（古詩詞賦英譯）蟬賦 – 曹植 （節譯）

蟬賦 – 曹植 （節譯）

 

Ode to Cicada by Cao Zhi

 

唯夫蟬之清素兮，潛厥類乎太陰。

在盛陽之仲夏兮，始遊豫乎芳林。

 

This cicada is candid, not at all conceit,   

It silently slumbers under the black soil.

When summer comes, the sun exerts torrid heat,

It ventures out from the underneath with toil.

 

實澹泊而寡欲兮，獨怡樂而長吟。

聲皦皦而彌厲兮，似貞士之介心。

 

It bears no menacing desire, nor bellicose deed,

It doth oft sing loud to please itself alone.

Its voice is booming and enduring indeed,

Which resonates with the heart of brave backbone.

 

內含和而弗食兮，與眾物而無求。

棲高枝而仰首兮，漱朝露之清流。

 

It vies with no creatures for food to eat,

And threatens no one for a thing.

It lifts its head and takes high branch as its seat,

And drinks dawn dew like nectar in spring.  

 

隱柔桑之稠葉兮，快啁號以遁暑。

苦黃雀之作害兮，患螳螂之勁斧。

 

In dense mulberry leaves, it shelters,

Yet oft it suffers from the siskins’ sharp maws.

It hums with might when the air swelters,

Yet oft it suffers from mantis’ cruel claws. 

 

冀飄翔而遠托兮，毒蜘蛛之網罟。

欲降身而卑竄兮，懼草蟲之襲予。

 

It dreams to fly high and far away,

Yet oft it’s captured by the malicious spider-snare.

It wishes to descend from the height to stay,

Yet oft it fears venomous insects lurking there.

 

 免眾難而弗獲兮，遙遷集乎宮宇。

依名果之茂陰兮，托修幹以靜處。

 

To scape all these nemesis, perils, and traps,

It hides into a remote palace on the sly.

Amid vibrant fruits and green leaves, it oft naps,

It seems serene to let the world pass by.

 

Tr. Ziyuzile

(To be revised)

20/07/2024