《红楼梦》万言诗
A Dream in Red Mansions
(Poetry)
宋德利 著译
按：我把四大名著改写成四本诗稿，因为篇幅很长，故而取名《四大名著万言诗》，各章有章回体标题。5月份将在香港出版。我现在又已经翻译成英语，谈不上诗歌体，只是英文解释罢了，请朋友理解。将来还可以在中国内地出版汉语版或双语版。同样是为留下纪念，现在把《红楼梦》第一章发在这里，和城里朋友分享。
第一回
甄士隐梦识灵通玉
贾雨村暗结连理情
Chapter 1
Zhen Shiyin saw Lingtong Jade in dream
Jia Yucun secretly fell in love with a girl
繁华姑苏城，有一仁清巷，
古刹葫芦庙，坐落巷中央。
There was a Renqing Lane in the bustling Gusu City.
An ancient Hulu Temple was standing in its center.
庙旁有人家，主人甄士隐，
娇妻封氏贤，全家享温馨。
Beside the temple existed a family whose master was Zhen Shiyin.
His wife Feng was virtuous and the whole family lived a happy life.
膝下三岁女，取名唤英莲，
家境尚殷实，日子蛮安恬。
He had a three year old girl named Ying Lian.
It could be said that the family was well to do.
且说某夏日，士隐在书房，
倦极卧书案，悠然入梦乡。
Shiyin was reading in his study in a summer day.
He was tired and fell asleep at the writing desk.
路上遇和尚，道人在一旁，
道人若有思，悠然问和尚：
He met a monk on the way with a Taoist beside him.
The Taoist seemed to think and then asked the Monk:
见君带蠢物，意欲到何处？
和尚未思索，脱口便说出：
I saw you bring a stupid thing, where are you going?
Without thinking too much the monk blurted out:
痴男与怨女，争先且恐后，
欲到人间去，枉结一段愁。
Young men and women in love are unable to fulfill their passion.
They vied with each other going to man’s world to get married.
只是图新鲜，经历红尘事，
不如让石头，同去长见识。
They will experience things in the man’s world only for pleasure.
It’s better to let the stone go with them so as to gain knowledge.
道士不满足，一问接一问：
近日有孽缘，历劫下凡尘？
The Taoist was not satisfied and asked questions constantly:
You have an evil chance to undergo disaster in man’s world?
和尚笑开口：此事真稀罕，
西方灵河岸，三生石头畔。
The monk laughed and said: It’s really interesting and unique.
Near Sansheng Stone on the bank of the western Linghe River,
一棵绛珠草，经历雨和风，
还有通灵石，隐藏青埂峰。
There’s Jiangzhu grass that has undergone storms.
And Tongling Stone hid itself in the Qinggeng Peak.
灵石当侍者，大名唤神瑛，
浇灌绛珠草，日夜付深情。
A magic stone is to be a servant girl named Shen Ying.
She waters Jiangzhu grass affectionately day and night.
最终绛珠草，修行成仙女，
欲报浇灌恩，暗将心愿许。
Through self-cultivation Jiangzhu grass became a fairy maiden at last.
She wants to repay the watering grace to Shen Ying and made a vow.
警幻仙子来，轻问绛珠草，
是否愿下凡，去把恩相报。
Fairy maiden Ying Huan came here to ask Jiangzhu grass:
Are you willing to go to the man’s world to requite favors?
绛珠仙子道：灵石浇甘霖，
纵然无神水，拳拳报恩心。
Fairy maiden Jiangzhu said: the magic stone watered me.
Even if the water is not magic water she is till quite kind.
如今此灵石，历劫去下凡，
只愿随之去，一生泪偿还。
Today she undergoes a disaster and goes to the man’s world.
I’m willing to go with her to repay favors with tears in my life.
此事真稀奇，衍生故事多，
闻听此言后，和尚继续说。
This matter is really curious with many stories coming out.
After hearing all these stories the monk said continuously.
世间皆说爱，实把禁果尝，
暗约为私奔，不过梦一场。
People talk about love but in fact they’re eating forbidden fruit.
They date each other secretly and elope yet this is only a dream.
这群痴男女，下凡诉情衷，
想必是真爱，并非一场空。
These infatuated young ones pour out love in the man’s world.
