Tao Yuanming's Song of I'm going home! 译者王士杰
Well, go back now! As the fields and gardens in home will be lying waste, why yet not go back! Since I have been familiar with that my heart has been put to be toiled by my body, why will be disconsolate and sad for myself alone? Now that I have been aware of the mistakes in past are already unable to rescue, but I have known the future life can retrieve. Really only going astray by accident but not too far, therefore, I have understood today's right and yesterday's wrong.
The returning boat went forward fluttering on the river, and the gentle breeze was gently blowing and moving my upper outer garment. Asking pedestrian on the way in front, I hated the dawn light was still too faint and misted. When looking at the house after landing, I went straight forward with incomparable happy. And then I had seen the houseboys were running towards me and welcoming me with joy. After a while, I also saw the children were greeting me at the door. Entering the house, I found that the pathway has lay waste but it was deserved to be pleased for the pines and chrysanthemums still survived there. Leading the children I walked into the inner room, in which were placed the wine goblets that were full of sweet liquor. Taking up the wine pot and cup, I drank by myself. Looking at the trees in the courtyard then I really felt relaxed and happy. Leaning on the south window, I placed my feelings to look down upon the world. I began to feel that only living in the humble room, then can be easy to get a quiet mind. Every day I take a walk in the courtyard and get pleasure from nature. Although the garden door is established, however, it is often closed. Leaning on a cane, I stroll along the pathway or take the rest leisurely everywhere. Occasionally, I raise my head to look at faraway place and then I can find that cloud and mist are blown out from the cave very naturally. I think, even the birds are aware of returning back when they have flown tired. After a while, when the sun light is dim gradually as sunset soon, but I still gently stroked the solitary pine and enjoy myself so much as to forget leaving.
Well, go back home. I want to stop making friends and refuse taking part in traveling for pleasure. Since the common customs are disagreed with me, what can spur me to drive vehicle and go out on tour? A lot of understanding words talking between relatives make me with pleasure; playing a musical instrument and reading books can divert me from boredom and remove my grief. Before long, the farmers told me the spring has come and I should go to west for cultivating farmland. Then, some people push their wheelbarrows and others paddle their little boats. Sometimes I go into the mountain valley along a meandered stream and sometimes follow a rugged path to go by a massif. The trees are growing up luxuriantly and the spring water begins to pour trickling sluggishly. I admire all things on earth can meet the opportunities given by heaven but I sign of emotion that my whole life will be over quickly.
Let it go at that! I don't know how much time I can live in the world! Why can't I let down my heart to let my life and death naturally? Is it necessary for me to go wherever searching something in a hurry? Seeking for riches and honor is not my wish and looking further for paradise is unable to anticipate. I am always longing for a nice weather that can let me stick my cane in the earth by the field and going for weeding and planting seedling. Or ascend the high hill at east to shout at the top of my lungs with sound reproduction, or face to the clear flowing water to recite poems. Merely, let me move towards the end of life along with the change of the nature. I believe that every happening in one's life is determined by fate and is inevitable; therefore one should be always content with circumstances and have no worries. I consider this conviction may be without doubt!
林语堂英译陶渊明的《归去来兮辞》
Ah, homeward bound I go!
Why not go home, seeing that my field
and gardens are overgrown?
Myself have made my soul serf to my body:
why have vain regrets and mourn alone?
Fret not over bygones
and the forward journey take.
Only a short distance have I gone astray,
and I know today I am right,
if yesterday was a complete mistake.
Lightly floats and drifts the boat,
and gently flows and flaps my gown.
I inquire the road of a wayfarer,
and sulk at the dimness of the dawn.
Then when I catch sight of my old roofs,
joy will my steps quicken.
Servants will be there to bid me welcome,
and waiting at the door are the greeting children.
Gone to seed, perhaps, are my garden paths,
but there will still be
the chrysanthemums and the pine!
I shall lead the youngest boy in by the hand,
and on the table there stands a cup full of wine!
Holding the pot and cup, I give myself a drink,
happy to see in the courtyard the hanging bough.
I lean upon the southern window with an immense satisfaction,
and note that the little place is cosy enough to walk around.
The garden grows more familiar
and interesting with the daily walks.
What if no one knocks at the always closed door!
Carrying a cane I wander at peace,
and now and then look aloft to gaze at the blue above.
There the clouds idle away from their mountain recesses
without any intent or purpose,
and birds, when tired of their wandering flights,
will think of home.
Darkly then fall the shadows and, ready to come home,
I yet fondle the lonely pines and loiter around.
Ah, homeward bound I go!
Let me from now on learn to live alone!
The world and I are not made for one another,
and why go round like one looking for what he has not found?
Content shall I be with conversations with my own kin,
and there will be music and books
to while away the hours.
The farmers will come and tell me that spring is here
and there will be work to do at the western farm.
Some order covered wagons;
some row in small boats.
Sometimes we explore quiet, unknown ponds,
and sometimes we climb over steep, rugged mounds.
There the trees, happy of heart, grow marvelously green,
and spring water gushes forth with a gurgling sound.
I admire how things grow and prosper
according to their seasons,
and feel that thus, too, shall my life go its round.
Enough!
How long yet shall I this mortal shape keep?
Why not take life as it comes,
and why hustle and bustle like one on an errand bound?
Wealth and power are not my ambitions,
and unattainable is the abode of the gods!
I would go forth alone on a bright morning,
or perhaps, planting my cane,
begin to pluck the weeds and till the ground.
Or I would compose a poem beside a clear stream,
or perhaps go up to Tungkao
and make a long-drawn call on top of the hill.
So would I be content to live and die,
and without questionings of the heart,
gladly accept Heaven's will.
-- excerpted from The Importance of Living, by Lin Yutang
【本文翻译仅为外语学习及阅读目的，原文作者个人观点与译者及译言网无关】
