《浮生六记》英译(1.14)

卷一 闺房记乐（14）  作者：沈复         

中秋日，余病初愈。以芸半年新妇，未尝一至间壁之沧浪亭，先令老仆约守者勿放闲人，于将晚时，偕芸及余幼妹，一妪一婢扶焉，老仆前导，过石桥，进门折东，曲径而入。叠石成山，林木葱翠，亭在土山之巅。循级至亭心，周望极目可数里，炊烟四起，晚霞灿然。隔岸名“近山林”；为大宪行台宴集之地，时正谊书院犹未启也。携一毯设亭中，席地环坐，守者烹茶以进。少焉，一轮明月已上林梢，渐觉风生袖底，月到波心，俗虑尘怀，爽然顿释。芸曰：“今日之游乐矣！若驾一叶扁舟，往来亭下，不更快哉！”时已上灯，忆及七月十五夜之惊，相扶下亭而归。吴俗，妇女是晚不拘大家小户皆出，结队而游，名曰“走月亮”。沧浪亭幽雅清旷，反无一人至者。         

林语堂  译：

Six Chapters of A Floating Life

Chapter One: Wedded Bliss （14）

By Shen Fu

On the fifteenth of the eighth moon, or the Mid-Autumn Festival. I had just recovered from my illness. Yun had now been a bride in my home for over half a year, but still had never been to the Ts'anglang Pavilion itself next door. So I first ordered an old servant to tell the watchman not to let any visitors enter the place. Toward evening, I went with Yun and my younger sister, supported by an amah and a maid-servant and led by an old attendant. We passed a bridge, entered a gate, turned eastwards and followed a zigzag path into the place, where we saw huge grottoes and abundant green trees. The Pavilion stood on the top of a hill. Going up by the steps to the top, one could look around for miles, where in the distance chimney smoke arose from the cottages against the background of clouds of rainbow hues. Over the bank, there was a grove called the " Forest by the Hill" where the high officials used to entertain their guests. Later on, the Chengyi College was erected on this spot, but it wasn't there yet. We brought a blanket which we spread on the Pavilion floor, and then sat round together, while the watchman served us tea. After a while, the moon had already arisen from behind the forest, and the breeze was playing about our sleeves, while the moon's image sparkled in the rippling water, and all worldly cares were banished from our breasts. "This is the end of a perfect day," said Yun. "Wouldn't it he fine if we could get a boat and row around the Pavilion!" At this time, the lights were already shining from people's homes, and thinking of the incident on the fifteenth night of the seventh moon, we left the Pavilion and hurried home. According to the custom at Soochow, the women of all families, rich or poor, came out in groups on the Mid-Autumn night, a custom which was called "pacing the moonlight." Strange to say, no one came to such a beautiful neighborhood as the Ts'anglang Pavilion.