Maybe this is a true love but not sweet words coming to naught.
和尚邀道士，下凡跑一遭，
是否有真爱，看过才知道。
The monk invited the Taoist to make a tour of the man’s world.
On after seeing can one know whether a real love exists or not.
道士心花放，欣然说可行，
愿随和尚去，欲把事查明。
The Taoist was extremely delighted and happily said he could go.
He was willing to go with the monk to make a clear observation.
蠢物何所指，士隐搞不清，
连忙问僧道，二人笑盈盈。
Shiyin did not know what the real meaning of the stupid thing was.
He kept asking the monk constantly and the two ones were smiling.
不言为何物，瞧瞧倒可以，
士隐接过看，原来是美玉。
The monk said nothing about the stone but let him to have a look.
Shiyin took it over and had a look and found that it was a nice jade.
玉上刻四字，分明含意趣，
前边雕通灵，后边刻宝玉。
Four characters were carved in the jade with interest and charm.
Lingtong were carved in front side and Baoyu were in back side.
背面亦有字，太小看不清，
再想仔细看，和尚不答应。
There were still more characters but they were too small to tell.
Shiyin wanted to look carefully but the monk did not allow him.
言说不得了，警幻仙子到，
传来巨响声，士隐魂吓跑。
The monk said it was terrible because Fairy maiden Jinghuan came.
A great sound could be heard clearly and Shiyin was scared to death.
美梦被惊碎，还在家里面，
烈日正炎炎，芭蕉已枯蔫。
The sweet dream was fully broken he found he was still at home.
The burning sun was shining and the banaca leaves got withered.
奶妈抱英莲，来到他身旁，
士隐接过去，抱她外面逛。
The wet nurse came over to him with Ying Lian in her arms.
Taking over Ying Lian Shiyin carried her and walked outside.
门口遇怪事，一僧一道士，
蓬头且垢面，疯癫言语痴。
Meeting odd things at the door he saw a monk and a Taoist.
With disheveled hair and dirty faces they talked mad things.
和尚见英莲，边哭边闹嚷，
说她命不济，早晚害爹娘。
The monk saw Ying Lian and then madly cried and yelled immediately.
He said she was out of luck and would hurt her parents sooner or later.
还说英莲小，不如交给他，
士隐觉奇怪，急忙返回家。
He said Ying Lian was too young and it was better to let him have her.
Shinyin felt strange and hurriedly went back home without hesitation.
和尚追着笑，口中念有词：
需防元宵后，烟消火灭时。
The monk laughed and chased him muttering incantations：
Be vigilant when fireworks finished after Lantern Festival.
士隐听此言，备感不吉利，
正要走出门，欲问何如此。
On hearing these Shiyin felt it was quite an ominous omen.
He was going to walk out and ask the reason of this matter.
谁料那道士，却对和尚说：
咱俩暂分手，无须管太多。
But the Taoist said to the monk quite unexpectedly:
We can temporarily part without thinking too much.
各干各的事，不必太着急，
事情办妥当，我到邙山里。
We’d better do our own things with no need to be in a hurry.
After things are well done I’ll go into Moungshan Mountain.
等你找到我，咱俩一起去，
太虚幻境里，游览乐无比。
After you find me we can go together.
We make a tour in the Taoxuhuanjing.
话音才刚落，二人去无迹，
士隐忆梦事，空叹悔不及。
The two ones vanished at once after saying that.
Recalling the dream Shiyin cried over split milk.
谁知此二人，本是两大仙，
如今无觅处，心绪好烦乱。
Who could expect that they were two immortals!
He was very upset because he couldn’t find them.
忽然见一人，走出隔壁门，
原是寄居客，名叫贾雨村。
All of a sudden he saw a man going out of the neighbor.
He turned out to be a lodger with the name of Jia Yucun.
雨村一书生，家境早败落，
独身来此地，孤单又寂寞。
Yucun was a scholar in a family declined in wealth and position.
He came here alone and then led a penniless and desolate life.
盘缠已耗尽，庙中暂栖身，
卖字做文章，糊口倍艰辛。
Running out of travelling expenses he lived in the temple.
He made a living by selling calligraphy and writing articles.
雨村见士隐，施礼且询问：
先生依门望，莫非有新闻？
Seeing Shiyin, Yucun stepped over greeting and asking:
You’re leaning on door with any news for me to learn?
