日前在一博友处随意一说，竟欠下一桩心事，今日翻箱倒柜，总算找到了。比较一下张香桐老师的译文，应该是各有千秋吧。

朱柏庐治家格言英译

1992年第1期《英语世界》     作者：王哈里（美）   裘克安

（1）黎明即起，洒扫庭除，要内外整洁。

     既昏便息，关锁门户，必亲自检点。

     Rise at crack of dawn; sprinkle and sweep the courtyard steps. Make sure that the premises are clean and tidy inside and out.

     Retire soon a fter dark; close and lock the doors. See to it yourself that everything is secure.

（2）一粥一饭，当思来处不易；

     半丝半缕，恒念物力维艰。

     Remember that every bowl of rice and porridge has not been got easily.

     Be ever mind ful that each cotton or silk garment has taken much material and labour to make.

（3）宜未雨而绸缪，毋临渴而掘井。

     Better be puepared be fore it rains.

     Don’t start to drill a well only when you get thirsty.

（4）自奉必须俭约，宴客切勿留连。

     It is essential to be frugal and simple in treating ourselves.

     On no account should we prolong banqueting in entertaining guests.

（5）器具质而洁，瓦缶胜金玉；

     饮食约而精，园蔬逾珍羞。

     Utensils should be plain and clean, and earthinware sur passes gold and jade.

     Food and drinks should be simple and well-chosen, and garden vegetables excel¹³ rare delicacies.

（6）勿营华屋，勿谋良田。

     Do not build showy mansions.

     Do not crave other people’s fertile fields.

（7）三姑六婆实淫盗之媒；

     婢美妾娇非闺房之福。

Female tale-bearers and go-betweens are really media of adultery.

Fetching maids and seductive concubines are detrimental to marital bliss.

（8）奴仆勿用俊美，妻妾切忌艳妆。

Do not employ good-looking pages and servants.

Wives and concubines must avoid fancy dresses and heavy make-up.

（9）祖宗虽远，祭祀不可不诚；

     子孙虽愚，经书不可不读。

Ancestors, though far removed, should be offered saerifice in sincerity.

Sons and grandsons, though not bright, must be targht the Confucian classics.

（10）居身务期俭朴，教子要有义方。

For daily living let thrift and simplicity be the rule.

In teaching children encourage them to be good and upright.

（11）莫贪意外之财；莫饮过量之酒。

Do not be greedy for unearned wealth.

Do not drink wine beyond capacity.

（12）与肩挑贸易，毋占便宜；

      见穷苦亲邻，须加温恤。

Do not gain petty advantages in trading with peddlers.

Be kind to poor relatives and neighbours and relieve their need.

（13）刻薄成家，理无久享；

      伦常乖舛，立见消亡。

Family fortunes made through unscrupulous means naturally do not last long.

Perverse and incestuous relationships court prompt destruction.

（14）兄弟叔侄须分多润寡，

  长幼内外宜法肃辞严。

Among brothers and among uncles and nephews, sur pluses should be divided with odds in favour of the needy.

Both the elderly and the young should be strictly required and sternly admonished to observe laws and rules of conduct inside and outside the house.

（15）听妇言乖骨肉岂是丈夫，

      重资财薄父母不成人子。

He is no gentleman who, heeding his wife, estranges himself from his blood relations.

He is an unworthy son who, out of parsimony, treats his parents badly.

（16）嫁女择佳婿毋索重聘，

      娶媳求淑女勿计厚奁。

Choose a good husband for one’s daughter, and do not demand expensive betrothal gifts.

Seek a virtuous girl for one’s daughter-in-law, and do not exact a rich dowry.

（17）见富贵而生谄容者最可耻，

      遇贫穷而作骄态者贱莫甚。

It is degrading to grow sycophantic be fore people of wealth and position.

It is despicable to wax haughty in front of the poor.

（18）居家戒争讼，讼则终凶；

      处世戒多言，言多必失。

Keep away from law suits, for they lead eventually to grief.

Refrain from talking too much, for a tongue that wags too much will slip.

（19）勿恃势力而凌逼孤寡；

      毋贪口腹而恣杀牲禽。

Do not, on the strength of power, bully orphans and widows.

Do not, from a fondness for fine food, wantonly kill animals and fowls.

（20）乖僻自是，悔误必多；

      颓惰自甘，家道难成。

Bigotry and selr-conceit often lead to errors and regrets.

Laxiness and self-indulgence prevent the making of family fortunes.

（21）狎昵恶少，久必受其累；

      屈志老成，急则可相依。

Consort with evil youths, and they will eventually get you implicated.

Befriend and heed the experienced, and they could be relied on in time of emergency.

（22）轻听发言，安知非人之谮诉，当忍耐三思；

      因事相争，焉知非我之不是，须平心细想。

How do you dnow other people’s words are not slanders, so don’t readily believe them, but have patience and think thrice be fore expressing an opinion.

How do you know that you are not wrong in an argument, so stay calm and weigh carefully instead of starting a quarrel.

（23）施惠无念，受恩莫忘。

Do not remember a favour given; do not forget a favour received.

（24）凡事留有余地，得意不宜再往。

Leave some leeway in doing anything; seek no repetition of a cause of pride and satisfaction.

（25）人有喜庆，不可生妒嫉心

      人有祸患，不可生喜幸心。

     Do not envy other people’s good fortune; do not gloat over other people’s misfortune.

（26）善欲人见，不是真善；

      恶恐人知，便是大恶。

A good deed is no good deed if it is done for show.

An evil edde is all the worse if it is covered up.

（27）见色而起淫心，报在妻女；

      匿怨而用暗箭，祸及子孙。

Lusting after beautiful women will bring retribution on one’s own wife and daughters.

Wreaking grudge by underhand in jury will bring disaster on one’s own children.

（28）家门和顺，虽饔餮不继，亦有余欢；

      国课早完，即囊橐无余，自得至乐。

When peace and harmony prevail in the home there will be happiness even if it is difficult to provide for supper after breakfast.

When government taxes have been paid you will feel satisfaction even if there is no more money in the purse.

（29）读书志在圣贤，为官心存君国。

The aim of studies is to emulate the worthies and sages.

The purpose of holding office is to serve the sovereign and the country.

（30）守分安命，顺时听天。

Be contint with one’s lot and fortune.

Follow the times and obey the * will of geaven.

（31）为人若此，庶乎近焉。

We ought to get somewhere thereabouts if we conduct ourselves according to the above precepts.