← The Odyssey: Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original

The Odyssey: Rendered into English prose for the use of those who cannot read the original — Page 4

English → Chinese Preface Level 6/10

In the preface to my translation of the "Iliad" I have given my views as to the main principles by which a translator should be guided, and need not repeat them here, beyond pointing out that the initial liberty of translating poetry into prose involves the continual taking of more or less liberty throughout the translation; for much that is right in poetry is wrong in prose, and the exigencies of readable prose are the first things to be considered in a prose translation.

在我翻译《伊利亚特》的前言中，我已经阐述了译者应当遵循的主要原则，此处无需重复，只需指出：将诗歌译为散文这一最初的自由，意味着在整个翻译过程中须不断地或多或少地采取进一步的自由；因为诗歌中许多正确的东西在散文中却是错误的，而可读性散文的要求是散文翻译中首先需要考虑的事情。

That the reader, however, may see how far I have departed from strict construe, I will print here Messrs. Butcher and Lang's translation of the sixty lines or so of the "Odyssey."

然而，为了让读者了解我偏离严格直译的程度，我将在此印出巴彻先生和朗先生对《奥德赛》约六十行的译文。

Their translation runs:

他们的译文如下：

Tell me, Muse, of that man, so ready at need, who wandered far and wide, after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy, and many were the men whose towns he saw and whose mind he learnt, yea, and many the woes he suffered in his heart on the deep, striving to win his own life and the return of his company.

请告诉我，缪斯，那个随机应变之人的故事，他在攻陷特洛伊的神圣城堡之后，浪迹四方，见识了许多民族的城邦，了解了他们的心思，在茫茫大海上历尽了无数内心的苦楚，为保全自己的性命和同伴的归还而苦苦挣扎。

Nay, but even so he saved not his company, though he desired it sore.

然而，尽管他竭力渴望，终究未能挽救他的同伴。

For through the blindness of their own hearts they perished, fools, who devoured the oxen of Helios Hyperion: but the god took from them their day of returning.

因为他们因自身心智的盲目而走向毁灭，这些愚人吞食了太阳神赫利俄斯·许珀里翁的牛群：而神明便剥夺了他们归还的日子。

Of these things, goddess, daughter of Zeus, whencesoever thou hast heard thereof, declare thou even unto us.

