The Moon-washed Lotus Pond

朱自清

Zhu Ziqing

这几天心里颇不宁静。今晚在院子里坐着乘凉，忽然想起日日走过的荷塘，在这满月的光里，总该另有一番样子吧。月亮渐渐地升高了，墙外马路上孩子们的欢笑，已经听不见了；妻在屋里拍着闰儿，迷迷糊糊地哼着眠歌。我悄悄地披了大衫，带上门出去。

For the past few days, I have grown melancholy. Hence the lotus pond which I pass by every day comes into mind suddenly when I sit in the courtyard enjoying the breeze. Under the full moon, it must look more attractive. The moon is climbing slowly into the sky. From beyond the wall children’s laughter has faded away. My wife is in the room, patting Run’er and humming the lullaby. Silently, I put on a coat， bolt the door and slip outside.

沿着荷塘，是一条曲折的小煤屑路。这是一条幽僻的路；白天也少人走，夜晚更加寂寞。荷塘四面，长着许多树，蓊蓊郁郁的。路的一旁，是些杨柳，和一些不知道名字的树。没有月光的晚上，这路上阴森森的，有些怕人。今晚却很好，虽然月光也还是淡淡的。

Weaving its way alongside the lotus pond is a reclusive path blanketed with cinder ashes. It is almost deserted in daytime. At night, the sense of loneliness is intensified. Trees, which are lush with vegetation, surround the lotus pond. Growing by the side of the path are willows and trees I can't name. At moonless nights, the path used to be gloomy and frightening. This evening, with the pale light of the moon, it is fine.

路上只我一个人，背着手踱着。这一片天地好像是我的；我也像超出了平常的自己，到了另一世界里。我爱热闹，也爱冷静；爱群居，也爱独处。像今晚上，一个人在这苍茫的月下，什么都可以想，什么都可以不想，便觉是个自由的人。白天里一定要做的事，一定要说的话，现在都可不理。这是独处的妙处，我且受用这无边的荷香月色好了。

As the only people on the path, I am pacing forth, hands clasped behind. It seems that the patch of universe is mine alone, that I've moved well beyond myself into another world. To me, peace or bustle, a person or a throng of persons, seem to hold the same appeal. Tonight, as the only people on the vast land beneath the moon, I can give free rein to my thought or put a curb on it, suffusing with a sense of freedom. What are bound to do or say in daytime can be temporarily driven away. It is the delicacy of solitude. Now my pleasures are highlighted with the  moon-washed lotuses that stretch afar.

曲曲折折的荷塘上面，弥望的是田田的叶子。叶子出水很高，像亭亭的舞女的裙。层层的叶子中间，零星地点缀着些白花，有袅娜地开着的，有羞涩地打着朵儿的；正如一粒粒的明珠，又如碧天里的星星，又如刚出浴的美人。微风过处，送来缕缕清香，仿佛远处高楼上渺茫的歌声似的。这时候叶子与花也有一丝的颤动，像闪电般，霎时传过荷塘的那边去了。叶子本是肩并肩密密地挨着，这便宛然有了一道凝碧的波痕。叶子底下是脉脉的流水，遮住了，不能见一些颜色；而叶子却更见风致了。

Lotus leaves, which hold high clear of water like skirts of ballet girls, weave their ways through the pond. White lilies, some in full blooms, others sprouting, dot the layered folds of leaves like shining pearls, twinkling stars, or fetching beauties just taken showers. When gentle breezes scurry past, lilies are sending waves of aroma into the air, like strains of illusory music coming from a mansion in the distance. The leaves and lilies flap slightly to stir up a stroke which then flashes across the pond like lightning. The leaves, which snuggle up tightly, have a trembling motion in the emerald ripples. Beneath the leaves water keeps gurgling—something out of sight which adds to the charm of the leaves.

月光如流水一般，静静地泻在这一片叶子和花上。薄薄的青雾浮起在荷塘里。叶子和花仿佛在牛乳中洗过一样；又像笼着轻纱的梦。虽然是满月，天上却有一层淡淡的云，所以不能朗照；但我以为这恰是到了好处——酣眠固不可少，小睡也别有风味的。月光是隔了树照过来的，高处丛生的灌木，落下参差的斑驳的黑影，峭楞楞如鬼一般；弯弯的杨柳的稀疏的倩影，却又像是画在荷叶上。塘中的月色并不均匀；但光与影有着和谐的旋律，如梵婀玲上奏着的名曲。

Watery moonlight streams down on the leaves and lilies. With a thin layer of mist hanging over the pond, the seemingly milk-bathed lilies and leaves are in a dream shrouded in green curtain. The full moon is blurred by a thin layer of cloud, which scathed its power. To me, however, it is a happy medium——A fast sleep is essential, and a nap won't go amiss too. Moonlights stream down through shrubbery leaves higher up, casting on the ground scrapes of shadows like will-o’-the-wisps. The reflections of wispy willows on lotus leaves look like Chinese painting. Unevenly scattering over the pond, the moonlights are dancing in a rhythmic accompaniment with the shadows, which is like a violin masterpiece.

