雙語詩歌翻譯|曹雪芹-《五美吟·明妃》

《五美吟·明妃》出自清代小說家曹雪芹所著小說《紅樓夢》，是一首七言絕句，在小說中由林黛玉所作。詩的前半首是對明妃遭遇的哀嘆，后半首表達了對漢元帝做法的不滿。這首詩借詠嘆明妃的命運，表達了黛玉對愛情婚姻方面受人操控、不能自主的苦惱。這首詩舍棄史書記載，借用了《西京雜記》記載的關于明妃的不幸傳說，使全詩充滿了憤慨之情。

《紅樓夢》·《五美吟·明妃》

絕艷驚人出漢宮，紅顏命薄古今同。

君王縱使輕顏色，予奪權何畀畫工？

Lady Bright（David Hawkes 譯）

To a loveliness that dazzled, the palace of Han showed the door;

For "the fair are mostly ill-fated”, as has been said often before.

Yet it seems strange that an emperor—even one with such tepid views—

Should abandon his eyes' own judgment and let a painter choose!

Ming-fei（B. S. Bonsall 譯）

Extreme beauty which startles men goes forth from the palace of Han.

A pretty face and a poor destiny in ancient and modern times alike.

Even though the prince made light of her beautiful appearance,

What authority to add or to detract was given the artist?

Wang Zhaojun（楊憲益、戴乃迭 譯）

A breath-taking beauty banished from the Han palace,

From of old lovely girls have shared a sorry fate;

Even if the sovereign set little store by his beauties,

Why give a painter the power to arbitrate?