← 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

Chinese → English Preface Level 6/10

在我翻译《伊利亚特》的序言中,我已阐明了译者应遵循的主要原则,此处无需赘述,只需指出:将诗歌译为散文这一初始自由,意味着在整个翻译过程中需不断地或多或少地进行变通;

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;

因为许多在诗歌中正确的东西在散文中却是不当的,而可读散文的需求是散文翻译中首要考虑的因素。

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.

然而,为了让读者看清我在多大程度上偏离了严格的直译,我将在此印出巴彻先生与朗先生所译《奥德赛》约六十行的译文。

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."

他们的译文如下:

Their translation runs:

请告诉我,缪斯,那位随机应变之人的故事——他在攻克神圣的特洛伊城堡之后,漂泊四方,历经万里;

Tell me, Muse, of that man, so ready at need, who wandered far and wide, after he had sacked the sacred citadel of Troy,

他看见了许多民族的城镇,了解了他们的心智,更在深海上历尽了无数心中的苦难,为保全自身性命并带领同伴返乡而苦苦挣扎。

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.

然而即便如此,他终究未能救得同伴,尽管他为此心切。

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

因为他们凭着自己内心的愚昧而葬送了自己——这些愚人吞食了太阳神赫利俄斯·许佩里翁的神牛;

For through the blindness of their own hearts they perished, fools, who devoured the oxen of Helios Hyperion:

而神明便夺去了他们归返的日子。

but the god took from them their day of returning.

女神啊,宙斯之女,无论你从何处得知这些事,请将它们一一告知我们吧。

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

Vocabulary

preface
书籍或文章前的序言、前言
translation
将文字从一种语言转换为另一种语言的成果
Iliad
古希腊荷马史诗《伊利亚特》
views
对某一问题的看法或观点
main
最重要的、主要的
principles
指导行为或思想的基本准则
translator
从事翻译工作的人,译者
guided
被指引、被指导
repeat
重复说或做某事
beyond
介词,表示超出某范围之外
initial
最初的、起始的、开头的
liberty
自由;此处指翻译上的自由发挥
poetry
诗歌,以韵律和意象表达情感的文学形式
prose
散文,非韵律化的普通书面语
involves
包含、需要、牵涉到某事
continual
持续不断的、反复发生的
throughout
在整个过程或范围内,自始至终
exigencies
紧迫需求或困难情境,复数形式
readable
易读的、可读性强的
reader
读者,阅读某文本的人
however
副词,表示转折,"然而、不过"
departed
depart的过去式,偏离、背离某标准
strict
严格的、严谨的
construe
逐字逐句翻译或解析文本
print
印刷、打印,此处指刊印对比文本
Messrs.
先生们,用于多位男士姓名前的称谓
Odyssey
古希腊荷马史诗《奥德赛》
Muse
希腊神话中的文艺女神,缪斯
ready
准备好的;此处含"机智应变"之意
wandered
wander的过去式,漫游、流浪
sacked
sack的过去式,洗劫、攻陷城市
sacred
神圣的、受到崇拜或保护的
citadel
城堡、要塞,古代城市的防御核心
Troy
特洛伊,古希腊神话中的著名城市
mind
思想、心智;此处指智慧见识
yea
古英语副词,表示"而且、甚至"
woes
woe的复数,苦难、悲痛
suffered
suffer的过去式,遭受痛苦或苦难
striving
strive的现在分词,努力争取
company
同伴、伙伴,此处指随行的部下
Nay
古英语副词,表示否定或更进一层,"不仅如此"
though
连词,表示让步,"虽然、尽管"
desired
desire的过去式,渴望、强烈希望
sore
古英语用法,表示"极度地、非常"
blindness
盲目、愚昧无知,此处指精神上的
perished
perish的过去式,死亡、消亡
fools
fool的复数,愚人、傻瓜
devoured
devour的过去式,贪婪地吃掉、吞食
oxen
ox的复数,耕牛、公牛
Helios
希腊神话中的太阳神赫利俄斯
Hyperion
希腊神话中的泰坦神许珀里翁
goddess
女神,女性神灵
Zeus
希腊神话中的众神之王宙斯
whencesoever
古英语词,无论从何处,"不管来源于哪里"
thou
古英语第二人称单数主格,"你"
hast
古英语have的第二人称单数,"你有"
thereof
古英语词,"关于此事、其中"
declare
宣告、讲述、告知
unto
古英语介词,相当于"to","向、对"
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