双语诗歌翻译|刘禹锡-《聚蚊谣》

《聚蚊谣》是唐代文学家刘禹锡创作的一首政治讽刺诗。此诗采用比喻的手法，把那些阴险毒辣的官僚比作在昏暗中喧嚣、害人的蚊子，生动形象而又入木三分地描写了他们的丑态，并且坚信他们总有一天会被消灭，从而表现了诗人在政治斗争中的铮铮硬骨，以及对腐朽官僚的鄙视憎恨。全诗十四句，前十二句四句一转韵，平仄相间，具有跳跃性的变化。整篇语言较为质朴，但其中有些语句又富有文彩，在质朴中含着清丽，体现了刘诗的独特风格。

刘禹锡·《聚蚊谣》

沉沉夏夜闲堂开，飞蚊伺暗声如雷。

嘈然歘起初骇听，殷殷若自南山来。

喧腾鼓舞喜昏黑，昧者不分聪者惑。

露华滴沥月上天，利嘴迎人看不得。

我躯七尺尔如芒，我孤尔众能我伤。

天生有时不可遏，为尔设幄潜匡床。

清商一来秋日晓，羞尔微形饲丹鸟。

Ballad of the Swarming Mosquitoes

Liu Yuxi

Hot summer nights

And doors are opened:

Mosquitoes swarm in

In the darkness,

Buzzing, loud.

Buzz, buzz, buzz,

Driving everyone wild,

Swatting

Like thunder

Hammering on the South Hills.

Buzz, buzz, buzz,

Happy in the darkness.

Stupidity can’t understand,

Wisdom grows confused:

Who can see in the dark?

The moon rises,

Dew falls,

And these imperious gnats,

Invisible, sharp-toothed,

Fly right in your face.

I may be a man,

Seven feet tall,

And you only

Tiny bugs,

But you outnumber me,

And I am sadly wounded.

Yet all things have their time.

Who can fight you

As you’re swarming up?

All I can do is hide

Under my netting.

But autumn will come,

And the fireflies,

And they’ll gobble you up,

Every tiny bit,

Every minute piece.