诗歌翻译:王勃·《滕王阁序》英文译文(2)

Looking afar and chanting, and then looking downward and singing, Ifeel a sudden rush of ecstasy soaring up in me. The music of the panpipe islike a gentle cool breeze. The soft singing lingers on; it is so soothing thateven the passing white clouds seem to come to a halt. The gathering here can becompared to the banquet in the bamboo garden hosted by Prince of Xiao of theLiang State (13), and many a guest is a greater drinker than Tao Yuanming (14).It is also like the feast at River Ye where Cao Zhi (15) composed the poem inpraise of the lotus flower. Present are many talented scholars who are asgifted as Xie lingyun of Linchuan (16). It is not an easy thing to have fourexcellent things all at once, that is, good weather, beautiful scenery, fullenjoyment and heartfelt happiness, and it is even more difficult to have agenerous host and honored guests. I look into the vast expanse of the sky andamuse myself to my heart’s content on this festive day. The sky is high and theland is boundless; I cannot but feel the immensity of the universe. Sadnessfollows happiness. I am aware that success and failure are predestined. I lookinto the distance, but Chang’an, the capital of the country, is far beyond thesetting sun in the west, and Wuhui (17) is unapproachable somewhere amid theclouds. At the farthest end of the south are the depths of the South Sea, andfar away in the north is the pillar that upholds the sky, but the Polestar isstill farther. Since the mountains and passes are hard to travel over, whowould sympathize with the disappointed ones? The people I meet here are allpolitically frustrated, drifting together like duckweeds. I pine for theEmperor but am not summoned. How long should I wait before I am called to thecourt again like Jia Yi (18)?

Alas! I am ill fated, and my life is full of frustrations. Feng tanggrew old quickly (19) and Li Guang had difficulty getting promoted (20). Jia Yiwas unjustly exiled to Changsha. Was it because there was no wise emperor onthe throne? Liang Hong had to seek refuge at the seaside (21). Was it becausethere was no good government in his time? Fortunately what supports one is thebelief that a man of noble character always contented with his lot. Old as oneis, he gains vigor with age and by no means wavers in his aspiration. Poor asone is, he is all the more determined in adversity and by no means gives up hisambition. One keeps his integrity even if he has drunk the water of the springof Avarice (22) and is cheerful even is he is confronted with misfortune.Though the North Sea is far away, one can still get there with the help of thestrong wind. Though the morning is gone, it is not too late to make up the lossin the evening. Meng Chang was noble and honest, but his devotion to thecountry was futile (23). Ruan Ji was unruly and untrammeled, but he burst outcrying when in dire straits (24). How can we learn from him?

I am an insignificant scholar of a low official position and am ofthe same age as Zhong Jun (25), but unlike him, I have no opportunity to servein the army. I will follow the example of Ban Chao (26), who threw aside thewriting brush to enlist in the armed services and I admire Zong Que (27) whomade up his mind to seek a military career by braving the wind and waves. I amdetermined not to accept the offer of a lifelong government position by wearinga hair dress and holding a tablet before the chest as court officials do.Rather, I will travel thousands of li to go home to wait on my parents, payingrespect to them morning and evening. As a son I am not as good as Xie Xuan (28)but in my early years I had the fortune to have men of virtue as my neighbors.In a few days I will be with my father and I will take care of him and receiveinstructions from him as did Kong Li (29). On this day I have the honor to beinvited by Governor Yan to this grand occasion. I am as blissful as if I hadleaped over the Dragon’s Gate (30). Since I do not have someone like Yang Yi torecommend me (31), I can only sigh with grief and caress this piece of writingwhich expresses my lofty aspiration. Now that I have met a bosom friend likeZhong Ziqi (32), why should I be ashamed of presenting this writing of mine?