【汉译英欣赏】《西游记》中唐僧师徒四人遭受第八十一难

       菩萨将难簿目过了一遍，急传声道：“佛门中‘九九’归真。圣僧受过八十难，还少一难，不得完成此数。”即令揭谛：“赶上金刚，还生一难者。”这揭谛得令，飞云一驾向东来。一昼夜赶上八大金刚，附耳低言道：“如此如此，谨遵菩萨法旨，不得违误。”八金刚闻得此言，刷的把风按下，将他四众，连马与经，坠落下地。噫!正是那：

       九九归真道行难，坚持笃志立玄关。

       必须苦练邪魔退，定要修持正法还。

       莫把经章当容易，圣僧难过许多般。

       古来妙合参同契，毫发差殊不结丹。

——第九十九回  九九数完魔灭尽  三三行满道归根

        Casting her eyes over the record, the Bodhisattva quickly said, “In the Buddha’s school ‘nine nines’ are needed before one can come to the truth. The eighty ordeals that the holy monk has endured are one short of the full number. Go after the vajrapanis,” she ordered a protector, “and tell them to create another ordeal.” The protector headed East by cloud as soon as he was given this order, and after a day and a night he caught up with the Eight Vajrapanis. “It's like this, you see,” he said, whispering in their ears in explanation, adding, “so you must do as the Bodhisattva commands and not disobey.” When the Eight Vajrapanis heard this they stopped the wind with a swishing sound and dropped the four of them to the ground, horse, scriptures and all. Oh dear! It was a case of

       The Way of reaching the truth through the nine nines is hard;

       Hold fast to your determination to stand at the mysterious pass.

       Only through rigorous effort can the demons be repelled;

       Perseverance is essential to the true Dharma's return.

       Do not mistake the scriptures for something easily won;

       Of many a kind were the hardships endured by the holy monk.

       The marvellous union has always been hard to achieve:

       The slightest mistake and the elixir will not be made.

——Translated by W. J. F. Jenner