文章选自《浮生六记》之《闲情记趣》。
【译文】The graceful figure of the lady with sloping shoulders and a long, delicate neck accentuates her delicate beauty. Her arched eyebrows and clear eyes sparkle with intelligence and humor. The only slight imperfection is the slight protrusion of her two front teeth, which some might consider a sign of bad luck. However, there is a softness in her manner that touches the heart, making one wish to stay forever by her side.
【译文】In a quiet room, the maid slept soundly on the floor while Yuen, after removing her makeup, was still awake. With the bright silver candles casting a glow, she leaned over a book with her delicate neck bent, so engrossed in her reading that she was unaware of my presence.
好的作家和翻译家都追求文字之美。正如英国作家毛姆所说：“文字有重量、声音和外观；只有考虑了这些因素，你才能写出既悦耳又悦目的句子。”这一翻译正是对这一原则的完现。
【译文】As a new bride, Yuen was initially reserved and quiet, never showing any anger throughout the day. When conversing with her, she only responded with a smile. She showed respect to her elders and treated those below her with gentle kindness. Her demeanor was always orderly and never once did she make a mistake.
整体而言，此段翻译不仅在语言上做到了信、达、雅，而且在文化上也做到了传神。这正是一位优秀译者所追求的目标。