罗经国?英译《陈情表》

zcm1944 2015-08-10

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罗经国英译《陈情表》

(2015-08-10 17:26:26)

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李密［西晋］《陈情表》（4）（罗经国英译）

臣密言：臣以险衅［1］，夙遭闵凶［2］。生孩六月，慈父见背［3］；行年四岁，舅夺母志［4］。祖母刘愍臣孤弱，躬亲抚养。臣少多疾病，九岁不行，零丁孤苦，至于成立［5］。既无叔伯，终鲜兄弟，门衰祚薄［6］，晚有儿息［7］。外无期功强近之亲［8］，内无应门五尺之僮［9］，茕茕孑立［10］，形影相吊［11］。而刘夙婴疾病［12］，常在床蓐［13］，臣侍汤药，未曾废离［14］。

A Letter to His Majesty

Li Mi

Your humble servant Mi begs to say:
Born with ill fortune, I live a miserable and disastrous life in my early childhood. My father died when I was six months old and my mother was forced by her brother to remarry when I was four years old. Feeling deep sympathy for my loneliness and poor health, Grandmother Liu brought me up on her own. Being susceptible to illness in my childhood, I could hardly walk even at the age of nine. Having neither uncles nor cousins, I grew up helpless and forlorn without any intimate companions. Destined not to have the joy of a big family, I only got a male descendent late in life. I have neither close relatives who will wear mourning for me when I die, nor a boy servant to attend to the household affairs. Oh! How wretched and lonely I am, with only body and shadow comforting each other. Grandmother Liu has been bedridden for a long time, and I have to wait upon her without negligence.

【注释】

［1］险衅（ｘìｎ信）：灾难祸患。指命运坎坷。

［2］夙：早。这里指幼年时。闵凶：忧患。

［3］背：背弃。指死亡。

［4］舅夺母志：指由于舅父的意志侵夺了李密母亲守节的志向。

［5］成立：长大成人。

［6］祚（ｚｕò作）：福泽。

［7］儿息：儿子。

［8］期功强近之亲：指比较亲近的亲戚。古代丧礼制度以亲属关系的亲疏规定服丧时间的长短，服丧一年称“期”，九月称“大功”，五月称“小功”。

［9］应门五尺之僮：指照管客来开门等事的小童。

［10］茕（ｑｉóｎｇ穷）茕孑（ｊｉé结）立：生活孤单无靠。

［11］吊：安慰。

［12］婴：纠缠。

［13］蓐（ｒù入）：通“褥”，褥子。

［14］废离：废养而远离。逮奉圣朝，沐浴清化［15］。前太守臣逵［16］，察臣孝廉［17］；后刺史臣荣［18］，举臣秀才［19］。臣以供养无主，辞不赴命。诏书特下，拜臣郎中［20］，寻蒙国恩［21］，除臣洗马［22］。猥以微贱［23］，当侍东宫［24］，非臣陨首所能上报［25］。臣具以表闻，辞不就职。诏书切峻［26］，责臣逋慢［27］；郡县逼迫，催臣上道；州司临门［28］，急于星火。臣欲奉诏奔驰，则刘病日笃［29］，欲苟顺私情［30］，则告诉不许。臣之进退，实为狼狈。

Immersed in the enlightenment of Your Majesty's just and wise rule, I was first recommended as xiaolian (1) by Prefect Kui, and then as xiucai (2) by Cish Rong of the District (3). I declined both offers on the ground that I had to look after my grandmother. Then your imperial edict came, offering me the position of langzhong (4), and later further granting me the imperial favor that I, your humble servant, was appointed xianma (5) to serve His Highness. Even if I should have my head cut off, I could hardly express my gratitude for Your Majesty's great favor. I have written to Your Majesty a letter declining this offer. Another edict came, which, in severe terms, criticized me for my hesitation. Both the magistrates of the prefecture and the county urged me to set off immediately. Then the governor of the District came to my house, commanding me to start without delay. I should have done so but my grandmother's failing health detained me. I appealed to them, begging for their sympathy, but they were adamant. I am in a dilemma, knowing not what to do.

(1)Xiaolian was an official position, recommended by the local government for one's filial piety and moral records.

(2)Xiucai, an official position, was recommended by local governments.

(3)Cishi was an official in the administrative district, who was in charge of military and administrative affairs. Here the "District" refers to the administrative district.

(4)Langzhong was an official waiting on the emperor and was in charge of administrative work.

(5)Xianma was an attendant who served the Prince.

