雙語|現(xiàn)代散文:金圣華 一座長橋

A Long Bridge 一座長橋

◎ Jin Shenghua ◎ 金圣華

Translation is like a bridge with a very different climate and landscape at either end of it．Under the bridge，there lies a valley between steep mountains with a rapid stream flowing through it．Before the bridge is built，people on either side of the valley have for generations made no contact with those on the other．Hence，there have developed two different customs and habits，and two different languages and cultures.

翻譯就像一座橋，橋兩端，氣候懸殊，風光迥異。兩端之間，原隔著險峻的山谷，湍急的溪流。兩旁的人，各忙各的，世代相傳，分別發(fā)展出一套不同的習俗風尚以及語言文化來。

One day，people of the two sides，each with a different culture and custom，suddenly desire to communicate with each other．What can they do？A bridge of course has to be built in order to cross the valley．But who is to build it？

有一天，這不同文化習俗的人，忽然想起要跟對岸打個招呼。怎么辦？要渡過峽谷，不得不起一座橋，誰來起橋？

At last，a group of people naively offer themselves for the job.

終于來了，一群傻里傻氣的志愿者。

Someone asks them，“Don't you know you'll have to go about this job earnestly and fear no hardship？”

問他們：“你們可知道，干這份工作，必須吃得起苦，干勁十足？”

They nod their heads and answer with confidence，“We're full of drive and not afraid of hardship.”

他們點點頭，充滿信心的說：“我們有的是干勁，我們也不怕吃苦。”

The questioner says again，“The profession you're joining pays badly．And often you even have to work round the clock．Frankly，you won't be fairly rewarded according to your labour.”

再問道：“這份差事，待遇并不好，趕起工來，日以繼夜。說老實話，你們可知道付出的勞力與報酬并不相符？”

They answer，“We don't want to get rich.”

答道：“我們不是想發(fā)財。”

The questioner says again，“Don't you know that none in this profession have ever become prosperous．You have to toil away in obscurity．If you want to go after fame and compliments，you had better not choose this profession．When people walk on the bridge after it is built，none will ever think of putting up a monument to you.”

再追問：“難道不知道從來沒有人是干這一行而發(fā)達的嗎？做這一行必須默默耕耘，若想抱著沽名釣譽的心，還是趁早別干。橋造好了，人在橋上踏，沒有誰會為你們立紀念碑的。”

They answer again，“We don't care for fame.”

又答道：“我們不是想出名。”

The questioner concludes with a sigh，“OK，so you seek neither fame nor wealth．But mind you，you have to be very careful in doing this job．A solid foundation must be laid at each end of the bridge．A stone bridge is built with block after block of stone．A wooden bridge is built with piece after piece of wood．Even the building of a rope bridge requires great care．Each rope has to be tied tightly lest the foot passengers should fall into the ravine，to say nothing of reaching the opposite side.”

最后只有嘆道：“好吧！既不為名也不為利，可別怪大家沒提醒你們，這工作可得小心經(jīng)營，起橋最要緊的是兩端根基扎得實，起石橋得一塊塊石頭砌；起木橋得一塊塊木頭搭；哪怕是座繩橋也馬虎不得，須一根根繩子打結(jié)，不然人一上橋就摔下深澗，怎么還到得了對岸？”

Bridges are being built one after another．Knowledge spreads and cultures interflow．But who thinks of the bridge builders？

橋還是建了，一座座、一條條。知識在傳遞，文化在交流?？墒怯姓l想起建橋人？

《一座長橋》選自香港中文大學教授金圣華著的雜文集《橋畔閑眺》。書中不少雜文談?wù)摲g，此為其中之一。文章以比喻手法描述翻譯工作者的甘苦與貢獻，有聲有色，切中要害。現(xiàn)用現(xiàn)在時態(tài)英譯全文，以增加文字的生動性。