《红楼梦》“好了歌”英译

《红楼梦》“好了歌”英译

【原文】

好了歌

世人都晓神仙好，惟有功名忘不了！

古今将相在何方？荒冢一堆草没了。

世人都晓神仙好，只有金银忘不了！

终朝只恨聚无多，及到多时眼闭了。

世人都晓神仙好，只有姣妻忘不了！

君生日日说恩情，君死又随人去了。

世人都晓神仙好，只有儿孙忘不了！

痴心父母古来多，孝顺子孙谁见了？

【杨宪益、戴乃迭英译】

All Good Things Must End

All men long to be immortals

Yet to riches and rank each aspires;

The great ones of old, where are they now?

Their graves are a mass of briars.

All men long to be immortals,

Yet silver and gold they prize

And grub for money all their lives

Till death seals up their eyes.

All men long to be immortals

Yet dote on the wives they've wed,

Who swear to love their husband evermore

But remarry as soon as he's dead.

All men long to be immortals

Yet with getting sons won't have done.

Although fond parents are legion,

Who ever saw a really filial son?

【David Hawks译】

Won-Done Song

Men all know that salvation should be won,

But with ambition won't have done, have done.

Where are the famous ones of days gone by?

In grassy graves they lie now, every one.

Men all know that salvation should be won.

But with their riches won't have done, have done.

Each day they grumble they've not made enough.

When they've enough, it's good night everyone!

Men all know that salvation should be won.

But with their loving wives they won't have done.

The darlings every day protest their love:

But once you're dead, they're off with another one.

Men all know that salvation should be won,

But with their children won't have done, have done.

Yet though of parents fond there is no lack,

Of grateful children saw I ne'er a one.