本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛学英语的人鲜有不知道张爱玲的。和林语堂一样,张爱玲也曾用英语写小说,只是张在英文小说方面的成就远不及她的中文小说。但无可否认,张的英文是一流的。现找到张爱玲在圣玛丽中学读书时的一篇英语习作 MY GREAT EXPECTATIONS,以饷各位English Fans。另附陈子善的中文译文。幸好这篇文章不是我这种中文奇差的人翻的。附件还有爱玲的相片,就差没有她的autograph(签名).
顺便说一句,我们在各种document,合同、证件上的签名叫做signature,而名人明星的签名则叫autograph。
如果你想请你仰慕发的名人签名,应该说"May I have your autograph?"
MY GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Zhang Ailing
Time is like a sharp knife when it is misused, it can carve hard lines on beautiful faces and wear out blooming youth month by month, year by year but, well used it can mold a piece of simple stone into a magnificent statue. St. Mary's, in spite of its long history of fifty years, is still a simple piece of white stone briefly carved. As time marches on, it may be marred by dust, worn out by whether, or broken into separate fragments, and it may be carefully, slowly carved by the knife, inch by inch, into a wonderful statue which will be placed among the glorious works of Michelangelo. This knife is held not only by the principal, the teachers, and the students of tomorrow; but all of our schoolmates have the power of controlling it.
If I have a chance to live to be a snowy-haired old lady, I shall, in my peaceful dreams beside the fireside, seek for the old paths leading through the green plum trees which I have been familiar with in my early days. Of course, at that time, the youthful plum trees must also have grown into their pleasant old age, stretching their powerful arms to shade the crossing paths. The weather-worn old bell tower, standing in the golden sunlight, shall give out that slow, solemn blooming that is so familiar to my ears, as the girls, short and tall, pale and rosy, plump and slim, all blooming with the freshness of youth, shall pour into the church like a stream. There they will kneel and pray. Whispering to their spiritual Lord about the little things in their lives; their grief, their tears, their quarrels, their love, and their great ambitions. They shall ask him to help them in reaching their future goals, to be a write, a musician, an educationalist, or an ideal wife. And I can hear the old church tower ringing with the echoes of their prayers, whisper in return, "Yes, St. Mary's Hall may not have the largest dormitories and the best-looking school gardens among all the schools in China, but she certainly possesses the finest and the most hard-working girls, who shall glorify her with their brilliant futures!"
What I feel when I hear these words depends upon whether I have done anything or not in the years in between. If I have failed in playing my part on this stage. I shall feel ashamed and regretful that I have thrown away the privilege of glorifying my mother school. But if I have gained success in struggling along toward my goal, I will smile with pride and content, for I have taken a part, thought a very small part, in carving out, with the knife of time, this wonderful model of school life.
《心愿》 陈子善 译
时间好比一把锋利的小刀--用得不恰当,会在美丽的面孔上刻下深深的纹路,使旺盛 的青春月复一月,年复一年地消磨掉;但是,使用恰当的话,它却能将一块普通的石头琢刻 成宏伟的雕像。圣玛丽亚女校虽然已有五十年历史,仍是一块只会稍加雕琢的普通白石。随 着时光的流逝,它也许会给尘埃染污,受风雨侵蚀,或破裂成片片碎石。另一方面,它也可 以给时间的小刀仔细地、缓慢地、一寸一寸地刻成一个奇妙的雕像,置于米开朗琪罗的那些 辉煌的作品中亦无愧色。这把小刀不仅为校长、教师和明日的学生所持有,我们全体同学都 有权利操纵它。
如果我能活到白发苍苍的老年,我将在炉边宁静的睡梦中,寻找早年所熟悉的穿过绿色 梅树林的小径。当然,那时候,今日年轻的梅树也必已进入愉快的晚年,伸出有力的臂 膊遮蔽着纵横的小径。饱经风霜的古老钟楼,仍将兀立在金色的阳光中,发出在我听来 是如此熟悉的钟声。在那缓慢而庄严的钟声里,高矮不一、脸蛋儿或苍白或红润、有些身材 丰满、有些体形纤小的姑娘们,焕发着青春活力和朝气,像小溪般涌入教堂。在那里,她们 将跪下祈祷,向上帝低声细诉她们的生活小事:她们的悲伤,她们的眼泪,她们的争吵,她 们的喜爱,以及她们的宏愿。她们将祈求上帝帮助自己达到目标,成为作家、音乐家、教育 家或理想的妻子。我还可以听到那古老的钟楼在祈祷声中发出回响,仿佛是低声回答她们: "是的,与全中国其他学校相比,圣玛丽亚女校的宿舍未必是最大的,校内的花园也未必是 最美丽的,但她无疑有最优秀、最勤奋好学的小姑娘,她们将以其日后辉煌的事业来为母校 增光!"
