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十日谈|The Decameron

第一日 原 序|Proem

属类: 双语小说 【分类】世界名著 -[作者: 乔万尼·薄伽丘] 阅读:[36437]
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对不幸的人寄予同情,是一种德行。谁都应该具有这种德行——尤其是那些曾经渴求同情、并且体味到同情的可贵的人。如果有谁承受过他人的同情,得到了安慰,因而体味到这份情意的可贵,那么我确实算得上一个。

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A kindly thing it is to have compassion of the afflicted and albeit it well beseemeth every one, yet of those is it more particularly required who have erst had need of comfort and have found it in any, amongst whom, if ever any had need thereof or held it dear or took pleasure therein aforetimes, certes, I am one of these.

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从青春年少、直到眼前,我始终无比热烈地爱着一个人儿;说起来,她是那么高贵。以我的寒微,怕真有些配不上她。明达的绅士们听到我这段恋爱,倒是很看重我、夸奖我,可不知道我为这段恋爱忍受了多少折磨啊。并非因为我的情人心肠太硬,使我难过,而是因为我痴心妄想,在胸中燃烧着一股难于抑制的欲火。这分明是一件不可能得到美满的事,因此,我时常只落得徒然苦恼而已。

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For that, having from my first youth unto this present been beyond measure inflamed with a very high and noble passion (higher and nobler, perchance, than might appear, were I to relate it, to sort with my low estate) albeit by persons of discretion who had intelligence thereof I was commended therefor and accounted so much the more worth, natheless a passing sore travail it was to me to bear it, not, certes, by reason of the cruelty of the beloved lady, but because of the exceeding ardour begotten in my breast of an ill-ordered appetite, for which, for that it suffered me not to stand content at any reasonable bounds, caused me ofttimes feel more chagrin than I had occasion for.

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在我为着爱情而受苦受难的时期,幸亏有一个朋友常用好话来劝慰我,要不是他,只怕我再不会活在这世界上了。

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In this my affliction the pleasant discourse of a certain friend of mine and his admirable consolations afforded me such refreshment that I firmly believe of these it came that I died not.

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不过天主是万能的,他以亘古不变的法则,使人间万事万物到头来都有一个归宿。我爱我意中人,虽说爱得比任何人都热烈,不论自己怎样抑制、旁人怎样规劝,将来蒙耻受辱,身败名裂,在所难免,都不能挫折或动摇我这份爱情;可是这份爱情却终于给流水般的时光冲淡了,到现在我的灵魂里只剩下欢乐的追念——这是爱情赐给那些不曾在爱河里灭顶的人的礼物。我这场恋爱,当初叫我遭受许多痛苦,现在痛苦解脱了,只剩下欢乐的回忆。

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But, as it pleased Him who, being Himself infinite, hath for immutable law appointed unto all things mundane that they shall have an end, my love,—beyond every other fervent and which nor stress of reasoning nor counsel, no, nor yet manifest shame nor peril that might ensue thereof, had availed either to break or to bend,—of its own motion, in process of time, on such wise abated that of itself at this present it hath left me only that pleasance which it is used to afford unto whoso adventureth himself not too far in the navigation of its profounder oceans; by reason whereof, all chagrin being done away, I feel it grown delightsome, whereas it used to be grievous.

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尽管我不再感到痛苦,可是我并没忘了那些为关怀我而替我难过、给我安慰、帮助的人。我将终生感念他们的盛情,至死不忘。

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Yet, albeit the pain hath ceased, not, therefore, is the memory fled of the benefits whilom received and the kindnesses bestowed on me by those to whom, of the goodwill they bore me, my troubles were grievous; nor, as I deem, will it ever pass away, save for death.

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在许多美德中,我认为“感激”是最值得称道的;反过来说,忘恩负义便是顶卑鄙的行为。为了表明自己不是那种忘恩负义的人,我趁眼前可说是摆脱束缚、一无牵挂的时候,决定凭自己一点浅薄的才学,写下一些东西,给帮助过我的人读着消遣,聊作报答。如果以他们的知情达理、或是情场得意,这本书竟成为多余的,那么至少对另外一些人还有用处。

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And for that gratitude, to my thinking, is, among the other virtues, especially commendable and its contrary blameworthy, I have, that I may not appear ungrateful, bethought myself, now that I can call myself free, to endeavour, in that little which is possible to me, to afford some relief, in requital of that which I received aforetime,—if not to those who succoured me and who, belike, by reason of their good sense or of their fortune, have no occasion therefor,—to those, at least, who stand in need thereof.

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虽说象这样一本书是不见得会给予不幸的人们多大鼓舞,或者不如说,多大安慰的;不过我觉得还是应该把这本书贡献给最需要的人,因为这对他们更有帮助,更可宝贵。那么有谁能够否认,把这本书——这份微薄的安慰,献给一位相思缠绵的小姐比献给一个男子来得更合适?

