痖弦·《坤伶》英译

十六岁她的名字便流落在城里

一种凄然的旋律

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那杏仁色的双臂应由宦官来守卫

小小的髻儿啊清朝人为他心碎

 

是玉堂春吧

（夜夜满园子嗑瓜子儿的脸！）

 

“苦啊……”

双手放在枷里的她

 

有人说

在佳木斯曾跟一个白俄军官混过

 

一种凄然的旋律

每个妇人诅咒她在每个城里

 

Diva

Ya Xian

 

At sixteen her name made the rounds in the city

Forlorn but lilting syllables

 

Those almond-colored arms needed a eunuch to guard them,

That little topknot was ravishing to men from Manchu times.

 

Is that an air from “Spring in Jade Hall”?

(Each night the courtyard filled with faces nibbling melon seeds!)

 

“How I wee…”

Her hands bolted into a cangue.

 

Some people tell

Of an affair with a White Russian officer in Jiamusi.

 

Forlorn but lilting syllables

All the matrons cursed her in every city.