听到这话语时,我的感受将取决于自己在毕业后的岁月里有无任何成就。如果我没有克 尽本分,丢了荣耀母校的权利,我将感到羞耻和悔恨。但如果我在努力为目标奋斗的路上取 得成功,我可以欣慰地微笑,因为我也有份用时间这把小刀,雕刻出美好的学校生活的形象 --虽然我的贡献是那样微不足道。更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
顺便说一句,我们在各种document,合同、证件上的签名叫做signature,而名人明星的签名则叫autograph。
如果你想请你仰慕发的名人签名,应该说"May I have your autograph?"
MY GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Zhang Ailing
Time is like a sharp knife when it is misused, it can carve hard lines on beautiful faces and wear out blooming youth month by month, year by year but, well used it can mold a piece of simple stone into a magnificent statue. St. Mary's, in spite of its long history of fifty years, is still a simple piece of white stone briefly carved. As time marches on, it may be marred by dust, worn out by whether, or broken into separate fragments, and it may be carefully, slowly carved by the knife, inch by inch, into a wonderful statue which will be placed among the glorious works of Michelangelo. This knife is held not only by the principal, the teachers, and the students of tomorrow; but all of our schoolmates have the power of controlling it.
If I have a chance to live to be a snowy-haired old lady, I shall, in my peaceful dreams beside the fireside, seek for the old paths leading through the green plum trees which I have been familiar with in my early days. Of course, at that time, the youthful plum trees must also have grown into their pleasant old age, stretching their powerful arms to shade the crossing paths. The weather-worn old bell tower, standing in the golden sunlight, shall give out that slow, solemn blooming that is so familiar to my ears, as the girls, short and tall, pale and rosy, plump and slim, all blooming with the freshness of youth, shall pour into the church like a stream. There they will kneel and pray. Whispering to their spiritual Lord about the little things in their lives; their grief, their tears, their quarrels, their love, and their great ambitions. They shall ask him to help them in reaching their future goals, to be a write, a musician, an educationalist, or an ideal wife. And I can hear the old church tower ringing with the echoes of their prayers, whisper in return, "Yes, St. Mary's Hall may not have the largest dormitories and the best-looking school gardens among all the schools in China, but she certainly possesses the finest and the most hard-working girls, who shall glorify her with their brilliant futures!"
What I feel when I hear these words depends upon whether I have done anything or not in the years in between. If I have failed in playing my part on this stage. I shall feel ashamed and regretful that I have thrown away the privilege of glorifying my mother school. But if I have gained success in struggling along toward my goal, I will smile with pride and content, for I have taken a part, thought a very small part, in carving out, with the knife of time, this wonderful model of school life.
《心愿》 陈子善 译
时间好比一把锋利的小刀--用得不恰当,会在美丽的面孔上刻下深深的纹路,使旺盛 的青春月复一月,年复一年地消磨掉;但是,使用恰当的话,它却能将一块普通的石头琢刻 成宏伟的雕像。圣玛丽亚女校虽然已有五十年历史,仍是一块只会稍加雕琢的普通白石。随 着时光的流逝,它也许会给尘埃染污,受风雨侵蚀,或破裂成片片碎石。另一方面,它也可 以给时间的小刀仔细地、缓慢地、一寸一寸地刻成一个奇妙的雕像,置于米开朗琪罗的那些 辉煌的作品中亦无愧色。这把小刀不仅为校长、教师和明日的学生所持有,我们全体同学都 有权利操纵它。
如果我能活到白发苍苍的老年,我将在炉边宁静的睡梦中,寻找早年所熟悉的穿过绿色 梅树林的小径。当然,那时候,今日年轻的梅树也必已进入愉快的晚年,伸出有力的臂 膊遮蔽着纵横的小径。饱经风霜的古老钟楼,仍将兀立在金色的阳光中,发出在我听来 是如此熟悉的钟声。在那缓慢而庄严的钟声里,高矮不一、脸蛋儿或苍白或红润、有些身材 丰满、有些体形纤小的姑娘们,焕发着青春活力和朝气,像小溪般涌入教堂。在那里,她们 将跪下祈祷,向上帝低声细诉她们的生活小事:她们的悲伤,她们的眼泪,她们的争吵,她 们的喜爱,以及她们的宏愿。她们将祈求上帝帮助自己达到目标,成为作家、音乐家、教育 家或理想的妻子。我还可以听到那古老的钟楼在祈祷声中发出回响,仿佛是低声回答她们: "是的,与全中国其他学校相比,圣玛丽亚女校的宿舍未必是最大的,校内的花园也未必是 最美丽的,但她无疑有最优秀、最勤奋好学的小姑娘,她们将以其日后辉煌的事业来为母校 增光!"
听到这话语时,我的感受将取决于自己在毕业后的岁月里有无任何成就。如果我没有克 尽本分,丢了荣耀母校的权利,我将感到羞耻和悔恨。但如果我在努力为目标奋斗的路上取 得成功,我可以欣慰地微笑,因为我也有份用时间这把小刀,雕刻出美好的学校生活的形象 --虽然我的贡献是那样微不足道。更多精彩文章及讨论,请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net