Praying for Rainfall何其芳He Qifang🔥背景知识：何其芳（1912-1977），四川万县人，现代诗人、散文家、文学评论家。《雨前》是他写于1933年春的一篇充满艺术魅力的散文，收录在他的第一篇散文集《画梦录》中。作者通过雨前自然景物和人物情态的描写，渲染出一种久旱逢甘霖的强烈气氛，托物言志，借景抒怀，流露出作者不满黑暗现实、渴望光明的心态。现用现在时态英译全文，以增加描述的生动性和现实感。🎈此文题目本可译为Before the Rain，现按久旱逢甘霖的主题把它译为Praying for Rainfall，其中Praying for的意思是「求」或「渴望」等。最后的鸽群带着低弱的笛声在微风里划一个圈子后，也消失了。The last flock of pigeons have also gone out of sight after doing their final circling in the soft breeze, the sound of their whistles barely audible.🎈「带着低弱的笛声」译为the sound of their whistles barely audible，其中barely audible的字面意思是「勉强能听到」或「几乎听不到」，在此作「低弱的」解。词短语也可译为with the faint sound of their whistles。如译为the sound of their whistles trailing off也无不可，只是trailing off（逐渐减弱）与原意稍有差别。the sound of their whistles barely audible该短语为独立主格结构，省略了be动词。也许是误认这灰暗的凄冷的天空为夜色的来袭，或是也预感到风雨的将至，遂过早地飞回它们温暖的木舍。They are hastening back to their warm wooden dovecote earlier than usual perhaps because they have mistaken the bleak leaden sky for nightfall or because of their presentiment of a storm.🎈此句表面一看缺乏主语，但根据上下文，我们可知该句主语为鸽群，又因上文刚提到鸽群，为了避免重复，使用代词they即可。🎈mistake此处为动词属性mistake sb / sth for sb / sth 把…错当成 英义to think wrongly that sb / sth is sb / sth else 例句I think you must be mistaking me for someone else. 我看你准是认错人了。几天的阳光在柳条上撒下的一抹嫩绿，被尘土埋掩得有憔悴色了，是需要一次洗涤。The willow twigs, daubed with a light green by several days of sunshine, are now covered all over with dust and look so sickly that they need to be washed.🎈此句也可按「经过几天的日晒，柳树上出现的嫩叶被尘土……」译为The light green willow leaves brought on by several days of sunshine now, covered all over with dust, look so sickly and hence need to be washed，其中to bring on是成语，作「使出现」或「使发展」解。还有干裂的大地和树根也早已期待着雨。And the parched soil and tree roots have likewise been dying for rainfall.🎈期待着雨 be dying for rainfallbe dying for sth / to do sth 渴望，极想英义to want sth or want to do sth very much例句I’m dying for a glass of water. 我真想喝杯水。 雨却迟疑着。Yet the rain is reluctant to come down.🎈此句意即「雨却不愿意下来」，故译为Yet the rain is reluctant to come down，yet表达了上下文的转折。我怀想着故乡的雷声和雨声。I can never forget the thunderstorm we often had in my home town.🎈此句运用了「正说反译」的手法，「我怀想着」译为I can never forget。🎈「雷声和雨声」即雷雨，故译为thunderstorm。那隆隆的有力的搏击，从山谷返响到山谷，仿佛春之芽就从冻土里震动，惊醒，而怒茁出来。Over there, whenever the rumble of thunder reverberated across the valley, the buds of spring would seem to sprout freely after being disturbed and roused up from their slumber in the frozen soil.🎈「仿佛春之芽就从冻土里震动，惊醒，而怒茁出来」意即「春之芽从冻土中醒来后，自由地生长」，故译为the buds of spring would seem to sprout freely after being disturbed and roused up from their slumber in the frozen soil。细草样柔的雨声又以温存之手抚摩它，使它簇生油绿的枝叶而开出红色的花。