女神啊，宙斯之女，无论你从何处听闻此事，请将这一切告知我们。

Vocabulary

在: zài — At, in, on; indicates location or ongoing action.
我: wǒ — I, me; first-person singular pronoun.
翻译: fānyì — To translate; a translation or translator.
的: de — Structural particle indicating possession or modification.
前言: qiányán — Preface or foreword introducing a book or text.
中: zhōng — In, within, among; middle or center.
已经: yǐjīng — Already; indicates something has been completed.
阐述: chǎnshù — To expound, elaborate, or explain in detail.
了: le — Particle indicating completed action or change of state.
译者: yìzhě — Translator; the person who translates a text.
应当: yīngdāng — Should, ought to; indicates moral or logical obligation.
遵循: zūnxún — To follow, adhere to, or comply with principles.
主要: zhǔyào — Main, primary, principal; most important.
原则: yuánzé — Principle, rule, or guiding standard of conduct.
此处: cǐchù — Here, at this place or point in text.
无需: wúxū — No need to; unnecessary to do something.
重复: chóngfù — To repeat; doing or saying something again.
只需: zhǐxū — Only need to; it is sufficient merely to.
指出: zhǐchū — To point out, indicate, or note something.
将: jiāng — To take, render; future action marker or preposition.
诗歌: shīgē — Poetry; literary works written in verse form.
译为: yì wéi — To translate into a specified language or form.
散文: sǎnwén — Prose; non-metrical literary writing in ordinary language.
这一: zhè yī — This one; used to highlight a particular thing.
最初: zuìchū — Initially, at first, from the very beginning.
自由: zìyóu — Freedom, liberty; free from constraint or restriction.
意味着: yìwèizhe — To mean, imply, or signify something.
整个: zhěnggè — Entire, whole, complete; referring to the totality.
过程: guòchéng — Process, course, or procedure of doing something.
须: xū — Must, need to; expressing necessity or requirement.
不断: bùduàn — Continuously, constantly, without stopping or interruption.
地: de — Structural particle linking adverbials to verbs.
或多或少: huò duō huò shǎo — More or less; to a greater or lesser extent.
采取: cǎiqǔ — To adopt, take, or employ a measure or approach.
进一步: jìn yī bù — Further, one step further; advancing beyond current point.
因为: yīnwèi — Because, since; introduces a reason or cause.
许多: xǔduō — Many, a lot of; a large quantity of things.
正确: zhèngquè — Correct, accurate, right; free from error.
东西: dōngxi — Thing, object; a general term for items or matters.
却是: què shì — Yet is, but actually is; introduces a contrast.
错误: cuòwù — Error, mistake; something incorrect or wrong.
而: ér — And, but, yet; conjunction connecting contrasting clauses.
可读性: kědúxìng — Readability; the quality of being easy to read.
要求: yāoqiú — Requirement, demand; to require or request something.
是: shì — Is, are, am; the main linking verb in Chinese.
首先: shǒuxiān — First of all, firstly; in the first place.
需要: xūyào — To need, require; something that is necessary.
考虑: kǎolǜ — To consider, think over, or take into account.
事情: shìqing — Matter, affair, thing; a general term for situations.
然而: rán'ér — However, nevertheless; introduces a contrasting statement.
为了: wèile — In order to, for the purpose of; indicates goal.
让: ràng — To let, allow, make; causative or permissive verb.
读者: dúzhě — Reader; a person who reads a text or publication.
了解: liǎojiě — To understand, know, or be acquainted with something.
偏离: piānlí — To deviate, depart from, or stray away from.
严格: yángé — Strict, rigorous, demanding; not lax or loose.
直译: zhíyì — Literal translation; translating word for word exactly.
程度: chéngdù — Degree, extent, level of something.
在此: zài cǐ — Here, at this point; referring to current location or moment.
印出: yìnchū — To print out; to produce text in printed form.
先生: xiānsheng — Mister, sir; respectful title for an adult man.
和: hé — And; connecting words, phrases, or clauses together.
对: duì — Toward, regarding; also means correct or facing.
约: yuē — Approximately, about; indicating an approximate number.
六十: liùshí — Sixty; the number 60.
行: háng — Line, row; a line of text or verse.
译文: yìwén — Translation; the translated version of a text.
他们: tāmen — They, them; third-person plural pronoun.
如下: rúxià — As follows; what comes below or hereafter.
请: qǐng — Please; polite request or invitation to do something.
告诉: gàosu — To tell, inform, or let someone know something.
那个: nàge — That, that one; refers to a specific distant thing.
随机应变: suí jī yìng biàn — Adapt flexibly to changing circumstances as needed.
之人: zhī rén — The person of; literary phrase meaning 'the one who'.
故事: gùshi — Story, tale; a narrative account of events.
他: tā — He, him; third-person masculine singular pronoun.
攻陷: gōngxiàn — To capture, storm, or breach a fortified place.
神圣: shénshèng — Sacred, holy, divine; revered and spiritually exalted.
城堡: chéngbǎo — Castle, citadel, fortress; a fortified stronghold.
之后: zhīhòu — After, afterward, subsequently; following a certain event.
浪迹: làngjì — To wander, roam; leaving traces while traveling aimlessly.
四方: sìfāng — All directions, everywhere; the four cardinal directions.
见识: jiànshi — To experience, see; knowledge gained through experience.
民族: mínzú — Nation, ethnic group, people; a community sharing culture.
城邦: chéngbāng — City-state; an independent self-governing urban community.
心思: xīnsi — Mind, thoughts, mental state or intentions of someone.
茫茫大海: mángmáng dàhǎi — The vast, boundless open sea stretching endlessly.
上: shàng — On, above, upon; indicates surface or upward direction.
历尽: lìjìn — To have gone through, endured all of something.
无数: wúshù — Countless, innumerable; too many to be counted.
内心: nèixīn — Inner heart, mind; one's innermost feelings or thoughts.
苦楚: kǔchǔ — Suffering, anguish, bitter pain and distress.
为: wèi — For, in order to; indicates purpose or beneficiary.
保全: bǎoquán — To preserve, protect, keep safe from harm.
自己: zìjǐ — Oneself, self; reflexive pronoun referring back to subject.
性命: xìngmìng — Life; one's existence or survival, especially when at risk.
同伴: tóngbàn — Companion, fellow traveler, comrade who accompanies one.
归还: guīhuán — To return, give back; bring companions safely home.
苦苦挣扎: kǔkǔ zhēngzhá — To struggle desperately and painfully against difficulties.
尽管: jǐnguǎn — Although, even though, despite; introduces a concession.
竭力: jiélì — With all one's strength; to try one's utmost.
渴望: kěwàng — To yearn for, long for, intensely desire something.
终究: zhōngjiū — In the end, ultimately, after all is said and done.
未能: wèi néng — Was unable to, failed to accomplish something.
挽救: wǎnjiù — To save, rescue, avert a disaster or loss.
因: yīn — Because of, due to; indicates cause or reason.
自身: zìshēn — Oneself, one's own self; referring to the subject itself.
心智: xīnzhì — Mind, intellect; one's mental faculties and wisdom.
盲目: mángmù — Blind, reckless; acting without thought or awareness.
走向: zǒuxiàng — To move toward, head toward; proceed in a direction.
毁灭: huǐmiè — Destruction, annihilation; to destroy completely and utterly.
这些: zhèxiē — These; plural demonstrative referring to nearby things.
愚人: yúrén — Fool, foolish person; someone lacking wisdom or sense.
吞食: tūnshí — To devour, swallow up, consume greedily.
太阳神: tàiyáng shén — Sun god; deity personifying and ruling the sun.
牛群: niúqún — Cattle herd; a group of cows or oxen together.
神明: shénmíng — Gods, deities; divine beings of spiritual power.
便: biàn — Then, so, thereupon; indicates a consequent action.
剥夺: bōduó — To deprive, strip away, take something forcibly from someone.
日子: rìzi — Days, life; one's days of existence or livelihood.
女神: nǚshén — Goddess; a female deity in mythology or religion.
啊: ā — Ah, oh; exclamatory particle expressing emotion or address.
之女: zhī nǚ — Daughter of; literary phrase indicating parentage.
无论: wúlùn — Regardless of, no matter; introduces unconditional condition.
你: nǐ — You; second-person singular pronoun.
从何处: cóng héchù — From where, from what place; asking about origin or source.
听闻: tīngwén — To hear of, learn about through hearing or rumor.
此事: cǐ shì — This matter, this affair; refers to the topic at hand.
请将: qǐng jiāng — Please take and; polite request to convey or deliver.
这: zhè — This; demonstrative pronoun referring to a nearby thing.
一切: yīqiè — Everything, all; the totality of things without exception.
告知: gàozhī — To inform, notify, make known to someone.
我们: wǒmen — We, us; first-person plural pronoun.

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