送交者: hutuchong 于 October 18, 2004 20:37:47:[新观察/xgc.merseine.nu]
回答: 学习红药，再续风雅 由 方无隅 于 October 18, 2004 16:04:19:
I never understand why anybody wants to translate poems. That's one futile effort.
This is my favorite phrase "何意？--那历历往事
可还住在此地？Because this sentence rhymes.
Oddly enough this is the phrase that totally missed the connotations in the English version.
"My business,—just a life I left..." The word business and life have such connotations that I can't even explain here. Specially when she said just a life I left, it indicated multi-level of emotions that she had about her life. Mostly negative. The words "just" and "left" indicated her disappointment about her life. However in Chinese "历历往事" has a typical Chinese sentiment attached to it. Plus the question "可还住在此地？" indicated this life is much worth to be loved and treasured, and now lost. This is such a Chinese sentiment that is totally the opposite of what Emily felt.
All in all Emily felt fear about her past life, not love.
The reason why we like Western modern poetry is because it expressed modern emotions. The reason why "I" (better not involve anyone else) dislike Chinese poetry is precisely because it seems to forever stayed in an old sentimental emotion. Just like Wen Ren Hua, I'm so tired of Wen Ren emotion.