原文的“有我”為“無我”。
惟餘莽莽;
One single white immensity.
大河上下,
The Yellow River's swift current
頓失滔滔。
Is stilled from end to end.
評:still一詞力度不夠。可譯為 … lost in the freeze.
山舞銀蛇,
The mountains dance like silver snakes
原馳蠟象,
And the highlands charge like wax-hued elephants,
欲與天公試比高。
Vying with heaven in stature.
須晴日,
On a fine day, the land,
評:“須晴日”告訴我們詩中所描寫的“雪”是特定的一場雪,“須晴日”的意思就是等那場雪過後;而On a fine day暗示非特定的雪,意思是任何雪天後的天晴日。意思不夠準確。
看紅裝素裹,
Clad in white, adorned in red,
評:雖然有很多人把“看紅裝素裹”理解成“大地上紅白相映”,其實這個理解是錯誤的。“看紅裝素裹”,其寓意是待到天晴時,一切白色都會轉換為紅色,革命力量一定會遍布大地。所以,譯文Clad in white, adorned in red有點不可思議,因為它的意思是:待到天晴時,大地仍會被白色包圍,紅色隻是裝點。
分外妖嬈。
Grows more enchanting.
江山如此多嬌,
This land so rich in beauty
引無數英雄競折腰。
Has made countless heroes bow in homage
評:“引無數英雄競折腰”裏的“折”字告訴我們,這些英雄們更多的是為國家奮鬥而獻身,而bow in homage隻表示一種敬佩。
惜秦皇漢武,
But alas! Qin Shihuang and Han Wudi
略輸文采;
Were lacking in literary grace,
唐宗宋祖,
And Tang zong and Song zu
稍遜風騷。
Had little poetry in their souls;
一代天驕,
成吉思汗,
And Genghis Khan
Proud son of heaven for a day,
評:“一代”是“一世”的意思,不是“一天(for a day)”
隻識彎弓射大雕。
Knew only shooting eagles, bow outstretched.
評:原文幹淨利索,譯文bow outstretched給人附加感。
俱往矣,
All are past and gone!
數風流人物,
For truly great men
還看今朝。
Look to this age alone.