下面引用的译文,进行粗浅的分析。我们可以发现:成为好的译家,何其难也。
1 余心之所向兮,虽九死其犹未悔
(译:这些都是我内心之所珍爱,叫我死九次我也绝不改悔)
For the ideal that I hold dear to my heart,I will not regret a thousand depth to die。
2 骨肉之亲,析而不殊
(译:同胞骨肉的亲情,即使人分开了,骨肉亲情依然不能断绝。)
Brothers, though geographically apart willalways be bound by their blood ties.
3 己正,才能正人
(译:自己行为端正,才能那样要求别人)
Only one is upright him or herself can he or she ask others to be upright.
4 知我罪我,其惟春秋
(译:有人支持,有人反对,然而我已经做了我应该做的,任由天下人去评说吧。)
There are people who will appreciate what I have done but there are also people who will criticize me, ultimately, history will have the final say.
5 守职而不废 处义而不回
(译:恪守本职工作,而不稍加改变或轻易放弃;受到嫌疑,而能居义而不反顾。)
I will not waver and carry out my duties, and will remain true to my conviction.
6 苟利国家生死以,岂因祸福避趋之。
(译:只要对国家有利,即使牺牲自己生命也心甘情愿,绝不会因为自己可能受到祸害而躲开。)
In line with the conviction that I will do whatever it takes to serve my country even at the cost of my own life, regardless of fortune or misfortune to myself.
7 入则恳恳以尽忠,出则谦谦以自悔
(译:拜见时要忠诚尽职,离开时要谦冲内敛)
Officials should serve as loyal as they can conscientiously when they are in office and engage in modest self-reflection when their terms end.
8 如将不尽,与古为新
(译:大自然中蕴藏的美景难以穷尽,它们能产生不断的创新)
It is only with reform that we can ensure continuous existence and growth.
9 行百里者半九十
(译:一百里的路程,走到九十里也只能算是才开始一半而已)
That is half of the people who have embarked on a one hundred mile journey may fall by the wayside.
从上文中,大家不难发现,好的译者,要具备什么样的“本事”。
首先,良好的汉语言功底,文言文应该过关、吃透、甚至需要是“高手”。懂得白话,也需要懂得文言文。
其次, 良好和深厚的英文功底,文字翻译驾驭的得心应手。没有娴熟的英文功底,很难翻译好这样的文句。
再次,与时俱进的精神,以及从生活的广度和深度中体会得到的知识。