從未被劇透過的老外：關(guān)羽怎么可能會(huì)死鞋仍？？搅吁？
下面翻譯的是一個(gè)叫 Brian Lanning 的外國(guó)讀者在2003年寫的一篇讀書隨筆威创，記述了他讀《三國(guó)演義》（英文版）讀到關(guān)羽之死時(shí)的錯(cuò)愕、不甘谎懦、憤怒的心情那婉，讓我想起了我小時(shí)候看三國(guó)時(shí)每看到這里就想跳過去的沖動(dòng)。
在翻譯這篇隨筆時(shí)想法也很復(fù)雜党瓮，翻譯中既有歸化的嘗試又有異化的嘗試详炬。總覺得太歸化了會(huì)讓人忘記這是老外寫的東西寞奸，而太異化了又會(huì)讓人對(duì)熟悉的三國(guó)故事感到陌生呛谜。在英文原文中引用《三國(guó)演義》英文版原文的，我就直接對(duì)照中文版的原文進(jìn)行了引用枪萄，沒有二次翻譯隐岛。
The Death of Greatness
By Brian Lanning
大英雄之死
岳光寒 譯
“Then Sun Ch’uan asked Lü Meng, saying, ‘If he fly to a distance, how can he be captured?’ ‘The divination exactly fits in with my schemes,’ replied he, ‘a(chǎn)nd though Kuan had wings to soar to the skies he would not escape my net.’” I’m reading in my living room on a comfortable rocking chair with my feet on a little footrest. I can smell the pages of the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms; they have that nice “old book” smell like dried-out leaves in autumn. I’m reading about a chaotic time in China, and numerous characters and events, but I can find myself only thinking about Kuan Yu, the man that Sun Ch’uan and Lü Meng are plotting against. The great and invincible Kuan Yu, with his hundred-pound halberd and his long flowing beard, giving him the nick-name “Kuan Yu of the beard.” This is the end of the chapter, so I close the book and put it on the ledge next to me. I slouch down in my rocking chair, knowing full well that these two imps could never defeat the great Kuan Yu.
“權(quán)問呂蒙曰：‘卦主敵人遠(yuǎn)奔，卿以何策擒之瓷翻？’蒙笑曰：‘卦象正合某之機(jī)也聚凹。關(guān)公雖有沖天之翼，飛不出吾羅網(wǎng)矣齐帚！’” 房廳里的我妒牙，腳搭著小腳凳，坐在舒適的搖椅上讀書对妄。這本歷史小說《三國(guó)演義》是那種很有韻味的“老書”湘今，書頁里散發(fā)著如同秋天里風(fēng)干的樹葉的那種氣味。書里講的是中國(guó)歷史上的一個(gè)亂世剪菱，人物和事件紛繁復(fù)雜摩瞎，但我只鐘情于關(guān)羽——也就是這會(huì)兒孫權(quán)和呂蒙想要算計(jì)的那個(gè)人。無敵大英雄關(guān)羽孝常，手使百磅大刀旗们，手捻飄逸長(zhǎng)須，人送綽號(hào)“美髯公”构灸。我已經(jīng)看到了這一回的結(jié)尾（岳光寒按：應(yīng)是七十六回《徐公明大戰(zhàn)沔水 關(guān)云長(zhǎng)敗走麥城》）上渴，于是把書合上，放在身旁的窗臺(tái)上，然后在搖椅上懶洋洋地坐著驰贷，料定這兩個(gè)龜孫永遠(yuǎn)無法擊敗偉大的關(guān)羽盛嘿。
After slouching comfortably for a minute or two I get up to walk around, and take some pacing steps around my living room. The warm carpet feels nice and relaxing on my socked-feet. I’m not pacing in anxiety or anything, just getting the blood flowing again. I’ve been in that chair reading for about an hour now and just felt like moving. I can hear the soothing sounds of the rain hitting the roof. I feel secure in this room. The room has this nice warm lighting, where it’s not too bright, nor too dark; that’s why I always do my reading in this room. “Maybe,” I think, “I’ll just read another chapter before going to bed.” I stretch my chest, and feel a nice, light pulling in the front of my shoulders.
