曹雪芹《红楼梦》第一回诗四首英译

一

 

无才可去补苍天，枉入红尘若许年。

此系身前身后事，倩谁记去作奇传？

 

作者：曹雪芹

 

One

 

Found unfit to repair the azure sky

Long years a foolish mortal man was I.

My life in both worlds on this stone is writ:

Pray who will copy out and publish it?

 

Translated by David Hawkes

 

二

 

满纸荒唐言，一把辛酸泪。

都云作者痴，谁解其中味。

 

作者：曹雪芹

 

Two

 

Pages full of idle words

Penned with hot and bitter tears;

All men call the author fool;

None his secret message hears.

 

三

 

未卜三生愿，凭添一段愁。

闷来时敛额，行去几回头。

自顾风前影，谁堪月下俦？

蟾光如有意，先上玉人楼。

 

作者：曹雪芹

 

Three

 

Ere on ambition’s path my feet are set,

Sorrow comes often this poor heart to fret.

Yet, as my brow contracted with new care,

Was there not one who, parting, turned to stare?

Dare I, that grasp at shadows in the wind,

Hope, underneath the moon, a friend to find?

Bright orb, if with my plight you sympathize,

Shine first upon the chamber where she lies.

 

四

 

时逢三五便团圆，满把晴光护玉栏。

天上一轮才捧出，人间万姓仰头看。

 

Four

 

In thrice five nights her perfect O is made,

Whose cold light bathes each marble balustrade.

As her bright wheel starts on its starry ways,

On earth ten thousand heads look up and gaze.

 

Translated by David Hawkes

 

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