【注释】

［15］清化：清明的政治教化。

［16］太守：郡的地方长官。

［17］察：考察。这里是推举的意思。孝廉：当时推举人才的一种科目，“孝”指孝顺父母，“廉”指品行廉洁。

［18］刺史：州的地方长官。

［19］秀才：当时地方推举优秀人才的一种科目，由州推举，与后来经过考试的秀才不同。

［20］拜：授官。郎中：官名。晋时各部有郎中。

［21］寻：不久。

［22］除：任命官职。洗马：官名。太子的属官，在宫中服役，掌管图书。［23］猥：辱。自谦之词。

［24］东宫：太子居住的地方。这里指太子。

［25］陨（ｙǔｎ允）首：丧命。

［26］切峻：急切严厉。

［27］逋慢：回避怠慢。

［28］州司：州官。

［29］日笃：日益沉重。

［30］苟顺：姑且迁就。伏惟圣朝以孝治天下［31］，凡在故老［32］，犹蒙矜育［33］，况臣孤苦，特为尤甚。且臣少仕伪朝［34］，历职郎署［35］，本图宦达，不矜名节［36］。今臣亡国贱俘，至微至陋，过蒙拔擢，宠命优渥［37］，岂敢盘桓，有所希冀！但以刘日薄西山，气息奄奄，人命危浅，朝不虑夕。臣无祖母，无以至今日，祖母无臣，无以终余年，祖孙二人，更相为命，是以区区不能废远［38］。臣密今年四十有四，祖母刘今年九十有六，是臣尽节于陛下之日长［39］，报刘之日短也。乌鸟私情［40］，愿乞终养。

Now Your Majesty is ruling the country on the principle of filial piety. Old people of high virtue are being taken care of and well provided for. It is apparent that I am more distressed than others. Besides, out of vainglory to secure a high position in the government regardless of my personal integrity, I served in the last dynasty during my youth as shangshulang (6), and now, I, a captive, a slave, am getting undeserved favor from Your Majesty. How dare I hesitate and cherish any aspirations? But my grandmother is at her last breath, and she is like the setting sun beyond the western hills. Her life is at stake and she may die at any moment. But for her, I would not have become what I am today. But for me, she would have been long dead. It is because the two of us depend upon each other that I, your humble servant, cannot leave home at present. I am forty-four years of age and my grandmother is ninety-six. Ahead lie many years during which I may faithfully serve Your Majesty, but there remain only a few brief moments during which I can serve my grandmother. Given that even the crow looks after its elderly, I pray Your Majesty will allow me to stay with my grandparent until her last breath.

(6)Shangshulang was an official chosen from xiaolian to help the emperor in administrative work.

【注释】

［31］伏惟：旧时奏疏、书信中下级对上级常用的敬语。

［32］故老：遗老。

［33］矜育：怜惜抚育。

［34］伪朝：指蜀汉。

［35］历职郎署：指曾在蜀汉官署中担任过郎官职务。

［36］矜：矜持爱惜。

［37］宠命：恩命。指拜郎中、洗马等官职。优渥（ｗò握）：优厚。

［38］区区：形容感情恳切。

［39］陛下：对帝王的尊称。

［40］乌鸟私情：相传乌鸦能反哺，所以常用来比喻子女对父母的孝养之情。臣之辛苦，非独蜀之人士及二州牧伯所见明知［41］，皇天后土［42］，实所共鉴，愿陛下矜愍愚诚［43］，听臣微志［44］，庶刘侥幸，保卒余年。臣生当陨首，死当结草［45］。臣不胜犬马怖惧之情［46］，谨拜表以闻。

——选自《文选》六臣注本

Not only do the people of Shu, but also the officials of Liang and Ye know my situation well. Heaven and Earth, too, bear witness to my misery. I sincerely hope Your Majesty may show mercy on me so that I can fulfill my lifelong wish to serve my grandmother till she has lived her full span. I will do anything for Your Majesty for the rest of my life and will repay your kindness by twisting grass (7) for Your Majesty after my death. I am trembling all over as I present to Your Majesty this petition.

(7)Wei Ou, a prince of the Jin Dynasty, during the Spring and Autumn Period was saved by the ghost of an old man whose daughter he had saved. The ghost plucked a handful of grass and twisted it into a rope by which the opponent Wei Ou was fighting with during a battle was pulled down from his horse and was killed.

【注释】

［41］二州：指益州和梁州。益州治所在今四川省成都市，梁州治所在今陕西省勉县东，二州区域大致相当于蜀汉所统辖的范围。牧伯：刺史。上古一州的长官称牧，又称方伯，所以后代以牧伯称刺史。

［42］皇天后土：犹言天地神明。

［43］愚诚：愚拙的至诚之心。

［44］听：听许，同意。

［45］结草：据《左传·宣公十五年》记载，晋国大夫魏武子临死的时候，嘱咐他的儿子魏颗，把他的遗妾杀死以后殉葬。魏颗没有照他父亲说的话做。后来魏颗跟秦国的杜回作战，看见一个老人把草打了结把杜回绊倒，杜回因此被擒。到了晚上，魏颗梦见结草的老人，他自称是没有被杀死的魏武子遗妾的父亲。后来就把“结草”用来作为报答恩人心愿的表示。

［46］犬马：作者自比，表示歉卑。