英譯現(xiàn)代散文●我和北大圖書館 ◎ 季羨林

我和北大圖書館

Peking University Library and I

◎　季羨林

◎　Ji Xianlin

我對北大圖書館有一種特殊的感情，這種感情潛伏在我的內(nèi)心深處，從來沒有明確地意識到過。最近圖書館的領導同志要我寫一篇講圖書館的文章，我連考慮都沒有，立即一口答應。但我立刻感到有點吃驚。我現(xiàn)在事情還是非常多的，抽點時間，并非易事。為什么竟立即答應下來了呢?如果不是心中早就蘊藏著這樣一種感情的話，能出現(xiàn)這種情況嗎?

I cherish a particular affection for Peking University Library — an affection that has hidden deep in my heart without my knowledge. Therefore, recently when the curator asked me to write an article on the library, I readily agreed without any hesitation. Nevertheless, immediately afterwards, I felt a bit surprised at the rash promise I had made, for, with already too many irons in the fire, I could hardly have time to spare. What had made me give the promise? Could I have done that had it not been for my deep-seated affection for the University library?

山有根，水有源，我這種感情的根源由來已久了。

Every tree has its roots and every river its source. My deep affection for the University library has an origin of long standing.

1946年，我從歐洲回國。去國將近11年，在落葉滿長安(長安街也)的深秋季節(jié)，又回到了北平。在北大工作，內(nèi)心感情的波動是難以形容的，既興奮，又寂寞;既愉快，又惆悵。然而我立刻就到了一個可以安身立命的地方，這就是北大圖書館。當時我單身住在紅樓，我的辦公室(東語系辦公室)是在灰樓。圖書館就介乎其中。承當時圖書館的領導特別垂青，在圖書館里給了我一間研究室，在樓下左側(cè)。窗外是到灰樓去的必由之路。經(jīng)常有人走過，不能說是很清靜。但是在圖書館這一面，卻是清靜異常。我的研究室左右，也都是教授研究室，當然室各有主，但是頗少見人來。所以走廊里靜如古寺，真是念書寫作的好地方。我能在奔波數(shù)萬里擾攘十幾年，有時夢想得到一張一尺見方的書桌而渺不可得的情況下，居然有了一間窗明幾凈的研究室，簡直如坐天堂，如享天福了。

In 1946, I returned to China after staying in Europe for about eleven years. When I arrived in Peiping, it was late autumn, with Chang'an Street strewn with fallen leaves. My first days at Peking University found myself experiencing an indescribable mixed feeling of both elation and loneliness, and both joy and gloom. Fortunately, I soon found a place where I could settle down to a tranquil life and get on with my work, that is, Peking University Library. At that time, I lived alone at the Red Building and my office, the office of the Oriental Languages Department, was in the Gray Building. And the University library was situated in-between. Thanks to the thoughtfulness of the curator, I was allotted a research room in the library, on the left side of its ground floor. It was a bit noisy out of the window due to a passage alongside the building, which was the only way leading to the Gray Building. But it was very quiet in the library itself though. Around me were also research rooms belonging to other professors, but I seldom saw them. So it was all quiet in the corridor, like in an ancient temple. It was an ideal place for doing studies and writing indeed. Imagine how overwhelmed with joy I was to have a bright research room complete with a desk after spending more than a decade rushing about from place to place sometimes with the vain dream of getting a mere small desk of my own!

研究室的真正要害還不在窗明幾凈——當然，這也是必要的，而在有沒有足夠的書。在這一點上，我也得到了意外的滿足。圖書館的領導允許我從書庫里提一部分必要的書，放在我的研究室里，供隨時查用。我當時是東語系的主任，雖然系非常小，沒有多少學生，但是，仍然有一些會要開，一些公要辦，所以也并不太閑?？墒俏乙挥袡C會，就遁入我的研究室去，“躲進小樓成一統(tǒng)”，這地方是我的天下。我一進屋，就能進入角色，潛心默讀，坐擁書城，其樂實在是不足為外人道也。我回國以后，由于資料缺乏，在國外時的研究工作，無法進行，只能有多大碗，吃多少飯，找一些可以發(fā)揮自己的長處而又有利于國計民生的題目，來進行研究。北大圖書館藏書甲全國大學，我需要的資料基本上能找得到，因此還能夠?qū)懗鲆恍〇|西來。如果換一個地方，我必如車轍中的鮒魚那樣，什么書也看不到，什么文章也寫不出。

