拋開各式精辟的政論分析不管,這個歷史性的70秒的握手,挺感動的,不免讓人聯想到七十年前的那次敬酒——如果說一年欠了一秒的握手,這一次握手都補回來了。
畢竟同是炎黃子孫,雖說二人致辭也談不上多有文采,可聽起來覺著挺親。習馬二先生的致辭各有什么值得鉆研的語言點?英文聯播來說說看。馬先生在致辭中說:
非知之艱,行之惟艱
Knowing is not that difficult, but doing is.
這個用法是大有出處的,孫中山《建國方略》的序言里就多處出現,他提到禁錮國人幾千年的舊思想是阻止民國事業建設發展的大敵,所謂“知之非艱,行之惟艱”也。
此說最早處于出自《尚書說命》中傅說對武丁之言:“知之非艱,行之惟艱。”馬先生引中山先生引用的《尚書》,頗有承繼道統、政統、學統的意思,此外“知行之道”也是蔣先生最仰慕的王陽明心學的核心。
你知道嗎?習近平今年5月4日在北京會見國民黨主席朱立倫時也引用了《尚書說命》中的話“慮善以動,動惟厥時”,認為對兩岸間長期存在的分歧和難題,國共兩黨都要勇于面對,要考慮妥善之后再行動,要使行動符合時機和需求。從這個角度看,馬先生再次引用《尚書說命》也是對習先生的一種善意回應?!渡袝肥怯涊d“君上”言論的史書,文辭古奧,歷朝歷代都被奉為治國理政的教科書。
為天地立心,為生民立命,為往圣繼絕學,為萬世開太平。
To ordain conscience for Heaven and Earth. To secure life and fortune for the people. To continue lost teachings for past sages. To establish peace for all future generations.
這是北宋大儒張載(人稱橫渠先生)的話。2005年,時任臺灣國民黨主席的連戰先生訪問大陸,曾用以寄語北大學子。另外,蔡英文指責馬先生“以個人評價框限臺灣未來”,可馬先生說自己搭橋鋪路,“為萬世開太平”,可見馬英九引言的良苦用心。
這四句中不容易翻譯的是“為天地立心”。筆者理解:天地本無心,所謂老子的“天地不仁,以萬物為芻狗”,即大自然“優勝劣汰”的道理沒有什么倫理可言,可我們要樹立道德律。
正如德國哲學家康德所說:“有兩種東西,我對它們的思考越是深沉和持久,它們在我心靈中喚起的驚奇和敬畏就會日新月異,不斷增長,這就是我頭上的星空和心中的道德律。”
可見中西之血是貫通的。這也可以證明為什么《國富論》的作者斯密還寫了《道德情操論》,用溫爺爺的話說,企業家的血液里應該留著道德的血液。
習先生的致辭更加平實樸素,有兩個“俗語”頗引關注。
打斷骨頭連著筋
出自俗語“姑舅親,輩輩親,打斷骨頭連著筋”,李克強在2013年答臺灣記者問時也引用了這個俗語,他說,“所謂打斷骨頭還連著筋,同胞之間、手足之情,沒有解不開的結。”
新華社將其譯成“connected by our flesh even if our bones are broken”。
漢語中有“扒皮抽筋”的說法,粗聽來大家都明白“筋”,可用西方解剖學較真,這里的筋到底說得是肌腱還是骨膜還有些模糊,這里用flesh(肉)籠統處理之。
血濃于水
打斷骨頭連著筋和血濃于水其實是一個意思。“血濃于水”本身就是一個英國說法的倒譯:blood is thicker than water.朗文這樣解釋:The relationship between people of the same family is stronger than other relationships.
從文風比較,馬先生的致辭很務實,他說,“7年多來,兩岸簽訂了23項協議,創造了4萬多學生交流、每年800萬旅客往來與1700多億美元貿易的空前榮景。”
其實這話既是“擺事實”,又是“擺功勞”,與其說是給習先生聽,不如說是給臺灣民眾和民進黨聽的。
習先生的致辭更壯闊些。“曾幾何時,臺海陰云密布,兩岸軍事對峙,同胞隔海相望,親人音訊斷絕”。這一演講思路不免讓筆者想起1982年《廖承志給蔣經國的信》。
孫先生手創之中國國民黨,歷盡艱辛,無數先烈前仆后繼,終于推翻帝制,建立民國。光輝業跡,已成定論。國共兩度合作,均對國家民族作出巨大貢獻。首次合作,孫先生領導,吾輩雖幼,亦知一二。再次合作,老先生主其事,吾輩身在其中,應知梗概。
我讀書時,曾有兩篇作為精譯范本的文章。一篇英譯漢,王佐良翻譯培根的《論讀書》;另一篇漢譯英,就是張培基翻譯的《廖承志給蔣經國的信》。今天聽二位先生致辭,又想到當時字斟句酌的情形,聯想到今天的情形,心下更平添了幾分感動。含英咀華,挑取片段以饗讀者。
咫尺之隔,竟成海天之遙。南京匆匆一晤,瞬逾三十六載。
Who would have expected that the short distance between us should be keeping us poles apart! It is now more than 36 years since our brief encounter in Nanjing.
