班婕妤·《怨歌行》/《怨诗》/《团扇诗》英译

新裂齐纨素，鲜洁如霜雪。

裁为合欢扇，团团似明月。

出入君怀袖，动摇微风发。

常恐秋节至，凉飚夺炎热。

弃捐箧笥中，恩情中道绝。

A Present from the Emperor’s New Concubine

Lady P’an

I took a piece of the rare cloth of Ch’i,

White silk glowing and pure a frost on snow,

And made you a fan of harmony and joy,

As flawlessly round as the full moon.

Carry it always, nestled in your sleeve.

Wave it and it will make a cooling breeze.

I hope, that when Autumn comes back

And the North Wind drives away the heat,

You will not store it away amongst old gifts

And forget it, long before it is worn out.

（Kenneth Rexroth 译）

The Fan

Fine, freshly woven silk of Qi

Is white as frost or snow;

A piece, embroidered, makes a fan

As round as the bright moon.

My lord keeps the fan about him,

Its motion makes a gentle breeze for him;

But I dread the coming of autumn

When cold winds steal away the sultry heat.

And the fan is tossed, unwanted, into a casket,

Its short term of favor ended.

（杨宪益、戴乃迭 译）