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And albeit my support, or rather I should say my comfort, may be and indeed is of little enough avail to the afflicted, natheless meseemeth it should rather be proffered whereas the need appeareth greater, as well because it will there do more service as for that it will still be there the liefer had. And who will deny that this [comfort], whatsoever [worth] it be, it behoveth much more to give unto lovesick ladies than unto men?

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女人家因为胆怯,害羞,只好把爱情的火焰包藏在自己的柔弱的心房里,这一股力量(过来人都知道)比公开的爱情还要猛烈得多。再说,她们得服从父母、兄长、丈夫的意志,听他们的话、受他们的管教。她们整天守在闺房的小天地内。昏闷无聊,仿佛有所想望而又无可奈何,情思撩乱,总是郁郁寡欢。

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For that these within their tender bosoms, fearful and shamefast, hold hid the fires of love (which those who have proved know how much more puissance they have than those which are manifest), and constrained by the wishes, the pleasures, the commandments of fathers, mothers, brothers and husbands, abide most time enmewed in the narrow compass of their chambers and sitting in a manner idle, willing and willing not in one breath, revolve in themselves various thoughts which it is not possible should still be merry.

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要是她们因为苦于相思,弄得愁眉不展,那么除非有什么新鲜的排遣,这愁是消不了的。再说,妇女远不及男子有忍耐力。男人恋爱起来。决不会有这样的事情,这是大家都可以看到的。

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By reason whereof if there arise in their minds any melancholy, bred of ardent desire, needs must it with grievous annoy abide therein, except it be done away by new discourse; more by token that they are far less strong than men to endure. With men in love it happeneth not on this wise, as we may manifestly see.

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就是他果真发愁、心里昏闷,也自有许多消遣解脱的办法。只要他高兴出去走走,可以让他看看听听的东西多的是,他可以去打鸟、打猎、钓鱼、骑马。也可以去赌博或是经商。有了这种种消遣,一个男子至少可以暂时摆脱了、或者减轻了他心里的愁苦。他到头来不是在这里就是在那里得到了安慰,逐渐忘却了痛苦。

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They, if any melancholy or heaviness of thought oppress them, have many means of easing it or doing it away, for that to them, an they have a mind thereto, there lacketh not commodity of going about hearing and seeing many things, fowling, hunting, fishing, riding, gaming and trafficking; each of which means hath, altogether or in part, power to draw the mind unto itself and to divert it from troublous thought, at least for some space of time, whereafter, one way or another, either solacement superveneth or else the annoy groweth less.

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多情善感的妇女最需要别人的安慰,命运对于他们却偏是显得特别吝啬。为了多少弥补这份缺憾,我才打算写这一部书,给怀着相思的少女少妇一点安慰和帮助——为的是,针线、卷线杆和纺车并不能满足天下一切的妇女。这本书里讲了一百个故事——或者是讲了一百个“寓言”,一百篇“醒世小说”,一百段“野史”,你们怎么说都成。这些故事都是在最近瘟疫盛行的一段时间中,由一群有身分的士女——七位小姐、三位青年分十天讲述的。故事以外,还有七位小姐唱着消遣的好些歌曲。

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Wherefore, to the end that the unright of Fortune may by me in part be amended, which, where there is the less strength to endure, as we see it in delicate ladies, hath there been the more niggard of support, I purpose, for the succour and solace of ladies in love (unto others[1] the needle and the spindle and the reel suffice) to recount an hundred stories or fables or parables or histories or whatever you like to style them, in ten days’ time related by an honourable company of seven ladies and three young men made in the days of the late deadly pestilence, together with sundry canzonets sung by the aforesaid ladies for their diversion.

[1]i.e. those not in love.
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在这些故事中,我们可以谈到情人们的许多悲欢离合的遭遇,以及古往今来的一些离奇曲折的事迹。淑女们读着这些动人的故事,说不定会得到一些乐趣,同时还可以从中得到一些有益的启发,因为借这些故事,她们可以认识到什么事情应当避免,什么事情可以尝试。这么说,这本书多少会替她们解除一些愁闷吧。

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In these stories will be found love-chances,[2] both gladsome and grievous, and other accidents of fortune befallen as well in times present as in days of old, whereof the ladies aforesaid, who shall read them, may at once take solace from the delectable things therein shown forth and useful counsel, inasmuch as they may learn thereby what is to be eschewed and what is on like wise to be ensued,—the which methinketh cannot betide without cease of chagrin.

[2]Syn. adventures (casi).
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要是真能做到这一步,(但愿天主允许吧!)那么让她们感谢恋爱之神吧,是他把我从爱的束缚中解放出来,给了我力量,为她们的欢乐而写作。

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If it happen thus (as God grant it may) let them render thanks therefor to Love, who, by loosing me from his bonds, hath vouchsafed me the power of applying myself to the service of their pleasures.

简典