《诗经·小雅·采薇》研读与英语翻译
是一首写一位长期守卫边疆的戍边战士回家途中的情景的回忆。 薇：野豌豆，泛指可以充饥的野菜。“采薇”一词，还见于伯夷、叔齐隐居山野，义不侍周的故事。司马迁《史记卷六十一 伯夷列传》：“武王已平殷乱，天下宗周，而伯夷、叔齐耻之，义不食周粟，陷于首阳山，采薇而食之” 此诗最后一章，优美动听，脍炙人口：“昔我往矣，杨柳依依;今我来思，雨雪霏霏。行道迟迟，载渴载饥;我心伤悲，莫知我哀。”
(一)
全诗意境生动，但需要解释，注释如下：
采薇采薇采薇，薇亦作止;曰归曰归，岁亦莫止。靡mi室靡家，玁yan狁yun之故;不遑huang启居
玁狁之故。采薇采薇，薇亦柔止;曰归曰归，心亦忧止。忧心烈烈，载饥载渴;我戍未定，靡使归聘。采薇采薇，薇亦刚止;曰归曰归，岁亦阳止。王事靡盬gu，不遑启处;忧心孔疚，我行不来。彼尔维何，维常之华;彼路斯何，君子之车。戎车既驾，四牡mu业业;岂敢定居，一月三捷。驾彼四牡mu，四牡骙kui骙;君子所依，小人所腓。四牡翼翼，象弭er鱼服;岂不日戒，玁狁孔棘。昔我往矣，杨柳依依;今我来思，雨雪霏霏。行道迟迟，载渴载饥;我心伤悲，莫知我哀。
【注释】“薇”：野豌豆，可食用。这里泛指可以充饥的野菜。
“作”：这里是不及物动词，表示“发作，发生，发芽，生长，开始生长”之类意义。也可以是及物动词，表示“生出”、“生成”、“造成”、“创造”之类意义。如《诗经.大雅.桑柔》：“不知而作”，“既作尔歌”。又如《诗经.大雅.皇矣》第二章开头：“作之屏之”，“修之平之”，“启之辟之”。又如《诗经.大雅.崧高》：“以作尔庸”，“以作尔宝”。《诗经.大雅.周颂.天作》：“天作高山，大王荒之;彼作矣，文王康之”。又如《诗经.大雅.商颂.那》：“自古在昔，先民有作”，“作”这里转化为名词，表示“作为”。“止”：句末助词。
这里相当现代汉语“了”。如《诗经.小雅.杕杜》：“卉木萋止，女心悲止，征夫归止”;又如《诗经.小雅.庭燎》：“君子至止，鸾声将将”。又如《诗经.小雅.宾之初筵》：“宾之初筵，温温其恭;其未醉止，威仪反反”，“宾既醉止，载号载呶nao”。又如《诗经.大雅.民劳》：“民亦劳止，汔可小康”。“汔”同“乞”，“汔可小康”即可以乞求小康生活。“作止”与下文“柔止”，“刚止”照应。“柔”与“刚”在《诗经》就常对应出现，又如《诗经.大雅.烝民》有一章：“人亦有言，柔则茹之，刚则吐之;维仲山甫，柔亦不茹，刚亦不吐;不侮矜寡，不畏强御。”
“曰”：放在句首，是助词，但仍然带有“说”字的含义。《诗经.大雅.周颂.载见》开头：“载见辟王，曰求厥章”。比较《诗经.大雅.瞻卬》“岂曰不极”;“瞻卬”即“瞻仰”。再比较:《诗经.小雅.天保》：“君曰卜尔，万寿无疆。”《诗经.大雅.常武》：“徐方不回，王曰还归。”“莫”：“末尾”的“末”，“岁莫”，即“年末”。又如“维莫之春，亦又何求?”比较“暮春三月”之类文言!但本诗最后一句“莫知我哀”，“莫”表示“不”，后者是常见的用法。又如《诗经.小雅.天保》：“天保定尔，以莫不兴;如山如埠，如冈如陵，如川之方至，以莫不增。”但《诗经.大雅.文王之什.皇矣》“求民之莫”：“莫”同“瘼”，表示“疾苦”。“靡mǐ”：无。“靡室靡家”，没有家室。这个“靡mǐ”字常见于《诗经》。王“王事靡盬gu”：国家的事情没有结束的时候。
此话又三次见《诗经.唐风.鸨羽》。
“遑huáng”：《现代汉语词典》解释为“闲暇”。“不遑”：没有闲暇时间。又如《诗经.小雅.四牡》：“岂不怀归?王事靡盬gu，不遑启处。”“王事靡盬gu，不遑将父。”。但我查《诗经》，多次见到“皇”、“喤”等。“如《诗经.大雅.文王之什.皇矣》开头：“皇矣上帝”。《诗经.大雅.周颂.执竞》：“上帝是皇”;《诗经.大雅.鲁颂.閟宫》：“皇皇后帝”;又如《诗经.小雅.皇皇者华》：“皇皇者华”;“皇”表示“盛大”、“伟大”，“堂皇”、“茂盛”之类意义。“不遑huang启居”：也可理解为“起居不安”，我认为：“
启居”即“起居“。遑huang：表示“安闲”，
遑huang比其同音字“惶皇煌偟凰蝗篁”等少见。而下文“启处”似表示“启程”。玁xiǎn狁yǔn：指入侵或骚扰边疆的异族。猃狁xianyun：当时称“匈奴”为“猃狁xianyun”;“猃狁xianyun”与“匈奴xiongnu”几乎同音，可能只是方音的差别。
“烈烈”：炽烈，形容忧心如焚。
载zài饥载渴：又饥又渴。又如现代汉语成语“载歌载舞”。
“我戍未定，靡使归聘”：我守卫的边境还不安定，不让我回家探亲。“戍shù”：守卫。“聘pìn”：问，探问。
“阳”：阳光，阳光灿烂，春光明媚，似指春节。我联想到王安石《元日》中“春风送暖入屠苏”与“千门万户曈曈日”的情景。
“靡盬gu”：没有完结。“盬gǔ”：结束，完结。
“孔”：副词，表示“很”。
“我行不来”：我的行程没有到来。参见下文“行道迟迟”与“今我来思”，句尾的“思”字，是助词或虚词，相当“兮”字。“行”在《诗经》常表示“行路”、“走路”这类意义，如《诗经.魏风.十亩之间》：“十亩之间兮，桑者闲闲兮，行与子还兮。十亩之外兮，桑者泄泄兮，行与子逝兮。”又如《诗经.唐风.杕di杜》：“嗟行之人，胡不比也”。常：常棣，植物名。
《诗经.小雅.常棣》：“常棣之华，鄂不桦桦。凡今之人，莫如兄弟。死丧之威，兄弟孔怀。”
“君子”：指将帅。“小人”：指士兵。
