第一回: Chunk 26
derek
August 17, 2008, 01:31 AM posted in General Discussion一日,炎夏永昼,士隐于书房闲坐,至手倦抛书,伏几少憩,不觉朦胧睡去.梦至一处,不辨是何地方.忽见那厢来了一僧一道,且行且谈.只听道人问道:"你携了这蠢物 ,意欲何往?"那僧笑道:"你放心,如今现有一段风流公案正该了结,这一干风流冤家, 尚未投胎入世. 趁此机会,就将此蠢物夹带于中,使他去经历经历." 那道人道:"原来近日风流冤孽又将造劫历世去不成? 但不知落于何方何处?"
One scorching hot and never ending day, Shi Yin was sitting idly in his study, until a book dropped from his tired hand, [he] lay prostrate on the table for a little rest, [then] unconsciously fell into a dim sleep. [He] dreamt of a place, [but] was not able to differentiate where [this] place was. Suddenly [he] saw from that side a Buddhist and a Daoist coming, talking as they walked along. [He] only heard the Daoist ask: Where do you wish to carry this stupid thing?
That Buddhist, smiling, replied: You [should] relax, now [i] currently have a romantic and complicated case [that] rightly must be concluded. This affair of romantic predestined love has not yet incarnated and entered the world. [i will] take advantage of this opportunity, to secretly take this stupid thing amidst [this circumstance], and enable it to [have] some experiences.
That Daoist said: As of recently [this] romantic predestined relationship also has not been created and forced to pass through it's course in the world? [You] still do not know at what locality or place this [affair] will settle?
Breakdown:
一日,炎夏永昼,士隐于书房闲坐,至手倦抛书,伏几少憩,不觉朦胧睡去. ->
One (炎夏永昼) scorching hot and never ending day, Shi Yin was (闲坐) sitting idly in his study, (至) until a book (抛) dropped from his (手倦) tired hand, [he] (伏) lay prostrate on the (几) table for a (少憩) little rest, [then] (不觉) unconsciously fell into a (朦胧睡) dim sleep.
(伏几少憩: lay prostrate for a few moments rest?)
梦至一处,不辨是何地方.忽见那厢来了一僧一道,且行且谈. ->
[He] (梦至一处) dreamt of a place, [but] was (不辨是何地方) not able to differentiate where the place was. (忽见) Suddenly [he] saw from (那厢) that side a Buddhist and a Daoist coming, (且行且谈) talking as they walked along.
只听道人问道:"你携了这蠢物 ,意欲何往?" ->
[He] only heard the Daoist ask: Where do you (意欲) wish to (携) carry this (蠢物) stupid thing?
那僧笑道:"你放心,如今现有一段风流公案正该了结,这一干风流冤家, 尚未投胎入世. ->
That Buddhist, smiling, replied: You [should] relax, now [i] currently have a (风流) romantic and (公案) complicated case [that] (正该) rightly must be concluded. This affair of (风流冤家) romantic predestined love has (尚未) not yet (投胎) incarnated and entered the world.
(冤家: enemy, foe, one's destined love.)
趁此机会,就将此蠢物夹带于中,使他去经历经历." ->
[i will] (趁) take advantage of this opportunity, to (夹带) secretly take this stupid thing amidst [this circumstance], and (使) enable it to [have] some experiences.
那道人道:"原来近日风流冤孽又将造劫历世去不成? 但不知落于何方何处?" ->
That Daoist said: As of recently [this] romantic (冤孽) predestined relationship also has (造...不成) not been created and (劫) forced to (历世去) pass through it's course in the world? [You] still do not know at (何方何处) what locality or place this [affair] will (落) settle?
(冤孽: sin, enemy, rancour, predestined relationship; 造...不成: some process or action that is incomplete?)
derek
August 19, 2008, 01:42 PMThanks Changye,
This 风流冤家 really confused me, the first few times I read it, I thought it meant "Dissolute Enemy". These characters are very interesting, if I have time I will study the etymology and post the results here.
henning
September 11, 2008, 06:39 AMAny background on the 冤孽?
Is it "sin" or - as derek translated it - "predestined relationship"? Or a "romantic sin"? And it seems to have religious connotations / implications?
changye
September 11, 2008, 07:03 AMHi henning,
冤孽 is "karma", "predestined relationship", and "fate" or something like that. And I've just found the "official interpretation" of 风流冤孽 on the Net, which is 【解 释】 男女风情事而造成的冤仇罪孽. This phrase will be used again in chapter 5 (第五回).
P/S. Hurry up!
henning
September 11, 2008, 07:06 AMchangye,
thanks! It seems to be an interesting piece of vocab with some depth to it.
P.S.: Yes, I know, I will try not be become too distracted by all the other stuff... ;)
changye
August 17, 2008, 06:59 AMHi Derek,
Looks like that the two masters are long-winded (or repetitive) speakers. They never hurry! 所以我们也慢慢来吧！我看你的翻译越来越好。
伏几(a small table)少憩 Your translation is right.
一干 (related) = one related person
风流冤家 In this case, 冤家 means “家伙, 人家 (ren2 jia)” (guy, lad, fellow). As you know, 冤家 has another meaning “an enemy”.
风流冤孽 (karma) I think this phrase also indicates (or implies) the stone.
造( = 造访, visit)劫( = 世)历世(experience the world)
～不成？ I’m not sure, but in this case 不成 might be used in the sense of 对不对，是不是 or something like that, …….perhaps.
Just for the record, “他” meant both “he” and “she” in old Chinese, and sometimes even meant “they”. So you can’t find “她 (she)” in 红楼梦 because this character was invented very recently, perhaps within the past one hundred years or so.