节选《激流总序》中的一段翻译

中文 朱自清 

翻译 张培基

几年前我流着眼泪读完托尔斯泰的小说《复活》，曾经在扉页上写了一句话：“生活本身就是一个悲剧。”

Several years ago, after I finished reading Leo Tolstoy's Resurrection with tears in my eyes, I wrote on its title page, “Life itself is a tragedy”.

        事实并不是这样。生活并不是悲剧。它是一场“搏斗”。我们生活来做什么？或者说我们为什么要有这生命？罗曼罗兰的回答是“为的是来征服它”。我认为他说得不错。

However, that is not how things are, for life is not a tragedy, but a “stuggle”. What do we live for? Or why do we live this life at all? The answer given by Romain Rolland is “to conquer life”. I think he is right.

        我有了生命以来，在这个世界上虽然仅仅经历了二十几个寒暑，但是这短短的时期也并不是白白度过的。这其间我也曾看见了不少的东西，知道了不少的事情。

Ever since I was born, I have passed no more than twenty odd(零散的) summers in this world, but this short period of time has not been spent for nothing at all. I have since seen a lot of things and come to know a lot of things.

        我的周围是无边的黑暗，但是我并不孤独，并不绝望。我无论在什么地方总看见那一股生活的激流在动荡，在创造它自己的道路，通过乱山碎石中间。

Though it is all darkness around me, I have never felt lonely, nor have I ever given up hope. Everywhere I go, I always see the torrent(奔流) of life tumbling(摔倒，打滚) along to open up its way through a confused mass of mountains and rocks.

        这激流永远动荡着，并不曾有一个时候停止过，而且它也不能够停止；没有什么东西可以阻止它。 在它的途中，它也曾发射出种种的水花，这里面有爱，有恨，有欢乐，也有痛苦。

The torrent is always surging ahead; it has never stopped for a single moment and will never stop. Nothing whatever can hold it up. While on its way, it sometimes throws clouds of spray into the air embodying love and hate, and happiness and sorrow. 

        这一切造成了一股奔腾的激流，具着排山之势，向着唯一的海流去。这唯一的海是什么，而且什么时候它才可以流到这海里，就没有人能够确定地知道了。

All that makes up the tumultuous(奔腾的) torrent rushing with terrific force towards the only sea. No one knows for sure what that only sea is and when the torrent is going to empty into(注入) it.

        我跟所有其余的人一样，生活在这世界上，是为着来征服生活。我也曾参加在这个“搏斗”里面。我有我的爱，有我的恨，有我的欢乐，也有我的痛苦。

Like everbody else, I live in this world for the purpose of conquering life. I have also taken part in the "struggle". I have my own love and hate, and happiness and sorrow. 

        但是我并没有失去我的信仰：对于生活的信仰。我的生活还不会结束，我也不知道在前面还有什么东西等着我。然而我对于将来却也有一点概念。因为过去并不是一个沉默的哑子，它会告诉我们一些事情。

But I have never lost my faith-- a faith in life. There is still some way to go before my life runs out, and I do not know what the future has in store(即将发生) for me. Nevertheless, I am not without some idea of what the future is like because the past, being no silent mute, will give me some hint.

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