“戎(róng)”：车，兵车，战车。引申为“从军打仗”。如成语“兵戎相见”，“投笔从戎”，“戎马一生”等。
“牡(mǔ)”：雄马。
“四牡业业”：“业业”形容认真努力;见成语“兢兢业业”
。“四牡骙kui骙”：“骙kui骙”形容威武雄壮;比较成语“众目睽睽”"四牡翼翼”：“翼翼”形容警惕小心;见成语“小心翼翼”。“捷”：走捷径。
“腓féi”：庇护，掩护。
“弭mǐ”：弓的一种，其两端饰以骨角。“象弭”是象牙装饰两端的弓。“鱼服”，是鱼皮制的箭袋或箭囊。
“岂不日戒，玁狁孔棘jí。”“日戒”：天天戒备或常备不懈。“孔棘”：很棘手，很厉害，很麻烦。“孔”：副词，表示“很”。《诗经》里常见。
“霏(fēi)霏”：雪花纷落的样子。比较"靡mi"(与糜mi同音)，”，其同音字有不少，如“非菲匪扉斐绯”等。按《现代汉语词典》，“靡mi”：无，没有;如“靡日不思”。
值得注意的是：此诗最后一章(段)带有总结性质。前几段(章)是写出征守边的情景，因此写“昔我往矣，杨柳依依”;后六句则写今天回家途中的情景与心情：“今我来思，雨雪霏霏。行道迟迟，载渴载饥;我心伤悲，莫知我哀。”
(二)
下面推荐两位英美汉学家的译文：
译文一(James Legge 译)
Let us gather the thorn-ferns, let us gather the thorn-ferns; The thorn-ferns are now springing up.When shall we return ? When shall we return ?It will be late in the [next] year.Wife and husband will be separated,Because of the Xian-yun.We shall have no leisure to rest,Because of the Xian-yun.Let us gather the thorn-ferns, let us gather the thorn-ferns; The thorn-ferns are now tender.When shall we return? When shall we return?Our hearts are sorrowful; Our hearts are sad and sorrowful; We shall hunger, we shall thirst.While our service on guard is not finished,We can send no one home to enquire about our families.Let us gather the thorn-ferns, let us gather the thorn-ferns;The thorn-ferns are now hard.When shall we return? When shall we return?The year will be in the tenth month.But the king's business must not be slackly performed;We shall have no leisure to rest.Our sorrowing hearts are in great distress;But we shall not return from our expedition.What is that so gorgeous?It is the flowers of the cherry tree.What carriage is that?It is the carriage of our general.His war carriage is yoked;The four steeds are strong.Dare we remain inactive?In one month we shall have three victories.The four steeds are yoked,The four steeds, eager and strong; –The confidence of the general,The protection of the men.The four steeds move regularly, like wings ; –There are the bow with its ivory ends, and the seal-skin quiver.Shall we not daily warn one another?The business of the Xian-yun is very urgent.At first, when we set out,The willows were fresh and green;Now, when we shall be returning,The snow will be falling in clouds.Long and tedious will be our marching;We shall hunger ; we shall thirst.Our hearts are wounded with grief,And no one knows our sadness.