士隐陪笑脸，忙说无新闻，
只因女儿闹，抱她去散心。
With a smiling face Shiyin said that he had no news at all.
He walked out with his daughter only to relieve boredom.
无聊又寂寞，且把雨村邀，
书房坐片刻，两人随意聊。
Boring and lonely he couldn’t but invite Yucun.
He asked Yucun to sit in his study for a chatting.
忽报有来客，士隐暂离身，
雨村耐心等，翻书解烦闷。
A visitor was reported to come and Shiyin left temporarily.
When patiently waiting Yucun read books to kill boredom.
正在读书间，姑娘现窗外，
花容兼月貌，摘花头上戴。
While reading books he found a little girl outside the window.
With a pretty face she picked and inserted a flower in her hair.
姑娘是何人，甄家一丫鬟，
摘花欲离开，忽朝窗中看。
Who was the girl? She turned out to be a servant girl of Zhen family.
Picking flowers, she wanted to leave but looked at into the window.
瞥见这书生，并非凡人样，
衣衫虽破旧，器宇却轩昂。
She caught sight of a scholar whose looks were rather uncommon.
With shabby old clothes yet he had a dignified appearance anyway.
姑娘回头望，却又想回避，
雨村心狂喜，以为她有意。
The girl looked back and wanted to avoid meeting him.
Yucun delightedly thought she had a mind to love him.
再看甄士隐，陪客忙不暇，
干等真乏味，后门溜回家。
He looked at Zhen Shiyin who was still busy accompanying the visitor.
Waiting for too long a time he felt boring and so sneaked back home.
正值中秋夜，士隐进庙门，
来约贾雨村，小酌解烦闷。
Just in the night of mid-autumn festival Shiyin entered the temple.
He came to invite Yucun to drink some wine and relieve boredom.
酒酣耳热时，雨村叹潦倒，
无钱进京去，如何能赶考。
In a state of drunken ecstasy Yucun exclaimed over the dog's life he led.
He had no money to go to the capital to take the imperial examinations.
士隐闻此言，顿时发善心，
当即命书童，取来救济银。
On hearing it Shiyin had mercy immediately upon Yucun.
He asked the servant boy to take over some relief silver.
总共五十两，外加御寒衣，
雨村感千恩，夜半才告离。
The silver summed up to fifty liang with cold protective clothing.
Yuncun felt deeply grateful and left for home already at midnight.
光阴逝如水，倏忽到元宵，
甄家命家丁，来把英莲抱。
Time passed like flowing water and Lantern Festival came again.
The Zhen Family ordered a family retainer to carry Ying Lian out.
出门看烟火，四处赏花灯，
流光溢彩景，心花怒放情。
They came out to enjoy the sight of fireworks and festive lanterns.
Seeing the nice scene of flowing light and color they were happy.
夜半时分过，家丁上茅厕，
时隔仅片刻，归来惹大祸。
It was over mid-night the family retainer went to the toilet.
When he was back a few minutes later a disaster fell down.
英莲无踪影，不知何处去，
士隐夫妇急，四处苦寻觅。
Little Ying Lian vanished no one knew her whereabouts.
Shiyin and his wife fretfully looked for her everywhere.
千般寻无果，英莲无踪影，
思女心悲切，卧床染重病。
Shiyin did his utmost to look for Ying Lian yet without seeing her at all.
He missed his daughter so deeply that he got sick and fully bedridden.
俗语说得好，灾祸不单行，
三月十五日，隔壁大火明。
As the saying goes misfortunes never come singly.
His neighbor caught fire on the fifteenth of March.
庙宇化灰烬，甄家亦烧空，
投奔岳父家，夫妇悲愁浓。
The temple turned to dust and ashes and so did Zhen Family.
Shiyin and his wife sadly went to his father-in-law for shelter.
士隐乃书生，哪里会经营？
岳父名封肃，哄骗兼欺凌。
As a scholar how could Shiyin be qualified for management?
His father-in-law Feng Su was good at cheating and bullying.
加之思女痛，士隐太凄惨，
捉襟即见肘，生计好艰难。
Deeply missing his daughter Shiyin was too miserable.
He led a hard life with too many problems to deal with.