Then tenderly stroked by the soft hands of fine rain, they would put forth bright green leaves and pink flowers.🎈「细草样柔的雨声」意即「温柔的细雨」，故译为fine rain即可。这些怀想如乡愁一样萦绕得使我忧郁了。我心里的气候也和这北方大陆一样缺少雨量，It makes me nostalgic and melancholy to think about old times and my mind is as depressed as the vast expanse of North China is thirsty.🎈这两句话放在一起翻译是因为都是对心情的的描写。🎈「这些怀想如乡愁一样萦绕得使我忧郁了」意即「回想旧时光让我变得怀旧和忧郁」，故译为It makes me nostalgic and melancholy to think about old times。🎈「我心里的气候也和这北方大陆一样缺少雨量」未直译，而是按照「我的心情抑郁，和北方大地干旱，达到同样严重的程度」译为my mind is as depressed as the vast expanse of North China is thirsty。一滴温柔的泪在我枯涩的眼里，如迟疑在这阴沉的天空里的雨点，久不落下。A tear stands in my dull eye and, like the rain lingering in the murky sky, is slow to roll down.🎈lingering in the murky sky为后置定语，修饰the rain。🎈be slow to 迟迟不…，不乐意，慢吞吞的英义hesitating to do sth or not doing sth immediately白色的鸭也似有一点烦躁了，有不洁的颜色的都市的河沟里传出它们的焦急的叫声。White ducks have also become somewhat impatient. Some are sending out irritated quacks from the turbid waters of an urban creek.🎈「有不洁的颜色的都市的河沟里传出它们的焦急的叫声」此句主语虽为「河沟」，但因前一句主语为White ducks，故接下来由旧信息引出新信息，译为Some are …有的还未厌倦那船一样的徐徐的划行。Some keep swimming leisurely and tirelessly like a slow boat.🎈此句意即「有些鸭子仍然像条慢船一样，悠哉游哉地滑行」，故译为Some keep swimming leisurely and tirelessly like a slow boat.有的却倒插它们的长颈在水里，红色的蹼趾伸在尾后，不停地扑击着水以支持身体的平衡。Some have their long necks submerged headfirst in the water while sticking up their webbed feet behind their tails and splashing them desperately so as to keep their balance.🎈stick up 竖立，向上突出英义to point upwards or be above a surface例句The branch was sticking up out of the water. 树枝从水下伸了出来。 🎈鸭子的蹼趾在尾巴后面竖着，一上一下，扑击着水。不知是在寻找沟底的细微食物，还是贪那深深的水里的寒冷。There is no knowing if they are searching for tiny bits of food from the bottom of the creek or just enjoying the chill of the deep water.🎈「贪」即「贪恋，喜欢」，故译为enjoy。有几个已上岸了。在柳树下来回地作绅士的散步，舒息划行的疲劳。Some of them stagger out of the water and, to relieve their fatigue, begin to saunter up and down with a gentleman-like swagger in the shade of the willow trees.🎈「有几个已上岸了」译为Some of them stagger out of the water，比Some of them come out of the water可取，因stagger能表达鸭子走动时摇摇晃晃的样子。🎈「来回地作绅士的散步」该短语中进行了词性转换，译为saunter up and down with a gentleman-like swagger，swagger也体现了鸭子走路时的样子。然后参差地站着，用嘴细细地抚理它们遍体白色的羽毛，间或又摇动身子或扑展着阔翅，使那缀在羽毛间的水珠坠落。Then, they stand about to preen their white plumage carefully. Occasionally they give themselves a sudden shake or flap their long wings to let off water drops from among their feathers.🎈about 凌乱地，四处，到处英义in no particular order; in various places例句Her books were lying about on the floor. 她的书在地板上东一本西一本地放着。一个已修饰完毕的，弯曲它的颈到背上，长长的红嘴藏没在翅膀里，静静合上它白色的茸毛间的小黑眼，仿佛准备睡眠。