這么癱坐一兩分鐘后，我站起身括袒，開始在客廳里轉(zhuǎn)圈踱步次兆。穿著襪子的腳踩在暖融融的地毯上感覺輕松愜意。我這么走來走去才不是因?yàn)?a target="_blank">焦慮什么的锹锰，只是想通通血脈芥炭。我已經(jīng)在那把椅子上看了大概一小時(shí)書了，就想活動(dòng)一下恃慧。在這屋里能聽到雨水敲在屋頂上那讓人倍感閑適的聲音园蝠，我覺得很安心。房間里有暖暖的燈光痢士，光線不炫不暗彪薛，這也是為什么我總在這個(gè)房間里看書〉□澹“要不我睡前會(huì)再看一回吧善延。” 這么想著城侧，我伸展了一下前胸易遣，那種肩膀微微拉伸的感覺很不錯(cuò)。
I return to the chair and ease into it, putting my feet back on the little footrest. I pick the book back up from the ledge, open it up and smell that sweet autumn fragrance emanating and lingering. “When Kuan Yu mustered his fighting men in the city, he had but three hundred, all told.” I let out a little chuckle. These would seem like dire straits to anyone who was not familiar with the hardships that the great Kuan Yu has overcome in his lifetime. This is the man that road out of a kingdom alone and had to slay six officers in order to escape. This is the man that knowingly went to a banquet designed to assassinate him, and walked out unscathed holding the host in the air. His enemies, the country of Wu, is led by Sun Ch’uan and his adviser Lü Meng. They have devised a ploy to make Kuan Yu’s entire troop defect to Wu.
我回到椅子順勢(shì)一坐嫌佑，腳放回到小腳凳上豆茫，從窗臺(tái)上拿起書，打開屋摇，再次聞到那如同秋葉散發(fā)的縈繞不絕的香氣揩魂。“且說關(guān)公在麥城摊册，計(jì)點(diǎn)馬步軍兵肤京，止剩三百余人......” 我不禁笑出了聲。 這對(duì)于那些不熟悉關(guān)羽一生克服過多少逆境的人來說似乎已經(jīng)是山窮水盡了茅特。然而這是一個(gè)為了離開曹營(yíng)不得不過五關(guān)斬六將才得以走脫的男人。 這是一個(gè)明知是鴻門宴還去赴宴棋枕，最后挾持主人全身而退的男人白修。而正與他敵對(duì)的是以孫權(quán)及其謀臣呂蒙為首的吳國(guó)，他們謀劃了一個(gè)計(jì)策重斑，想讓關(guān)羽全軍覆沒兵睛。
Their plans are working out fine for them, but I’m still comfortable in my chair knowing that Kuan Yu is worth a thousand soldiers. However, to hold a city you’ll need more men and resources than they have. They decide to retreat by a certain path leading out of the castle. “Wang Fu opposed it, pointing out that they would surely fall into an ambush. The main road would be safer. ‘There may be an ambush, but do I fear that?’ said the old warrior. Orders were given to be ready to march.” I lift my eyes from the page and smile. You have to love a great hero that knows that he’s a great hero.
計(jì)策進(jìn)展還挺順利，但我依然端坐，因?yàn)槲抑狸P(guān)羽可以以一當(dāng)千祖很。但是守城的話這點(diǎn)兵力和糧草顯然不夠笛丙，于是他們決定在一條小路突圍。 “王甫諫曰：'小路有埋伏,可走大路假颇。'公曰：‘雖有埋伏胚鸯，吾何懼哉！’即下令馬步官軍嚴(yán)整裝束笨鸡，準(zhǔn)備出城姜钳。” 我抬起頭形耗，目光離開書頁哥桥，笑了——這種自恃其勇的勇士你沒法不愛。
After a couple of laughs I continue my reading, and guess what, they’ve gotten ambushed. “Soon appeared a large force with Chu Jan at their head. He came dashing forward, and summoned the small party to surrender if they would save their lives. But Kuan Yu whipped his steed to a gallop and bore down on the leader with anger in his eyes. Then Chu Jan ran away.” “Smart man,” I think to myself. Another small fit of laughter escapes me. What is Wu thinking? You can’t capture or kill the great Kuan Yu, you can only hope that you’re not the one in his path. Lifting my eyes from the pages, I look at the light bulbs.
笑了幾聲之后激涤，我繼續(xù)看拟糕，你猜怎的？果然中埋伏了倦踢∷椭停“一彪軍到，為首大將朱然硼一，驟馬挺槍叫曰：‘云長(zhǎng)休走累澡！趁早投降，免得一死般贼！’公大怒愧哟，拍馬輪刀來戰(zhàn)，朱然便走......” 我心想哼蛆，還好這人夠聰明蕊梧，跟著又笑了幾聲。吳軍想什么呢腮介？不論斬殺還是俘虜關(guān)公都是不可能的肥矢，能在他走脫時(shí)別螳臂當(dāng)車就值得慶幸了。我抬眼看了看燈叠洗。
I love doing this in this room, because these light-bulbs don’t give me that “sun-spot” in the middle of my vision, so I just get the warm feelings that brightness give. I roll my shoulder in its socket just to stretch it out a little bit. I shift some in my seat because my legs are getting a little numb. Returning my eyes to the page, I’m trying to see if I was right about the lack of “sun-spot.” Yep, I’m right, no “sun-spot.”