只缘遇恶人，悔恨常空叹，
久郁成重疾，落魄不堪言。
Meeting bad eggs he deeply regreted and always heaved sighs.
Depression made him seriously sick and to suffer unspeakably.
士隐拄拐杖，散心在街头，
偶然抬头见，道人跛足走。
With the help of a walking stick Shiyin strolled in the street.
Occasionally raising his head Shiyin found a laming Taoist.
身穿破烂装，疯癫且肮脏，
口中有说词，语调好凄凉：
Wearing humble clothes, the Taoist was dirty and crazy.
He was muttering incantations in a sorrowful melody：
世人都晓神仙好，惟有功名忘不了。
古今将相在何方？荒冢一堆草没了。
All know immortal is good an’ only feats-fame are unforgettable.
Where are generals an’ ministers? Tombs’re overgrown by grass.
世人都晓神仙好，只有金银忘不了。
终朝只恨聚无多，及到多时眼闭了。
All know immortal is good an’ only gold an’ silver are unforgettable.
Gathering is too little but eyes’ll close when having much gathering.
世人都晓神仙好，只有娇妻忘不了。
君生日日说恩情，君死又随人去了。
All know immortal is good but only the pretty wife is unforgettable.
Say grace everyday when he’s alive but go with others on his death.
世人都说神仙好，只有儿孙忘不了。
痴心父母古来多，孝顺儿孙谁见了？
All know immortal is good and only descendants are unforgettable.
There’re too many infatuated parents yet with too few dutiful sons.
士隐听后问：不知你说啥，
只听你满口，好字一大把。
On hearing it Shiyin asked: What did you say?
Just now I only heard you say so many “good”.
道人不慌张，随意答分明：
好了两个字，听到算你能。
The Taoist answered him very clearly in no hurry.
It’s good for you to have heard the word of good.
世间有万物，物物应明了，
好字便是了，了字便是好。
You must know that countless things exist in the world.
The word of good means finish and finish means good.
如若不是了，那就不是好，
如若要个好，那就需个了。
If it’s not to finish and that won’t be good.
If you want a good and a finish is needed.
道士有名堂，说是好了歌，
士隐闻听后，大悟且大彻。
The Taoist isn’t so simple he said that’s a song of good.
On hearing this Shiyin realized a large church at once.
跟随道人走，飘然去远方，
娇妻闻讯后，悲伤哭断肠。
Floating in the air he followed the Taoist going far away.
On learning this news his wife wailed with great sorrow.
丫鬟小娇杏，门外买线针，
赶上县太爷，雨村新上任。
The young servant girl Jiao Xing walked out to buy needles and thread.
She saw the new county magistrate Yucun come to take his new office.
雨村不忘恩，款待封家人，
四匹锦绣缎，两封雪花银。
Yucun did not forget grace and entertained the people of Feng Family.
He gave them four pieces of exquisite silk satin with two packs of silver.
士隐老岳丈，收到信一封，
雨村要娇杏，做妾伴终生。
The father-in-law of Shiyin received a letter.
Yucun wanted Jiao Xing to be his concubine.
娇杏是何人，当年小丫鬟，
曾经采花事，依然记心间。
Who was this Little Jiao Xing? She was the then servant girl.
He didn’t forget she once picked flower outside the window.
雨村别士隐，赶考中进士，
如今任知府，赫赫有权势。
Yucun parted with Shiyin years ago to take the imperial examination.
Chosen as Jinshi he was the new county head with power in hand.
士隐今不在，英莲亦失踪，
声声叹息长，心情千斤重。
But Shiyin was not here and Ying Lian disappeared.
Heaving a sigh he was laden with great anxiety now.
岂料贾雨村，空是有才人，
贪污且滥权，毫不得人心。
Unexpectedly Jiao Yucun had all his goods in the window.
He couldn’t enjoy popular support because of corruption.
任期未一年，无奈遭革职，
独自暗愧怍，表面无痕迹。
His term of office was less than a year and was dismissed.
It seemed that he had nothing wrong but he felt ashamed.
公事暗中交，财产送原籍，
担风且袖月，远游销声迹。
He left his post and sent the property to his native place.
He had a travel faraway and disappeared from the scene.
第二回
冷子兴大谈贾家事
林黛玉初入荣国府