荷塘的四面，远远近近，高高低低都是树，而杨柳最多。这些树将一片荷塘重重围住；只在小路一旁，漏着几段空隙，像是特为月光留下的。树色一例是阴阴的，乍看像一团烟雾；但杨柳的丰姿，便在烟雾里也辨得出。树梢上隐隐约约的是一带远山，只有些大意罢了。树缝里也漏着一两点路灯光，没精打采的，是渴睡人的眼。这时候最热闹的，要数树上的蝉声与水里的蛙声；但热闹是它们的，我什么也没有。

Far and near, tall and short, trees, most of which are willows, surround the lotus pond. They leave several gaps by the roadside unplugged to allow the moonlights in. The trees are hazy, like gathering clouds, but the graceful figures of willows are discernible even amid the clouds. Above the trees the general curves of distant mountains are barely discernible. Tiny patches of streetlights lethargically find their ways through the cracks of the leaves. They are sleepy eyes of tired-outs. Now the chorus of cicadas and frogs is the true showstopper. It is within their domain, with nothing to do with me.

忽然想起采莲的事情来了。采莲是江南的旧俗，似乎很早就有，而六朝时为盛；从诗歌里可以约略知道。采莲的是少年的女子，她们是荡着小船，唱着艳歌去的。采莲人不用说很多，还有看采莲的人。那是一个热闹的季节，也是一个风流的季节。梁元帝《采莲赋》里说得好：

The scene of lotus-gathering—a time-cherished custom in the South which was on the crest of the wave in the Six Dynasties—comes to my mind suddenly. We can apparently learn from the lyric: Young maidens, the gatherers, were sailing on the rowboats and singing all along. Lots of people thronged out to watch. It was a busy and romantic season. “Lyric of Lotus Gathering” by Emperor Yuan of Liang Kingdom says: 

于是妖童媛女，荡舟心许；鷁首徐回，兼传羽杯；欋将移而藻挂，船欲动而萍开。尔其纤腰束素，迁延顾步；夏始春余，叶嫩花初，恐沾裳而浅笑，畏倾船而敛裾。

“Gaily boys and maidens sail in rowboats, with fuzzy feelings of love on hold. 

They toast each other, boats swirling in water. 

The youngsters are shoving off, oars by algae held off. 

When the boats start, the duckweeds retard. 

When the boats speed, the duckweeds spread. 

With belts round their slender waists, girls are reluctant to make haste. 

As spring gives place to summer, delicate leaves are sprouting lilies's enhancer.

Smilingly they keep from wetting, skirts scooped up lest buffeting."

可见当时嬉游的光景了。这真是有趣的事，可惜我们现在早已无福消受了。

We can form a picture of the frolicking scene. What an amusement. Quite a pity we are long denied of the joys!

于是又记起《西洲曲》里的句子：

Then I recall the lines in “Xizhou Ballad”.

采莲南塘秋，莲花过人头；低头弄莲子，莲子清如水。今晚若有采莲人，这儿的莲花也算得“过人头”了；只不见一些流水的影子，是不行的。这令我到底惦着江南了。——这样想着，猛一抬头，不觉已是自己的门前；轻轻地推门进去，什么声息也没有，妻已睡熟好久了。

In South Pond autumn lotuses are gathered. 

Under the lotuses gatherers' heads are covered. 

I fondle the lotus seeds, 

They are clear as droplets. 

The gatherers' heads would have been covered, were there any of them. And now, gurgling water will complete the otherwise perfect scene, which triggers my reminiscence of the South.—Still drifting back in time, I look up suddenly and unconsciously get aware of myself in front of my house. Pushing open the door softly and tiptoeing in, I find all quiet inside and my wife fast asleep.

                                                                           1927年7月

北京清华园

July, 1927, 

Tsinghua University, Beijing

翻译：褚嘉君

译著简介：《荷塘月色》——朱自清。译文从行文流畅性，成语（习语）的使用，景物描写方面

入手，通过The Moon-washed Lotus Pond一标题巧妙将“荷塘”与“月色”融合成有机整体，浑

然天成。另外，行文运用如水般的笔端，细腻的起、承、转、合，让外国读者领略中国经典文学

的博大精深。

如需转载请联系我。