燕子来时新社，梨花落后清明。人间四月，在仲春与暮春之间，我们迎来了清明。春风送暖，春雨润物，冬日的严寒早已褪去，天地间一片气清景明，惠风和畅。
清明，总是能引起人的无限文思，历代很多文人都曾将清明节作为诗词歌赋的对象，但要说起最为人熟知的，莫过于唐代诗人杜牧的那首《清明》。只要说到清明，我们脑海里一定会浮现出“清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂”。这一句诗历来广为传诵，早已成为了每一个中国人对于清明的集体记忆。
（唐）杜牧
清明时节雨纷纷，
路上行人欲断魂。
借问酒家何处有？
牧童遥指杏花村。
关于作者
杜牧（公元803-约852年），字牧之，号樊川居士，晚唐杰出诗人，与李商隐并称为“小李杜”。他主张“凡为文以意为主，以气为辅，以辞采章句为之兵卫。”他写下了如《阿房宫赋》、《赤壁》、《九日齐山登高》等千古传诵的文章。
诗人以简洁有力的语言，描绘了清明时节的景象和人们的情感。全诗语言通俗易懂、音节和谐圆满、景象清新生动，写得自如之极，毫无经营造作之痕，而又境界优美、兴味隐跃。
如此之美的诗，翻译成英文会是什么样子?
八大名家翻译的《清明》，你见过吗？
01许渊冲 译（韵式aabb）
The Mourning Day
By Du Mu
A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day;
The mourner's heart is going to break on his way.
Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?
A cowherd points to a cot 'mid apricot flowers.
02蔡廷干 译（韵式aabb）
All Souls’Day
By Du Mu
The rain falls thick and fast on All Souls' Day，
The men and women sadly move along the way.
They ask where wineshops can be found or where to rest
And there the herdboy's fingers Almond-Town suggest.
03吴伟雄 译（韵式aabb）
The Mourning Day
By Du Mu
It drizzles thick and fast on the Mourning Day,
The mourner's heart is going to break on his way.
When asked for a wineshop to drown his sad hours?
A cowboy points to a hamlet amid apricot flowers.
04万昌盛、王僴 译（韵式aabb）
The Tomb-visiting Day
By Du Mu
The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day,
So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.
When asked where could be found a tavern bower,
A cowboy points to yonder village of the apricot flower.
05吴钧陶 译（韵式aaba）
The Pure Brightness Day
By Du Mu
It drizzles thick and fast on the Pure Brightness Day，
I travel with my heart lost in dismay.
"Is there a public house somewhere，cowboy?"
He points at Apricot Village faraway.
06孙大雨 译（韵式aaba）
The Clear-and-Bright Feast
By Du Mu
Upon the Clear-and-Bright Feast of spring, the rain drizzleth down in spray.
Pedestrians on countryside ways, in gloom are pinning away.
When asked "Where a tavern fair for rest, is hereabouts to be found",
The shepherd boy the Apricot Bloom Vill, doth point to afar and say.
07杨宪益、戴乃迭 译（无韵译法）
In the Raining Season of Spring
By Du Mu
It drizzles endless during the rainy season in spring,
Travelers along the road look gloomy and miserable.
When I ask a shepherd boy where I can find a tavern,
He points at a distant hamlet nestling amidst apricot blossoms.
08陈君朴 译
The Qingming Festival
By Du Mu
On the Qingming Day, rain is falling uninterrupted,
And the wayfarer is more than ever broken-hearted;
"Is there any wine shop hereabouts?" A buffalo boy
Points to a distant village where apricots are spotted.
对于“清明”两字，各位译者分别是这样表述的：陈君朴：直接用拼音 Qingming
杨宪益、戴乃迭：将“清明”意译为In the Raining Season of Spring
吴钧陶：将“清明”意译为The Pure Brightness Day
许渊冲：穿越了“清明”字面本身，直接点明其内涵（The Mourning Day）
万昌盛、王僴：根据节日内涵，将“清明”译为The Tomb-visiting Day
蔡廷干：别具一格地借用了英语“万圣节”（All Saints' Day）将“清明节”翻译为All Souls' Day
看完之后，你觉得哪一版才更合你心意呢？古诗翻译向来是最难的，诗人所精心雕琢出来的那种浑然天成的气韵、意境、想要用另一种截然不同的语言重现，何其困难。但译者总是能用一种巧妙的方式，突破语言和文化的桎梏，将语言之美，文字之美，诗歌之美传达给更多的人。
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