艱難的國運與雄健的國民
National Crisis vs Heroic Nation
李大釗
Li Dazhao
歷史的道路，不全是平坦的，有時走到艱難險阻的境界，這是全靠雄健的精神才能夠衝過去的。
The course of history is never smooth. It is sometimes beset with difficulties and obstacles and nothing short of a heroic spirit can help surmount them。
生詞&短語
1
surmount：deal with successfully. v.
注釋
「這是全靠雄健的精神才能衝過去的」譯為nothing short of a heroic spirit can help surmount them，其中nothing short of相當於nothing less than或only。
一條浩浩蕩蕩的長江大河，有時流到很寬闊的境界，平原無際，一瀉萬裡。有時流到很逼狹的境界，兩岸叢山疊嶺，絕壁斷崖，江河流於其間，迴環曲折，極其險峻。民族生命的進程，其經歷亦復如是。
A mighty long river sometimes flows through a broad section with plains lying boundless on either side, its waters rolling on non-stop for thousands upon thousands of miles. Sometimes it comes up against a narrow section flanked by high mountains and steep cliffs, winding through a course with many a perilous twist and turn. A nation, in the course of its development, fares likewise.
生詞&短語
1
flank: be located at the sides of something or somebody. v.
2
perilous :fraught with danger. adj.
注釋
「寬闊的境界」須按上下文譯為 a broad section。「境界」在這裡不宜譯為realm、 place、area等。
「一瀉萬裡」譯為rolling on non- stop for thousands upon thousands of miles，但也可譯為 rolling on vigorously for tens of thousands of miles或 rolling on for thousands of miles at a stretch。
「迴環曲折,極其險峻」譯為winding through a course with many a perilous twist and turn，其中twist and turn來自成語twists and turns。此句亦可譯為following a dangerous tortuous course。
人類在歷史上的生活正如旅行一樣。旅途上的徵人所經過的地方，有時是坦蕩平原，有時是崎嶇險路。志於旅途的人，走到平坦的地方，因是高高興興地向前走，走到崎嶇的境界，愈是奇趣橫生，覺得在此奇絕壯絕的境界，愈能感到一種冒險的美趣。
The historical course of man's life is just like a journey. A traveler on a long journey passes through now a broad, level plain, now a rugged, hazardous road. While a determined traveler cheerfully continues his journey upon reaching a safe and smooth place, he finds it still more fascinating to come to a rugged place, the enormously magnificent spectacle of which, he feels, is better able to generate in him a wonderful sensation of adventure.
生詞&短語
1
spectacle: something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight). n.
注釋
「徵人」即「遠行之人」，故譯「旅途上的徵人」為a traveler on a long journey。
「有時……，有時……」譯為now... ,now...(=sometimes...and sometimes...)。
「奇趣橫生」意即「極度吸引人」，故譯為 fascinating。
「奇絕壯絕」意即「無限壯觀」，故譯為 the enormously magnificent spectacle。
「感到一種冒險的美趣」意即「一種敢於冒險的美妙感覺，故譯為a wonderful sensation of adventure。
中華民族現在所逢的史路，是一段崎嶇險阻的道路。在這一段道路上，實在亦有一種奇絕壯絕的景致，使我們經過這段道路的人，感到一種壯美的趣味。但這種壯美的趣味，沒有雄健的精神是不能夠感覺到的。
The Chinese nation is now confronted with a rugged and dangerous section of its historical course. Nevertheless, there is also in this section a spectacle of enormous magnificence that inspires in us passers-by a delightful sensation of splendor. And this delightful sensation, however, can only be shared by those with a heroic spirit.
我們的揚子江、黃河，可以代表我們的民族的精神，揚子江及黃河遇見沙漠、遇見山峽都是浩浩蕩蕩地往前流過去，以成其濁流滾滾、一瀉萬裡的魄勢。目前艱難境界，哪能阻抑我們民族生命的前進?我們應該拿出雄健的精神，高唱著進行的曲調，在這悲壯歌聲中，走過這崎嶇險阻的道路。要知在艱難的國運中建造國家，亦是人生最有趣味的事……
The Yangtze River and the Yellow River are both symbolic of our national spirit. The two mighty rivers negotiate deserts and gorges until their turbid torrents surge forward with irresistible force. The present national crisis can never obstruct the advance of our national life. Let us brace up our spirits and march through this rugged, dangerous road to the tune of our solemn, stirring songs. The greatest joy of life, mind you, is to build up our country during its most difficult days.
生詞&短語
1
negotiate: succeed in passing through, around, or over. v.
2
gorge: a deep ravine (usually with a river running through it). n.
3
turbid: (of especially liquids) clouded as with sediment. adj.
4
torrent: a violently fast stream of water (or other liquid). n.
5
surge: rise and move, as in waves or billows. v.
6
irresistible: impossible to resist. adj.
7
obstruct: hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of. v.
8
brace up: make secure underneath.
注釋
「遇見沙漠、遇見山峽都是浩浩蕩蕩的往前流過去，以成其濁流滾滾，一瀉萬裡的魄勢」譯為negotiate deserts and gorges until their turbid torrents surge forward with irresistible force，其中動詞to negotiate的意思是「順利通過」( to succeed in getting past something difficult)。又，注意until在這裡的用法。它在此句不作「直到……為止」解，而是so that finally(「以至於…」或「最後」)的意思。
「要知」譯為mind you，插入句中。成語mind you的意思是mind what I say或however，相當於漢語的「請注意」或「說真的」。
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張培基，1921年生,福州市人。1945年畢業於上海聖約翰大學英文系。同年任英文《上海自由西報》記者、英文《中國評論周報》特約撰稿者兼英文《中國年鑑》(1944-1945年度)副總編。翌年赴日本東京遠東國際軍事法庭國際檢察局(IPS)任英語翻譯,約兩載半，隨後赴美國印地安納大學研究英國文學,1949年肄業回國。歷任北京外文出版社編譯，中國人民解放軍外語學院英語教授、北京對外經濟貿易大學英語教授兼該校出版社總編輯。中國譯協第一、三屆理事,現任《英語世界》雜誌顧問。
原文及譯文選自/《英譯中國現代散文選（一）》上海外語教育出版社
譯文/張培基
圖片/百度
文中「生詞&短語」版塊為小天天添加，作為對單詞、詞組的學習補充
排版/小天天