我總愛這么干甘改，因?yàn)檫@燈不是會(huì)給我眼睛留下“太陽斑”的那種，這種亮度只會(huì)讓我感到溫暖灭抑。我轉(zhuǎn)了轉(zhuǎn)肩關(guān)節(jié)十艾，伸展了一下，感到腿有點(diǎn)麻腾节，所以在椅子上挪了下屁股忘嫉。視線回到書上荤牍，想看看會(huì)不會(huì)有“太陽斑”。不錯(cuò)庆冕，真的沒有康吵。
Another ambush by another captain, and another captain flees from Kuan Yu. I start shaking my head thinking about the stupid persistence of Wu generals. Seriously, why would you engage someone in battle if you were just going to run away? “It doesn’t matter,” I say to myself, “just read.” “Presently the small party stumbled into another ambush, and the men thrust forth hooks and threw ropes. Entangled in these, Kuan Yu’s horse fell, and Kuan Yu reeled out of the saddle.” “This can’t be good,” is frantically repeating through my head. “In a moment he was a prisoner.”
又遇上另一員吳將的伏兵，然而他在關(guān)羽面前只有抱頭鼠竄的份访递。我開始搖頭晦嵌，感覺吳軍將領(lǐng)執(zhí)迷不悟。講真——既然知道打不過要跑力九，干嘛還上去打耍铜？“沒事，看吧跌前∽丶妫” 我自言自語〉峙遥“正走之間伴挚，一聲喊起，兩下伏兵盡出灾炭，長(zhǎng)鉤套索茎芋，一齊并舉，先把關(guān)公坐下馬絆倒蜈出。關(guān)公翻身落馬……” 我心中連聲叫著“不妙”田弥。“……被潘璋部將馬忠所獲铡原⊥迪茫”
But at least he’s still alive. As long as the great Kuan Yu is alive, there is nothing to fear. I’ve noticed that my leg is twitching, and that nice comfortable warmth has turned into humid heat. I feel itchy all over. I start scratching my ears; they’re itching the worst. I pull my hat off and rub my hair, pulling the hat back over my head very tightly. The air is way too sticky, and I can’t seem to get a breath of fresh air. I cover my mouth with my left fist, and cough a little bit.
但至少他還活著！只要偉大的關(guān)羽還活著燕刻，就沒什么好害怕的只泼！我注意到我的腿在抽搐，之前融融的暖意變成了濕熱卵洗。我渾身發(fā)癢请唱，開始撓耳朵，感覺耳朵癢得厲害过蹂。我脫下帽子搓頭發(fā)十绑，又把帽子拉回頭上，拉得很緊酷勺∧醵瑁空氣太粘了，我好像呼吸不到新鮮空氣鸥印，就用左拳擋住嘴勋功，咳了一下。
Sitting up straight in the chair and staring fiercely at the pages I start reading quickly. The generals of Wu have brought Kuan Yu before Sun Ch’uan. Sun Ch’uan asks him to switch sides to Wu. “But Kuan Yu only answered roughly, ‘You green-eyed boy! You red-bearded rat!’” I’m thinking “Ahhh… this is where the great Kuan Yu is going to slaughter everybody in the room, whether he’s bound or not!” One of Sun Ch’uan’s generals says that evil will come if they spare Kuan Yu. “Sun Ch’uan reflected for some time. ‘You are right,’ said he presently, and gave the order for execution.” “This can’t be!” My mind is frantic; they’ve just executed the invincible Kuan Yu. His death was at the hands of men that combined couldn’t exist as the great Kuan Yu’s pinkie-finger.
我在椅子上正襟危坐库说，狠盯著書頁渤滞，翻看得更快了仿滔。吳軍眾將把關(guān)羽帶到了孫權(quán)面前。孫權(quán)讓他降吳＄愿叮“關(guān)公厲聲罵曰：‘碧眼小兒，紫髯鼠輩兆览！……’”我心想苔埋，啊啊啊……這里應(yīng)該是偉大的關(guān)羽要把這一屋子人都?xì)⒌簦退惚唤壷部隙芡龊牵O權(quán)手下一將說若不馬上除掉抽活，恐貽后患∶淌玻“孫權(quán)沉吟半晌下硕，曰： ‘斯言是也≈ǎ’ 遂命推出梭姓。” “這不可能嫩码！” 我瘋了誉尖！他們剛剛處死了無敵戰(zhàn)神關(guān)羽！關(guān)羽居然死在幾個(gè)加起來都不敵他一個(gè)小指頭的鼠輩手里铸题！
I stand up in haste, throwing the book to the floor, shove my feet into my shoes without tying them, and then walk out into the rain. It’s pitch-dark outside. It’s cold. I look up and try to see the moon. There is no moon. There aren’t even any stars out tonight, just the rain. I’m looking around for some form of celestial light, but all that I can see is one flickering light bulb. How is this one light bulb going to brighten the darkness?