One of them, after grooming itself, turns round its neck to rest on the back, then buries its long red beak under its wings and quietly closes its small black eyes tucked away among the white fine hair. Apparently it is getting ready to sleep.🎈「静静合上它白色的茸毛间的小黑眼」译为quietly closes its small black eyes tucked away among the white fine hair，其中tucked away among the white fine hair为后置定语，即藏在白色茸毛间的，tucked away即把…藏在。可怜的小动物，你就是这样做你的梦吗？Poor little creature, is that the way you sleep?🎈此句即「可怜的小动物，这就是你睡觉的方式吗？」故译为Poor little creature, is that the way you sleep?。我想起故乡放雏鸭的人了。The scene recalls to my mind the duckling raiser in my home town.🎈此句换成了无灵主语The scene。一大群鹅黄色的雏鸭游牧在溪流间。清浅的水，两岸青青的草，一根长长的竹竿在牧人的手里。With a long bamboo pole in hand, he would look after a large flock of gosling-yellow ducklings moving about on the limpid water of a shallow brook flanked on both sides by green grass.🎈这两句话经过调整之后就是「牧人拿着一根长长的竹竿，看着雏鸭在清澈的溪流间游牧，溪水两岸长着青青的草」他的小队伍是多么欢欣地发出啾啁声？How the little creatures jig-jigged merrily!🎈「小队伍」指的便是这群小鸭子，故译为the little creatures。又多么驯服地随着他的竿头越过一个田野又一个山坡！夜来了，帐幕似的竹篷撑在地上，就是他的家。How they obediently followed the bamboo pole to scamper over field after field, hillside after hillside! When night fell, the duckling raiser would make his home in a tent-like bamboo shed.🎈「越过一个田野又一个山坡」即越过一个又一个田野，一个又一个山坡，故译为scamper over field after field, hillside after hillside，field after field, hillside after hillside和一天又一天day after day是一个句式。但这是怎样辽远的想象啊！Oh, that is something of the distant past!🎈上文都是作者对家乡的怀想，故此句意即「这是多么遥远的过去啊」，译为Oh, that is something of the distant past!。在这多尘土的国度里，我仅只希望听见一点树叶上的雨声。Now, in this dusty country of ours, what I yearn for is to hear the drip-drip of rain beating against leaves.🎈「听见一点树叶上的雨声」意即「听见雨击打树叶的声音」，故译为hear the drip-drip of rain beating against leaves。我仰起头。天空低垂如灰色的雾幕，落下一些寒冷的碎屑到我脸上。When I look up at a gray misty pall of a low-hanging sky, some dust particles feel chilly on my face.🎈「天空低垂如灰色的雾幕」译为a gray misty pall of a low-hanging sky，等于a low-hanging sky resembling a gray misty pall。可参考用同样结构表达的例子：a toy of a house= a toy-like house; a dwarf of a man= a dwarf-like man。一只远来的鹰隼仿佛带着怒愤，对这沉重的天色的怒愤，平张的双翅不动地从天空斜插下，几乎触到河沟对岸的土阜，而又鼓扑着双翅，作出猛烈的声响腾上了。A hawk, seemingly irked by the gloomy sky, swoops down sideways out of nowhere, with wings wide-spread and immovable, until it almost hits the hillock on the other side of the brook. But it soars skywards again with a loud flap.🎈「远来的」译为out of nowhere（不知从哪儿来），比from afar传神。🎈with wings wide-spread and immovable为独立主格结构，表伴随。🎈「土阜」即「小土堆」，故译为hillock。🎈「又鼓扑着双翅，作出猛烈的声响腾上」译为it soars skywards again with a loud flap，其中「鼓扑着双翅」由动词转为名词，译为a loud flap。那样巨大的翅使我惊异。我看见了它两肋间斑白的羽毛。