译文二(Ezra Pound 译)
SONG OF THE BOWMAN OF SHUHere we are, picking the first fern-shootsAnd saying: When shall we get back to our country?Here we are because we have the Ken-nin for our foemen,We have no comfort because of these Mongols.We grub the soft fern-shoots,When anyone says "Return," the others are full of sorrow.Sorrowful minds, sorrow is strong, we are hungry and thirsty.Our defense is not yet made sure, no one can let his friend return.We grub the old fern-stalks.We say: Will we be let to go back in October?There is no ease in royal affairs, we have no comfort.Our sorrow is bitter, but we would not return to our country.What flower has come into blossom?Whose chariot? The General's.Horses, his horses even, are tired. They were strong.We have no rest, three battles a month.By heaven, his horses are tired.The generals are on them, the soldiers are by them.The horses are well trained, the generals have ivory arrows andquivers ornamented with fish-skin.The enemy is swift, we must be careful.When we set out, the willows were drooping with spring,We come back in the snow,We go slowly, we are hungry and thirsty,Our mind is full of sorrow, who will know of our grief?
(三)
我根据自己对原文的以上理解，学习、参考、借鉴英美汉学家的译文(主要是他们地道的英语)，重新试译初稿如下：
(先逐段翻译，后全诗整合)
采薇Song of Gathering Ferns采薇采薇, 薇亦作止;曰归曰归，岁亦莫止。靡mi室靡家， 玁yan狁yun之故;不遑huang启居 玁狁之故。 I am gathering ferns in the field, And the ferns are growing green.Who can tell me the date to return? This year has already come to the end. We left home for war against foreigners;We have no leisure because of Yan-yuns,Nor peace because of their offence.We live far from my wife and parents.采薇采薇，薇亦柔止;曰归曰归，心亦忧止。忧心烈烈，载饥载渴;我戍未定，靡使归聘。I am gathering ferns in the field, And the ferns are growing tender.Who can tell me the date to go home? My heart is full of sorrow and pain. My soul is so sad, my body so tired;We often suffer from hunger and thirst.Our service in borders isn't finished,We are not allowed to get home yet. 采薇采薇，薇亦刚止;曰归曰归，岁亦阳止。王事靡盬gu，不遑启处;忧心孔疚，我行不来。I am gathering ferns in the field, And the ferns are growing strong.Who can tell me the date to go home? This New year has been coming now. The national affairs are always busy;We have no time to rest during service.My heart is full of sorrows and pains,For the date to return comes not yet. 彼尔维何，维常之华;彼路斯何，君子之车。戎车既驾，四牡mu业业;岂敢定居，一月三捷。What are those that bloom?It is the flowers of cherry trees.What is on the road there?It is the carriage of our general.Our chariots are ready to fight;The four steeds strong for each .Every one must be brave in battlesTo win victory after victory always.驾彼四牡，四牡骙kui骙;君子所依，小人所腓fei。四牡翼翼，象弭mi鱼服;岂不日戒，玁狁孔棘。The four steeds drive chariots on,Every steed is eager and strong; –That is confidence of our general,That is secure of the men's life.The four steeds move in good order; –Ivory bows and seal-skin quiverare ready.Shall we not always warn against The troubles of the foreingers.昔我往矣，杨柳依依;今我来思，雨雪霏霏。行道迟迟，载渴载饥;我心伤悲，莫知我哀。 I'm on the way home now at lastThe snow is falling in flakes;When I left home, as I remember, Willows were green and fresh then;My way will be long and tedious;I've to suffer from thirst and hunger .My heart is filled with sorrows,And no one can know my sadness.
