《流云降龙记》书评

书中诗歌(片段)原文，有兴趣的读者不妨试试手

1.1‘… No wise hermit, that recluse with shakinghands, somehow sounding a ghost-white lute.When he blinks, peers round, no one notices:just the wind rustling twigs and memories …’1.2Yoking my chariot I’m merciless to the horse.Ride like a prince through the streets of Lo.In Lo Town everything pleases me!High and low mingle like thieves.The widest streets need lanes to join them.How noble the houses of the royal counts!A long feast keeps us young and thoughtless,Casting no shadows for sorrow to haunt.1.3Avoid the reach of sharp swords,Stay clear of tempting glances,A sword stroke will cripple your arm,A weak wheel breaks after ten yards,One night of joy will scar your soul.2.1‘…War’s infection spreads from the borders:this year, last year, next – honoured rites of slaughter.The phoenix flutters gaudy wings of sorrow,When war is the plough, crops of bone mustfollow…’2.2Green green the far off willows,Far far the town of Chunming.Beyond the horizon only future.I must travel toward haze and mist.2.3In the City of Heaven a thousand voices.Urgent fluttering wings of cicadas.Crickets sing until daybreak.I must heed when teachers speak.3.1‘…Evening discourses from a cold studio.All very well for Master Su Tung-po!Enlightenment dredged from a deep wine bowl.The moon’s beauty worms away at my soul…’3.2The lake ripples as four winds will.Fish rise, mouths gape like coins.West Lake might as well be an ocean.Heart’s desire waits for shores to kiss.No balance until they touch.3.3Outside doors taller than my father’s I wait.Whisper of suitors. Shadows shaping.But my Lord’s painting by Xie-He lends ease.Sages and waterfalls blend wisdom,Approving the virtue of Lord Xiao’s house. 4.1‘…Clouds drift through a maze of stars.A fat autumn moon emerges from the mountainside.In the valley lanterns bob like fireflies.They are coming, as they did for Wang Wei…’4.2She washes kohl-lined eyes, almond eyes,Make-up skeins of black in a jade bowl.Pigments disperse as soon as friendship,Making the water grey. Throw it away.Wise heads have lived this before.Is a dream of love all my reward?4.3He who gives life to the city is humble.Salt him. Feed his family. Mix him with rice.River textures are mirror and shadow.The fisherman casts a net of heaven.Droplets scatter, he hauls in the Way.5.1‘…The sly pheasant boasts six row talons.Our mulberry tree has countless roots.The general’s chariot tinkles with pendants of jade.Rocks are our jewels, green bamboo our brocade…’6.1‘…I dreamt of riding a giant heron,gazing down from Heaven at insect armies – ant-sting lance thicketgnat-swarm arrow cloud.But the tears of widowswere as vast as Lake Poyang…’7.1‘…Otters cannot stop catching carpand so we pursued our pleasures.Drum and flute set us dancing all nightto the tune Telling of Innermost Feelings.When the gong’s echo fadeddawn revealed our delusion….’7.2Travellers are beauty’s best judge.Moon Goddess’s fragrant lightFills roads between heaven and earth.The Lady Ta Chi’s fragranceScents the Son of Heaven’s palace.He pauses before his next victory,And sadly thinks of home.7.3Thin, bony fish caught from brick steps.Do not say they are less than carp.Lure and hook whatever swims your way,Hold slippery, drowning mouths,Scales crusting hands like moonshine.Finest foods are a matter of taste.Once eaten, any fish becomes you.8.1‘…Your fragrance left my beingso long ago.Yet scent lingers in dreamsand each night I assure myself it means nothing.I shall forget, in time, surely as morning.Then your fragrance – honey, sweat-musk, elusivedew – revivesa desire never wholly forsaken.When I clear my nose, this curtained roomreeks of musty pain…’8.2To the tune of ‘Wind-Washed Sand’Climb pagoda steps, gaze across the lands.Stars hang motionless, night is numb.Old friends offer what comfort they can.Lonely shadow, do not imagineDaybreak will scatter you forever.Do not forget kind words said in parting.In pools of darkness, jade faces glow.9.1‘…The Provincial Capital echoeswith disorder.Armies prowl the five directionsgorging on tattered villages that survive…’10.1‘…Green moss on the path seldom travelledto Mulberry Ridge. From up hereview a hundred li of flooded fieldscrowned by haze, circling white birds.How many more times will this way choose me?Once is all I beg, to say farewell.’

奇特！

奇特 ---- 一个现代的英国人，通过中国古代诗词而迷恋中国历史文化，凭着一些似有似无的历史印迹和丰富的想象，试图以中国人的视角和情怀，向世界讲述一个南宋的中国故事，情节起伏跌宕，引人入胜。译笔严谨流畅，更难能可贵的是，译者试图用中国古典诗词的形式，来演绎作者的英文诗句，颇可咏读。

读后随记.............

四星半话说，这本书是分了三次，跨了将近三个月才看完的，前面都有点想不起来了，再写个读后什么的，感觉好虚。正如短评所说，男女主，也就是云开和肃林，一开始就知道是不可能在一起的。因为，《流》是双线并行的结构，分别是年轻的云开和年老的云开，所以一下子就知道他们没在一起。感觉好冷。云开是比较接近传统的读书人的形象，父亲有过一番事业，希冀儿子学而优则仕。他也因此到临安，进入官学学习，考取功名，以求腾达。肃林有一副好嗓子，被卖去学唱，成为优伶。这样的设定很容易联想到结局吧，大概就是女的被达官贵人看上，男的因此受到迫害，但是还是抱着破釜沉舟的决心跟女的求婚或什么什么，被拒绝之类的。后面的进展不出所料大约就是这样子的。虽然早早预想到结局如此，但真正看到这一段的时候，还是不禁想起云开第一次和肃林见面的日子：那时他们还都是十来岁的小孩子，就因为不小心看到(还是听到来着，忘了)一眼，情愫暗生；又想到云开参加考试的时候，笔袋子被掉包了，所有的笔都没有了，是靠着肃林送的笔完成考试的；又想到各种诗人聚会时，云开心里想着肃林，写下的诗句。当云开求婚的时候，彼时肃林已经是大红大紫的优伶了，云开却是刚刚经历了九死一生的人，之所以经历九死一生还是因为受到另一个肃林的追求者，同时也是朝廷要员的陷害。肃林对云开的回答说，不行，她不想再过贫穷困苦的生活，要赚够钱，足够让她和云开过上体面的生活。肃林早早被家人卖掉，过了多年寄人篱下的生活，换成谁也不想再过那种生活了吧。所以读到这段还是蛮伤感的呀。突然间就想早早结婚了呀。要问为什么的话，那是因为想结婚之后再慢慢谈恋爱，嗯。