I am amazed by the tremendous size of its wings. And I also catch sight of the grizzled feathers on its underside.🎈看见了它两肋间斑白的羽毛 catch sight of the grizzled feathers on its underside接着听见了它有力的鸣声，如同一个巨大的心的呼号，或是在黑暗里寻找伴侣的叫唤。Then I hear its loud cry — like a powerful voice from the bottom of its heart or a call in the dark for its comrades in arms.🎈「伴侣」在文中有「战友」的含义，故译comrades in arms，比companions或partners确切。然而雨还是没有来。But still no rain.🎈此句意即「然而没有雨」。🔥必背单词bleak adj. 阴冷的英义cold and unpleasant例句a bleak winter’s day 一个阴冷的冬日 presentiment n. 预感；(尤指)不祥之感英义a feeling that sth is going to happen, especially sth unpleasant例句a presentiment of disaster 大难临头的预感daub v. (用颜料、油漆、灰泥等)涂抹，乱涂，乱画英义to spread a substance such as paint, mud, etc. thickly and / or carelessly onto sth例句The walls of the building were daubed with red paint.这栋建筑的墙上随意涂了一层红色涂料。parched adj. 焦干的；晒焦的英义very dry, especially because the weather is hot例句soil parched by drought 旱灾造成的焦干的土壤 reverberate v. 回响，回荡 英义to be repeated several times as it is reflected off different surfaces 例句Her voice reverberated around the hall. 她的声音在大厅里回荡。 slumber n. 睡眠英义Slumber is sleep. 例句He had fallen into exhausted slumber…他累得睡着了。 stroke v. 轻抚，抚摩(物体表面或头发等)英义to move your hand gently over a surface, sb’s hair, etc.例句He stroked her hair affectionately. 他深情地抚摩着她的头发。 saunter v. 悠闲地走，漫步，闲逛英义to walk in a slow relaxed way例句He sauntered by, looking as if he had all the time in the world. 他悠闲地走过，彷佛时间对他来说是无穷无尽的。 plumage n. 〔鸟的〕全身羽毛，羽衣英义the feathers covering a bird’s body例句the parrot’s brilliant blue plumage那只鹦鹉亮丽的蓝色羽毛tuck v. 收藏起，使隐藏英义be tucked away: to hide sth somewhere or keep it in a safe place 例句She kept his letters tucked away in a drawer. 她把他的来信收藏在抽屉里。 scamper v. 欢快地奔走；蹦蹦跳跳英义(especially of children or small animals 尤指儿童或小动物)to move quickly with short light steps例句Children scampered off the yellow school bus and into the playground…孩子们欢快地跑下黄色的校车，冲进运动场。pall n. 浓密的云烟；尘烟英义a thick dark cloud of sth 例句a pall of smoke / dust 一团烟雾 / 沙尘 irk v. 使烦恼；激怒英义to annoy or irritate sb例句Her flippant tone irked him. 她轻佻的语调使他很生气。 grizzled adj. 头发花白的英义having grey or greyish hair例句a grizzled old man头发花白的老人🔥重点词组最后的鸽群 the last flock of pigeons消失了 go out of sight过早地飞回它们温暖的木舍 hasten back to their warm wooden dovecote earlier than usual误认这灰暗的凄冷的天空为夜色的来袭 mistake the bleak leaden sky for nightfall风雨的将至 their presentiment of a storm 一抹嫩绿 a light green 有憔悴色 look sickly期待着雨 be dying for rainfall从山谷返响到山谷 reverberate across the valley从冻土里震动，惊醒 be disturbed and roused up from their slumber in the frozen soil簇生油绿的枝叶而开出红色的花 put forth bright green leaves and pink flowers在我枯涩的眼里 