我倏地起身铡恕，把書扔到地上，腳伸進(jìn)鞋子回挽，鞋帶也沒系没咙，就走進(jìn)雨里。外面漆黑一片千劈，很冷祭刚。我抬起頭，想看看月色墙牌，卻沒有月亮涡驮。今晚連星星也沒有，只有雨喜滨。我四下望捉捅，想找到隨便什么天體發(fā)出的光，但只能看到一個(gè)閃爍的燈泡虽风。 一個(gè)燈泡如何照亮黑暗棒口？
I’m shivering, I’m soaked, and I need a cigarette. I pull my pack out of my pocket and grab one. It’s been out of the box for like two-goddamn-seconds and it’s already wet. I’m looking down as I’m lighting it, cupping my hand around the lighter so that the wind and the rain don’t extinguish it. I can see the wet blacktop. The water passing over it is the blackest thing that I’ve ever seen. To me it seems like emptiness in motion, this black-liquid coming from nowhere, heading nowhere, and washing away whatever it can find.
我瑟瑟發(fā)抖寄月，渾身濕透，想要點(diǎn)支煙无牵。從口袋里掏出煙盒漾肮，抽出一支。拿出來才兩秒鐘左右茎毁，已經(jīng)特么的濕了克懊。我低頭打火，雙手護(hù)著打火機(jī)七蜘，以免被風(fēng)雨吹熄谭溉。 我看到被雨打濕的瀝青，上面流過的水是我見過的最黑的東西橡卤。 對(duì)我來說扮念，這似乎是流動(dòng)著的虛無，這股黑色液體無來處亦無去處蒜魄，只是把它遇到的一切都沖走扔亥。
I find that my imagination has been washed away. I’m trying to think. About Kuan Yu, about my life, about anything. Nothing is coming to mind. There is a black void where all of my fancies and aspirations of greatness used to fill. This is uncomfortable. For the past three-weeks my imagination has been running loose. Everything I’ve thought about or thought-up has been wild and epic; I was plotting world-domination schemes and ways to restore the chaotic order of great Kuan Yu’s time.
它沖掉了我的一切幻想。我開始反思——關(guān)于關(guān)羽谈为，關(guān)于我的人生旅挤，關(guān)于一切。什么都想不出來伞鲫。我之前所有對(duì)于極致偉大的幻想和抱負(fù)都一直在填補(bǔ)一個(gè)黑色的虛空粘茄，這讓人極度不適。在過去的三周中秕脓，我一直沉浸在幻想里柒瓣。我曾經(jīng)思量的、想到的一切都荒誕不經(jīng)吠架；我一直在想著怎么一統(tǒng)天下芙贫，怎樣將關(guān)羽所處的亂世撥亂反正。
Now it feels like there is no point to having great fantasies, or to become great at all. The greatest hero this world has ever known met an ignoble end at the hands of inferior men. Reading about this man’s life had given me hope that greatness would resound through history. He’s in books, movies, and video games; but none of it matters. His life was washed away, leaving me feeling empty. The cigarette is done, the end is still glowing but there’s not much more to smoke. I drop it on the wet blacktop and hear the hiss of the embers being extinguished. The cigarette-butt starts washing away. There is a poem in this novel that keeps resounding in my head. Normally, I’d be able to visualize what it says, but now I can only remember the words and can’t see the dragon or the phoenix. “The dragon in a puddle is the sport of shrimps, the phoenix in a cage is mocked of small birds.”
現(xiàn)在感覺這種對(duì)于大英雄的幻想或成為大英雄本身已經(jīng)毫無意義傍药。這個(gè)世界上最偉大的英雄落在一群宵小手中得到了一個(gè)不光彩的結(jié)局磺平。讀這個(gè)人的一生曾給我一種希望——這種的大英雄可以震古爍今。他存在于書上拐辽、電影里拣挪、電子游戲中；但沒用了俱诸。他的一生已被沖刷掉菠劝，令我倍感空虛。煙抽完了睁搭，煙頭仍在發(fā)光赶诊，但已燒不出什么煙笼平。我把它丟了，煙頭著地甫何，可以聽見余燼被撲滅的嘶嘶聲出吹，煙屁股開始被沖走。這部書中的一首詩在我的腦海中回蕩辙喂。 之前我可以在腦海中構(gòu)建出它的畫面，但現(xiàn)在我只記得字詞鸠珠，卻看不到龍鳳巍耗。“淺水里的龍是蝦的玩物渐排，籠子里的鳳凰被小鳥嘲弄（龍游淺水遭蝦戲炬太，落坡鳳凰不如雞）⊙背埽”
