（古詩詞賦英譯）蟬賦 – 曹植 （節譯）

蟬賦 – 曹植 （節譯）

 

Ode to Cicada by Cao Zhi

 

唯夫蝉之清素兮，潜厥类乎太阴。

在盛阳之仲夏兮，始游豫乎芳林。

 

This cicada is candid, not at all conceit,   

It silently slumbers under the black soil.

When summer comes, the sun exerts torrid heat,

It ventures out from the underneath with toil.

 

实澹泊而寡欲兮，独怡乐而长吟。

声皦皦而弥厉兮，似贞士之介心。

 

It bears no menacing desire, nor bellicose deed,

It doth oft sing loud to please itself alone.

Its voice is booming and enduring indeed,

Which resonates with the heart of brave backbone.

 

内含和而弗食兮，与众物而无求。

栖高枝而仰首兮，漱朝露之清流。

 

It vies with no creatures for food to eat,

And threatens no one for a thing.

It lifts its head and takes high branch as its seat,

And drinks dawn dew like nectar in spring.  

 

隐柔桑之稠叶兮，快啁号以遁暑。

苦黄雀之作害兮，患螳螂之劲斧。

 

In dense mulberry leaves, it shelters,

Yet oft it suffers from the siskins’ sharp maws.

It hums with might when the air swelters,

Yet oft it suffers from mantis’ cruel claws. 

 

冀飘翔而远托兮，毒蜘蛛之网罟。

欲降身而卑窜兮，惧草虫之袭予。

 

It dreams to fly high and far away,

Yet oft it’s captured by the malicious spider-snare.

It wishes to descend from the height to stay,

Yet oft it fears venomous insects lurking there.

 

 免众难而弗获兮，遥迁集乎宫宇。

依名果之茂阴兮，托修干以静处。

 

To scape all these nemesis, perils, and traps,

It hides into a remote palace on the sly.

Amid vibrant fruits and green leaves, it oft naps,

It seems serene to let the world pass by.

 

Tr. Ziyuzile

(To be revised)

20/07/2024