水调歌头

水调歌头 - 明月几时有》英译一：

The Midautumn Festival

Tune: "Prelude to Water Melody"

How long will the full moon appear?

Wine cup in hand, I ask the sky.

I do not know what time of the year

It would be tonight in the palace on high.

Riding the wind, there I would fly,

Yet I'm afraid the crystalline palace would be

Too high and cold for me.

I rise and dance, with my shadow I play.

On high as on earth, would it be as gay?

The moon goes round the mansions red

Through gauze-draped window soft to shed

Her light upon the sleepless bed.

Why then when people part, is the oft full and bright?

Men have sorrow and joy; they part or meet again;

The moon is bright or dim and she may wax or wane.

There has been nothing perfect since the olden days.

So let us wish that man

Will live long as he can!

Though miles apart, we'll share the beauty she displays.

(by Xu Yuanchong)

许渊冲简介：

1921年4月18日，出生于江西南昌。诗译英法唯一人 ，北京大学教授，翻译家。在国内外出版中、英、法文著译六十本，包括《诗经》、《楚辞》、《李白诗选》、《西厢记》、《红与黑》、《包法利夫人》、《追忆似水年华》等中外名著，是有史以来将中国历代诗词译成英、法韵文的唯一专家。1999年被提名为诺贝尔文学奖候选人。

---

《水调歌头 - 明月几时有》英译二：

Prelude to Water Ripple （Song）Su Shi

."When shall we have a bright moon? "

Holding up a wine cup I queried the Blue Heaven:

"Tell me, in the celestial palace up so high

What year in its annals is tonight. "

I'd like to ride the wind and go there

But was afraid it would be too cold up on high

In rose to my feet and danced with my own shadow.

'Twas not too bad down here!

The moon turned round the vermilion penthouse,

Casting its beams down through the lattice windows

And shining on the sleepless.

It need not evoke sadness, you know,

But why is it always so bright when the loved one’s away?

We all have joys and sorrows, partings and re-unions.

The moon, it's phases of resplendence,

Waxings and wanings—

Nothing in this world is ever perfect.

I wish a long life to us all.

Then ,however far apart we are

We'd still be sharing the same enchanting moonlight.

.(By Gong Jinghao)

龚景浩简介：

龚景浩，1932年生于上海，曾就读于苏州的一所教会学校 ——东吴大学附中，后入东吴大学建筑系，随后考取北京大学西语系英语专业，毕业后留校任教。1974年赴哈佛大学深造，先在法学院当访问记者，后转入教育学院攻读硕士学位。1976年考入“美国之音”（VOA）担任文学评论节目撰稿人。1985年被联合国世界银行录取，从事中国贷款项目的笔译。1991年携夫人段文慧女士返回祖国，之后潜心从事中国古典诗词的翻译。2006年1月逝世，享年74岁。

---

《水调歌头 - 明月几时有》英译三：

How rare the moon, so round and clear!

With cup in hand, I ask of the blue sky,

"I do not know in the celestial sphere

What name this festive night goes by?"

I want to fly home, riding the air,

But fear the ethereal cold up there,

The jade and crystal mansions are so high!

Dancing to my shadow,

I feel no longer the mortal tie.

She rounds the vermilion tower,

Stoops to silk-pad doors,

Shines on those who sleepless lie.

Why does she, bearing us no grudge,

Shine upon our parting, reunion deny?

But rare is perfect happiness--

The moon does wax, the moon does wane,

And so men meet and say goodbye.

I only pray our life be long,

And our souls together heavenward fly!

（by Lin Yutang）

林语堂简介：

林语堂（1895---1976年），出生于福建龙溪（现福建省漳州市平和县坂仔镇）的一个基督教家庭，父亲为教会牧师。原名和乐，后改玉堂，又改语堂。笔名毛驴、宰予、岂青等，中国当代著名学者、文学家、语言学家。早年留学国外，回国后在北京大学等著名大学任教，1966年定居台湾，一生著述颇丰。

---

《水调歌头 - 明月几时有》英译四：

How many times will the full moon rise?

Upholding a cup of wine, I ask the blue sky.

Tonight I wonder which year is passing by

In the heavenly paradise.

With the wind, I’d like to go there;

I’m afraid it’s too cold in the sky

With the jade-palace being too high.

Dancing to play with a cool shadow

Is analogous to our human world?

The moonlight is over my red corridor,

Looking at my gorgeous door;

Why I’m sleepless, I wonder.

Don’t blame on the moon any more;

Why does it turn full when we are farewell?

Man will vary with vicissitudes of life

The full moon alternates the crescent, rain or shine.

Nothing has been perfect since the ancient time.

However, may you live a long life;

The moon we share across 1000 miles.

[Tr. Manfield Zhu]

朱曼华]教授