公刘·《无弦琴》英译

陶渊明不解音律，而蓄无弦琴一张。每酒适，辄抚弄以寄意。<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

——萧统：《陶渊明传》

 

然而，我不会喝酒，

连一张做样子的琴也无有。

 

无有桐木，

无有弓藤，

无有马尾，

无有象牙一般熟透了的拨子，

无有琥珀一般凝固着的松油。

 

不会，不会，不会，

无有，无有，无有。

 

尽管我略懂一点点音律，

并且积蓄了不止一点点忧愁。

 

我不是陶渊明啊，

不曾在门前栽下五株柳。

 

我不是陶渊明啊，

也误了抚琴的时候。

 

1981年11月7日  合肥

 

Stringless Harp

Gong Liu

 

Tao Yuanming didn’t know music, but he kept a stringless harp. When he was a bit high with liquor, he played the harp to express his feelings. –Xiao Tong: On Tao Yuanming

 

However, I never drink liquor.

And I do not even have a thing that can be called a harp.

 

I have neither tung wood,

Nor rattan bow,

Neither horse tail,

Nor ivory-like and weathered plectrum

Nor amber-like rosin.

 

No, no, no,

Never, never, never.

 

Though I know a little about music,

I have stored up not a little of worry.

 

I am no Tao Yuanming.

And I didn’t plant five willows in front of the gate.

 

I am no Tao Yuanming,

So I miss the chance of playing the harp.

 

November 7, 1981 in Heifei