《浮生六记》英译(1.7)

卷一 闺房记乐（7）  作者：沈复         

时当六月，内室炎蒸，幸居沧浪亭爱莲居西间壁，板桥内一轩临流，名曰“我取”，取“清斯濯缨，浊斯濯足”意也。檐前老树一株，浓阴覆窗，人画俱绿。隔岸游人往来不绝。此吾父稼夫公垂帘宴客处也。禀命吾母，携芸消夏于此。因暑罢绣，终日伴余课书论古，品月评花而已。芸不善饮，强之可三杯，教以射覆为令。自以为人间之乐，无过于此矣。         

林语堂  译：

Six Chapters of A Floating Life

Chapter One: Wedded Bliss （7）

By Shen Fu

It was in the sixth moon, then, and the rooms were very hot. Luckily, we were next door to the Lotus Lover' s Lodge of the Ts'anglang Pavilion on the east. Over the bridge, there was an open hall overlooking the water, called "After My Heart"--the reference was to an old poem: "When the water is clear, I will wash the tassels of my hat, and when the water is muddy, I will wash my feet." By the side of the eaves, there was an old tree which spread its green shade over the window, and made the people's faces look green with it; and across the creek, you could see people passing to and fro. This was where my father used to entertain his guests inside the bamboo-framed curtains. ①I asked for permission from my mother to bring Yun and stay there for the summer. She stopped embroidery during the summer months because of the heat, and the whole day long, we were either reading together or discussing the ancient things, or else enjoying the moon and passing judgments on the flowers. Yun could not drink, but could take at most three cups when compelled to. I taught her literary games in which the loser had to drink. We thought there could not be a more happy life on earth than this.

① As there were no walls or lattices whatsoever round the pavilion, they used to hang down bamboo-framed curtains so that the dining party might not be seen by the people across the creek. -- Tr.