2015年7月,浙江文艺出版社推出了作家冯唐重译的泰戈尔《飞鸟集》,引起争议。有评论说:泰戈尔的《飞鸟集》,冯唐的荷尔蒙。冯唐则泰然处之,曰:郑振铎的译本缺乏诗意。又曰:泰戈尔的英文原著和我的汉语翻译都摆在那里,毁誉由人,唾面自干。我对郑振铎和冯唐的译本不加评论。“苔花如米小,也学牡丹开。”一时兴起,竟然也想过一把翻译泰戈尔的瘾。于是找到泰戈尔的几首短诗,信笔译来。今示如下,以求教于诸位翻译大家。
(1)
The song feels the infinite in the air,
The picture in the earth,
The poem in the air and earth;
For its words have meaning that walks and music that soars.
歌,穿越天空体验极致;
画,铺展大地张扬极致;
诗,天上地下同时达到极致:
饱满的字句在大地健步疾走,
铿锵的韵律在天空振翅高飞。
(2)
The night kisses the fading day whispering to his ear,
“I am death, your mother.
I am to give you fresh birth.”
夜,
吻别即将淡出的昼:
“亲,是我吞噬了你,
但也孕育了你。
明天的你,
将是一个崭新的你。”
(3)
The world puts off its mask of vastness to its lover.
It becomes small as one song,
As one kiss of the eternal.
面对自己的至爱,
宇宙摘下硕大的面具,
浓缩成一支小曲,
凝聚成一个长吻。
(4)
The burning log bursts in flame and cries,
“This is my flower,
my death.”
噼噼啪啪,
巨木在烈焰中高唱:
“我生命的火花,
终于燃烧绽放。”