20.

花枝堪折直须折，莫待无花空折枝---《摽有梅》

 

★从抒情主人公的主观心态看，“急”就急在青春流逝而夫婿无觅。全诗三章，“庶士”三见。“庶”者，众多之意；“庶士”，意谓众多的小伙子。可见这位姑娘尚无意中人。她是在向整个男性世界寻觅、催促，呼唤爱情。青春无价，然流光易逝。“真正的青春，贞洁的妙龄的青春，周身充满了新鲜的血液、体态轻盈而不可侵犯的青春，这个时期只有几个月”(《罗丹艺术论·女性美》)。如今梅子黄熟，嫁期将尽，仍夫婿无觅，怎能不令人情急意迫！青春流逝，以落梅为比。“其实七兮”、“其实三兮”、“顷筐塈之”，由繁茂而衰落；这也正一遍遍在提醒“庶士”：“花枝堪折直须折，莫待无花空折枝。”唐无名氏《金缕曲》之忧心“无花空折枝”，似乎深有《摽有梅》之遗意。

 

 

 X.Y.Z version

 

An old maid

    BY X.Y.Z

The fruits from mume-tree fall,

One-third of them away

If you love me at all

Woo me a luck day

 

The fruits from mume-tree fall

Two-thirds of them away

If you love me at all

Woo me this very day!

 

The fruits from mume-tree fall

Now all of them away

If you love me at all

You need not woo but say

 

 汪榕培：

 

 You see the plums drop from the tree

Lying on the way

If want to marry me

You’d better not delay

 

You see the plums drop from the tree

Piling of the way

If you want to marry me

You’d better come today

 

You see the plums drop from the tree

In baskets on the way

If you want to marry me

You’d better come and say

 

 

英文版—卞之琳

PLOP FALL THE PLUMS

Plop fall the plums，

Seven yet to pluck.

You who court me，

Get ready for your luck.

Plop fall the plums，

Three still on the bough

You who court me，

It is time now.

Plop fall the plums，

All gathered in.

You who court me，

Just a word to win.

 

 

James Legge  译：

 

Dropping are the fruits from the plum-tree;

There are [but] seven [tenths] of them left!

For the gentlemen who seek me,

This is the fortunate time!

 

Dropping are the fruits from the plum-tree;

There are [but] three [tenths] of them left!

For the gentlemen who seek me,

Now is the time.

 

Dropt are the fruits from the plum-tree;

In my shallow basket I have collected them.

Would the gentlemen who seek me

[Only] speak about it!

 

 

 

 

 

杨宪益  戴乃迭  译：

 

Plop, Fall the Plums

Plop, fall the plums;
Of ten on the tree, seven remain;
Let those who would court me
Come before the lucky day slips by.

Plop, fall the plums;
Of ten on the tree, three remain;
For those who would court me
Now is the time!

Plop, fall the plums;
Place them in flat baskets;
Let those who would court me
Come to the gathering!

 

C.F.R.Allen  译：

 

"Why Don't the Men Propose?"

The plums are ripening quickly;
Nay, some are falling too;
'Tis surely time for suitors
To come to me and woo.

See more and more are falling
From off the parent tree.
Why don't the men come forward
To win a maid like me?

At length upon the plum-tree
No fruit can be espied,
Yet no one comes to court me,
Or bid me be his bride. 

 

Herbert A. Giles  译：

 

Desperate

The ripe plums are falling, —
One-third of them gone;
To my lovers I am calling,
"'Tis time to come on!"

The ripe plums are dropping, —
Two-thirds are away;
"'Tis time to be popping!"
To my lovers I say.

Down has dropt every plum;
In baskets they lie.
What, will no lover come?
"Now or never!" say I.

Arthur Waley  译：

 

Plop fall the plums; but there are still seven.
Let those gentlemen that would court me
Come while it is lucky!

Plop fall the plums; there are still three.
Let any gentleman that would court me
Come before it is too late!

Plop fall the plums; in shallow basket we lay them.
Any gentleman who would court me
Had better speak while there is time.