以上分段英译，现整合全文如下：
Song of Gathering Ferns
I am gathering ferns in the field, And the ferns are growing green.Who can tell me the date to return? This year has already come to the end. We left home for war against foreigners;We have no leisure because of Yan-yuns,Nor peace because of their offence.We live far from my wife and parents.I am gathering ferns in the field, And the ferns are growing tender.Who can tell me the date to go home? My heart is full of sorrow and pain. My soul is so sad, my body so tired;We often suffer from hunger and thirst.Our service in borders isn't finished,We are not allowed to get home yet. I am gathering ferns in the field, And the ferns are growing strong.Who can tell me the date to go home? This New year has been coming now. The national affairs are always busy;We have no time to rest during service.My heart is full of sorrows and pains,For the date to return comes not yet. What are those that bloom?It is the flowers of cherry trees.What is on the road there?It is the carriage of our general.Our chariots are ready to fight;The four steeds strong for each .Every one must be brave in battlesTo win victory after victory always.The four steeds drive chariots on,Every steed is eager and strong; –That is confidence of our general,That is secure of the men's life.The four steeds move in good order; –Ivory bows and seal-skin quiverare ready.Shall we not always warn against The troubles of the foreingers.I'm on the way home now at length.The snow is falling in flakes;When I left home, as I remember,Willows green seemed to be grievous;My way will be long and tedious;I've to suffer from thirst and hunger.My heart is filled with sorrows,And no one can know my sadness.
(四)
《小雅.采薇》名段九种英译文对比
(曾冲明2011年12月8日傍晚发稿)
《小雅.采薇》的最后一节、即第六节，是人们最喜欢的;主要还是因为它没有生僻的字，比较通俗易懂。我收集九种英译文如下：昔我往矣，杨柳依依;今我来思，雨雪霏霏fei;行道迟迟，载渴载饥;我心伤悲，莫知我哀。
译文一(理雅各译)
At first, when we set out,
The willows were fresh and green;
Now, when we shall be returning,
The snow will be falling in clouds.
Long and tedious will be our marching,
We shall hunger; we shall thirst.
Our hearts are wounded with grief.
And no one knows our sadness.
译文二(翟宁斯译)
At first, when we started on our track,
The willows green were growing,
And now, when we think of the journey back,
It is raining fast and snowing.
And tendious and slow the march will be,
And food and drink will fail us.
Ah, hard bear is the misery!
None knows what grief asails us.
译文三(庞德译)
Willows were green when we set out,
It's blowin’an’snowin’as we go down this road,
muddy and slow,hungry and thirsty and blue a doubt
no one feels half of what we know.
译文四(Authur.Waley阿瑟.威利译)
Long ago, when we started,
The willows spread their shade.
Now that we turn back
The snowflakes fly.
The march before us is long,
We are thirsty and hungry,
Our hearts are striken with sorrow,
But no one listens to our plaint.
译文五(Burton Watson 译)
Long ago we set out when willows were rich and green.
Now we come back through thickly falling snow.slow,
slow our march,we were thirsty, we are hungry,
our hearts worn with sorrow,
No one knows our woe.
译文六(汪榕培译)
When I set out so long ago,
Fresh and green was the willow.
When now homeward I go,T
here is a heavy snow.
The homeward march is slow;
My hunger and thirst grow.
My heart is filled with sorrow;
Who on earth will ever know!
The homeward march is slow;
My hunger and thirst grow.
译文七(许渊冲译)
When I left here,
Willows shed tear.
I come back now,
Snow bends the bough.
Long, long the way;
Hard, hard the day,
Hunger and thirst
Both press me worst.
My grief o'erflows.
Who knows!who knows!
译文八(卓振英译)
Gathering Ferns
My native willows green and gay
Did wave me farewell in the past;
Now that I'm on my home-bound way,
The sleet is falling thick and fast.
Stricken with both hunger and thirst,
I'm staggering at a pace slow;
And worst of all, my heart does burst
With such sorrow as none could know!
译文九(曾冲明译)
I'm on the way home now at length.
The snow is falling in flakes;
When I left home, as I remember,
Willows green seemed to be grievous;
My way will be long and tedious;
I've to suffer from thirst and hunger.
My heart is filled with sadness,
And no one can know my sorrows.
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