杨万里·《书莫读》英译

书诗莫吟。<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

读书两眼枯见骨，吟诗个字呕出心。

人言读书乐，人言吟诗好，

口吻长作秋虫声，只令君瘦令君老。

君瘦君老且勿论，傍人听之亦烦恼。

何如闭目坐斋房，下帘扫地自焚香。

听风听雨都有味，健来即行倦来睡。

 

 

Don’t Read Books

Yang Wan-li

 

Don’t read books

Don’t chant poems

When you read books your eyeballs wither away

leaving the bare sockets

When you chant poems your heart leaks out slowly

with each word

People say reading books is enjoyable

People say chanting poems is fun

But if your lips constantly make a sound

like an insect chirping in autumn

you will only turn into a haggard old man

And even if you don’t turn into a haggard old man

It’s annoying for others to have to hear you

 

It’s so much better

to close your eyes, sit in your study

lower the curtains, sweep the floor,

burn incense.

take a walk when you feel energetic,

and when you’re tired go to sleep.

 

（Jonathan Chaves 译）