To me, however, what really mattered in a research room were not bright windows and clean desks, which were of course also indispensable, but sufficient books. Now I had my wish unexpectedly gratified. I was given permission from the curator to equip my research room with necessary books for easy reference taken direct from the stack rooms. As head of the Department of Oriental Languages, I was busy with meetings and official duties although the said Department had a relatively small enrollment. In spite of that, I would withdraw at the first opportunity to my research room to enjoy the privacy of having a place all to myself, a place where I am my own master. As soon as I entered the room, I began to live my part as an avid reader sitting among a roomful of books. The great pleasure I enjoyed at the moment was beyond description. Upon my return to China, I had to discontinue, for lack of reference materials, the research I had been doing abroad. I had to adapt to the new circumstances by working only on themes most familiar to me and having direct bearing on national economy and the people's livelihood. As Peking University Library boasted the largest collection of books of all university libraries in the country, I was able to write with materials available to me. Otherwise, with no access to books I needed, I would have accomplished nothing at all, like a fish stranded in a dry rut.

作為全國最高學府的北京大學，我們有悠久的愛國主義的革命歷史傳統(tǒng)，有實事求是的學術傳統(tǒng)，這些都是難能可貴的，但是，我認為，一個第一流的大學，必須有第一流的設備、第一流的圖書、第一流的教師、第一流的學者和第一流的管理。五個第一流，缺一不可。我們北大可以說具備這五個第一流的。因此，我們有充分的基礎，可以來弘揚祖國的優(yōu)秀文化，為我國四化建設培養(yǎng)德才兼?zhèn)涞娜瞬牛瑢ν鉃樽鎳鵂幑?，對?nèi)為人民立功。在這五個第一流中，第一流的圖書更顯得特別突出。北大圖書館是全國大學圖書館的翹楚。這是世人之公言，非我一個之私言。我們?yōu)榇藨摳械津湴?，感到幸福?/p>

As one of the highest institutes of learning in the country, Peking University has a long history of revolutionary patriotism as well as an academic tradition of seeking truth from facts. All that is praiseworthy. However, in my opinion, a first-rate university should have facilities, teaching staff, scholars and administration of the best quality. Peking University certainly meets the requirement in the five respects. We of this University are, therefore, fully qualified for the job of carrying forward the splendid cultural heritage of our nation and training people of ability and virtue for our country's modernization drive, thereby winning honor for our country and rendering meritorious service to our people. Our library, in particular, is playing an important role. We are proud and happy that it has been generally acknowledged as the best university library in the country.

但是，我們?nèi)熒鷨T工卻不能躺在這個驕傲上、這個幸福上睡大覺。我們必須努力學習，努力工作，像愛護自己的眼球一樣，愛護北大，愛護北大的一草一木、一山一石，愛護我們的圖書館。我們圖書館的藏書盈架充棟，然而我們應該知道，一部一冊來之不易，一頁一張得之維艱。我們?nèi)w北大人必須十分珍惜愛護。這樣，我們的圖書館才能有長久的生命，我們的驕傲與幸福才有堅實的基礎。愿與全校同仁共勉之。

Nevertheless, we teachers, students and all employees should not be satisfied with the success we have already won. We should study and work hard, and cherish, as we do our eyes, our university and everything in it, including its library. We should treasure its rich collection and take good care of each and every copy of the books therein, so that it can long survive intact and forever remain as something for us to be proud of and happy about. Let us encourage each other in our common endeavors.

《我和北大圖書館》是我國著名教授、學者、散文家、翻譯家季羨林(1911—2009)寫于1991年的一篇散文?？釔蹠宋娜藢W者本色，作者私人書齋藏書幾萬冊，1946年入北大工作，視藏書甲全國大學的北大圖書館為安身立命的地方，“書城”使他“忘記了塵世的一切不愉快的事情，怡然自得”，得以畢生潛心搞學問，筆耕不輟。他的散文文思暢快，平實自然，言簡意賅，真切動人。