新的一年，感谢老奶奶为我打鸡蛋

   新的一年开始了，想祝福大家和自己，想到了《诗经·小雅》里的《天保》这首祝福的诗，录几位名家的英译，但愿《天保》我们每一个人，在新的一年里平安、幸福、万事如意。

 

天保定尔，亦孔之固。

俾尔单厚，何福不除？

俾尔多益，以莫不庶。

 

天保定尔，俾尔戬穀。

罄无不宜，受天百禄。

降尔遐福，维日不足。

 

天保定尔，以莫不兴。

如山如阜，如冈如陵，

如川之方至，以莫不增。

 

吉蠲为饎，是用孝享。

禴祠烝尝，于公先王。

君曰：“卜尔，万寿无疆！”

 

神之吊矣，诒尔多福。

民之质矣，日用饮食。

群黎百姓，遍为尔德。

 

如月之恒，如日之升。

如南山之寿，不骞不崩。

如松柏之茂，无不尔或承。

 

Heaven protects and establishes thee,

With the greatest security;

Makes thee entirely virtuous,

That thou mayest enjoy every happiness;

Grants thee much increase,

So that thou hast all in abundance.

 

Heaven protects and establishes thee,

It grants thee all excellence,

So that thine every matter is right,

And thou receivest every heavenly favour.

It sends down to thee long-during happiness,

Which the days are not sufficient to enjoy.

 

Heaven protects and establishes thee,

So that in every thing thou dost prosper,

Like the high hills, and the mountain masses,

Like the topmost ridges, and the greatest bulks;

That, as the stream ever coming on,

Such is thine increase.

 

With happy auspices and purifications, thou bringest the offerings,

And dost filially present them;

In spring, summer, autumn, and winter,

To the dukes and former kings,

Who says, ' We give to thee,

Myriad of years of duration unlimited. '

 

The spirits come,

And confer on thee many blessings.

The people are simple and honest,

Daily enjoying their meat and drink.

All the black-haired race, in all their surnames,

Universally practise your virtue.

 

Like the moon advancing to the full,

Like the sun ascending the heavens,

Like the age of the southern hills,

Never waning, never falling,

Like the luxuriance of the fir and the cypress; -

May such be thy succeeding line!

                       ——James Legge  译

 

God Bless Your Majesty

 

God bless Your Majesty

With great security.

You were made so benign;

Graces in you combine.

You were made to do good

That all people have food.

 

God bless Your Majesty

With great fertility.

There is nothing amiss;

You can repose in bliss.

In your realm all things laugh;

Each day you have enough.

 

God bless Your Majesty

With great prosperity.

Like mountains and like plains;

Like plateaus and like mains.

Like a fountain that wells;

Like a river that swells.

 

We offer meat and rice

As loyal sacrifice.

Our rituals all year last

To worship our kings past.

Their souls the reward give:

Long, long years you will live.

 

Now the divinity

Bestows fecundiy:

Your folks are safe and sound

And have food all year round.

The masses their voice raise:

Your merit's beyond praise.

 

Like the moon shining bright;

Like the sun shedding light.

Like the mountains so grand

That will for e'er south stand.

Like the cypress so green

That will for e'er keep sheen.

            ——赵彦春  译

 

Heavenly Bliss

Heaven blesses you, protect you,

Ensures security for you.

It makes your powerful and strong,

So that you are blessed all along.

It makes your wealth increase,

So that you are rich and in peace.

 

Heaven blesses you, protect you,

Brings good fortune to you.

Everything goes well with you,

Every favor befalls you.

So many blessings befall you

That the day seems too short for you.

 

Heaven blesses you, protect you,

Everything prosoers with you.

Like the hills, like the mountains,

Like streams pouring to the seas,

There’s nothing that does not increase.

 

Sacrificial rites on a lucky date

Are held to offer and to dedicate.

In winter, summer, autumn ans spring,

You make offerings to the late king.

The late king prophesies in good cheer;

You’ll enjoy life for many a year.

 

The holy spirits descend from above;

They grant you blessings, grant you love.

The people will live in content

If they are fed and dressed and affluent.

The people throughtout the land

Will accept your royal command,

 

Like the moon waxing to full size,

Like the sun on the rise,

Like the Southern Hill that is divine,

You’ll never fail or decline.

Like pine trees and cypress trees,

Your lineage will never decrease.

               ——汪榕培  译

 

     The Royalty

May Heaven bless our king

     With great security

Give him favor and bring

     Him great felicity

That he may do more good

     And people have more food!

 

May Heaven bless our king

  With perfect happiness,

Make him do everything

    Right and with great success

That he may have his will

     And we enjoy our fill!

 

May Heaven bless our king

     With great prosperity

Like hills and plains in spring

      Grown to immensity

Or the o’erbrimming river

     Flowing forever and ever!

 

Offer your wine and rice

      From summer, fall to spring

As filial sacrifice

      To your ancestral king

Whose soul in the witch appears;

      “may you live long, long years!”

 

The spirit comes and confers

      Many blessings on you

And on simple labores

     But daily food and brew.

The common people raise

      Their voice to sing your praise:

 

“Like the moon in the sky

      Or the sunrise over the plain,

Like southern mountains high

      Which never fall or wande

Or like luxuriant pines----

     May such be your succeeding lines!”

             ——许渊冲  译