双语诗歌翻译|曹雪芹-《唐多令·咏柳絮》

接着探春、宝玉的词后，黛玉便写出这首“缠绵悲感”的《唐多令》。黛玉从飘游无定的柳絮，联想到自己孤苦无依的身世，预感到薄命的结局，把一腔哀惋缠绵的思绪写到词中去。曾游百花洲的西施，居住燕子楼的关盼盼，都是薄命的女子，似乎是信手引来，实际是有意自喻。柳絮任东风摆布，正是象征黛玉在命运面前无能为力。李纨等人看了这首诗，都点头感叹：“太作悲了。”除了这类悲戚语外，这个可怜的少女还能说出什么更乐观的话呢？

《唐多令·咏柳絮》 曹雪芹

粉堕百花洲，
香残燕子楼。
一团团、逐队成球。
飘泊还如人命薄，
空缱绻，说风流！

草木也知愁，
韶华竟白头。
叹今生、谁舍谁收？
嫁与东风春不管，
凭尔去，忍淹留！

Willow Down
(To the Tune Sugary Ditty)
As pollen littered over the Flowers Island,
So fragrance faded about the Swallow Villa.
All flying off as though in files and flocks,
O patches of willow-down being driven apart,
You're just like humans, homeless, roaming afar!
Now neither your sentiments will have you spared,
Nor such sublimity will get you anywhere.

E'en bushes and trees from annoyance unsaved?
Your hair turns hoary in youthful days!
"Alas, for my lifetime, be short as it may,
Whoever is to have me kept and cared?
And spring should have for me no regard—
While he by himself is to linger in retard,
I'm to go with the wind, away to pass?"