stand in my dull eye久不落下 be slow to roll down有一点烦躁 become somewhat impatient有不洁的颜色的都市的河沟 the turbid waters of an urban creek传出焦急的叫声 send out irritated quacks倒插它们的长颈在水里 have their long necks submerged headfirst in the water红色的蹼趾伸在尾后 stick up their webbed feet behind their tails不停地扑击着水 splash them desperately寻找沟底的细微食物 search for tiny bits of food from the bottom of the creek贪那深深的水里的寒冷 enjoy the chill of the deep water上岸 stagger out of the water来回地作绅士的散步 saunter up and down with a gentleman-like swagger用嘴细细地抚理它们遍体白色的羽毛 preen their white plumage carefully间或又摇动身子或扑展着阔翅 give themselves a sudden shake or flap their long wings使那缀在羽毛间的水珠坠落 let off water drops from among their feathers 弯曲它的颈到背上 turns round its neck to rest on the back长长的红嘴藏没在翅膀里 buries its long red beak under its wings静静合上它白色的茸毛间的小黑眼 quietly closes its small black eyes tucked away among the white fine hair一大群鹅黄色的雏鸭 a large flock of gosling-yellow ducklings清浅的溪水 the limpid water of a shallow brook越过一个田野又一个山坡 scamper over field after field, hillside after hillside把帐幕似的竹篷当成家 make his home in a tent-like bamboo shed听见一点树叶上的雨声 hear the drip-drip of rain beating against leaves天空低垂如灰色的雾幕 a gray misty pall of a low-hanging sky几乎触到河沟对岸的土阜 almost hit the hillock on the other side of the brook看见了它两肋间斑白的羽毛 catch sight of the grizzled feathers on its underside一个巨大的心的呼号 a powerful voice from the bottom of its heart在黑暗里寻找伴侣的叫唤 a call in the dark for its comrades in arms🔥复盘测试最后的鸽群消失了 过早地飞回它们温暖的木舍 误认这灰暗的凄冷的天空为夜色的来袭 风雨的将至 一抹嫩绿 有憔悴色期待着雨从山谷返响到山谷 从冻土里震动，惊醒 簇生油绿的枝叶而开出红色的花在我枯涩的眼里久不落下 有一点烦躁有不洁的颜色的都市的河沟传出焦急的叫声 倒插它们的长颈在水里 红色的蹼趾伸在尾后 不停地扑击着水 寻找沟底的细微食物 贪那深深的水里的寒冷上岸 来回地作绅士的散步 用嘴细细地抚理它们遍体白色的羽毛 间或又摇动身子或扑展着阔翅 使那缀在羽毛间的水珠坠落 弯曲它的颈到背上 长长的红嘴藏没在翅膀里静静合上它白色的茸毛间的小黑眼 一大群鹅黄色的雏鸭清浅的溪水 越过一个田野又一个山坡 把帐幕似的竹篷当成家 听见一点树叶上的雨声天空低垂如灰色的雾幕几乎触到河沟对岸的土阜看见了它两肋间斑白的羽毛 一个巨大的心的呼号在黑暗里寻找伴侣的叫唤 🔥表达对比关于「落下」的不同表达雨却迟疑着。Yet the rain is reluctant to come down.一滴温柔的泪在我枯涩的眼里，如迟疑在这阴沉的天空里的雨点，久不落下。A tear stands in my dull eye and, like the rain lingering in the murky sky, is slow to roll down.然后参差地站着，用嘴细细地抚理它们遍体白色的羽毛，间或又摇动身子或扑展着阔翅，使那缀在羽毛间的水珠坠落。Then, they stand about to preen their white plumage carefully. Occasionally they give themselves a sudden shake or flap their long wings to let off water drops from among their feathers.在这多尘土的国度里，我仅只希望听见一点树叶上的雨声。Now, in this dusty country of ours, what I yearn for is to hear the drip-drip of rain beating against leaves.可是我心里仿佛被利剑所穿，不知不觉落下泪来，But I felt as if a sharp sword had pierced me to the heart and tears began to trickle down my cheeks unconsciously.
帕布莉卡
朗读这篇文章
何其芳《雨前》 
何其芳《我想谈说种种纯洁的事情》 
李广田《笑的种子》 
爱是一颗心遇到另一颗心（出处+配图） 