幼時同袍,蘇京把晤,往事歷歷在目。
The days we spent together in childhood as well as later in the Soviet capital, however, are still as fresh as ever in my memory.
惟長年未通音問,此誠憾事。近聞政躬違和,深為懸念。
But it’s a pity indeed that we haven’t heard from each other for so many years. Recently it filled me with much concern to learn of your indisposition.
人過七旬,多有病痛,至盼善自珍攝。
Men aged over seventy are liable to illness. I hope you will take good care of yourself.
吾弟嘗以“計利當計天下利,求名應求萬世名”自勉.
You used to seek self-encouragement from the motto, “The interests to be considered should be the interests of all; the fame to be sought should be an everlasting fame.”
倘能于吾弟手中成此偉業,必為舉國尊敬,世人推崇,功在國家,名留青史。
If you should be instrumental in bringing about the cause of national reunification, you will certainly win esteem and praise nationwide and your meritorious service to the country will earn you a niche in the temple of fame.
局促東隅,終非久計。明若吾弟,自當了然。
After all, dragging out your existence in that tight eastern corner is by no means a permanent solution. This should be crystal clear to a man of your wisdom.
如遷延不決,或委之異日,不僅徒生困擾,吾弟亦將難辭其咎。
Procrastination, hesitation or sleeping over the problem will only lead to adversity and you, my brother, will hardly be able to escape censure.
事雖經緯萬端,但縱觀全局,合則對國家有利,分則必傷民族元氣。
Complicated as the matter was, an overall view of the situation will show that united, the country and the nation benefit; divided, they suffer.
吾弟一生坎坷,決非命運安排,一切操之在己。千秋功罪,系于一念之間。
Dear brother, the frustrations marking your lifetime are by no means predestined. You yourself alone are master of your own fate. Merits and demerits to be recorded in history hinge on the decision made in a moment.
當今國際風云變幻莫測,臺灣上下眾議紛紓歲月不居,來日苦短,夜長夢多,時不我與。
The present international situation is capricious. Throughout Taiwan people of all strata are talking about their future. Time does not stay and brief is the day. A long night invites bad dreams; time and tide wait for no man.
盼弟善為抉擇,未雨綢繆。“寥廓海天,不歸何待?”
I hope you, my brother, will make a wise choice and repair the house before it rains. “Vast is the expanse of sky and water. What are you waiting for, staying away from home?”
“度盡劫波兄弟在,相逢一笑泯恩仇”。
“For all the disasters the brotherhood has remained; a smile at meeting and enmity is banished.”
遙望南天,不禁神馳,書不盡言,諸希珍重,佇候復音。
When I look south towards the distant horizon, my heart cannot help going out to my compatriots there. No word is enough to express what I wish to say. It is hoped that you will take good care of yourself. I am looking forward to a reply from you.
后來,“經國吾兄”并未回信,宋美齡倒是回了一封公開信。這些年解密了出來,讀來文氣確實有所不逮。雖說立場殊異,她也承認廖承志情真意切。“余閱及世侄電函,本可一笑置之。但念及五十六七年前事,世侄尚屬稚年,此中真情肯綮,殊多隔閡。”
古香古色的文風自然是好的,平實樸素也自有妙處。習先生和馬先生繼承初唐文風,不事靡靡,也是不錯的,最糟糕的恐怕莫過于“提高”“鞏固”“堅持”“我們要”的那種蘇共文風了。
在2014年新年致辭上,習先生說“生活總是充滿希望的,成功總是屬于積極進取、不懈追求的人們。”
2015年馬先生的新年致辭上,一聲聲“各位鄉親”聽來親切;“臺灣沒有分裂的本錢,所有的不滿應該到我為止,由我承擔”擲地有聲,盡管政績難言圓滿,此言也頗多壯士風采。
和今天的致辭一樣,每年兩岸的新年致辭也成為人們一番比較衡量的重點,孰優孰劣倒不顯得重要,重要的是,人們一般更愿意和自家兄弟比比看。
越是較著勁,越是親。
小貼士
“暌違六十六載”:暌違怎么講?
暌違:分離。姚合《寄陜府內兄郭端公》詩:“暌違逾十年,一會豁素誠。”南朝何遜有詩:“新知雖已樂,舊愛盡暌違。”意思說,和新歡玩得挺高興,老相好卻好久不見(意境不是很高)。“暌”指“太陽落山”,書信中常用為“~離?!??!珓e?!?rdquo;,都表示分別。注意和“眾目睽睽”的“睽”區別,仔細看有什么不同。英語(精品課)對應的是separate。這是很典雅的說法,如“關山睽絕”,譯為英文就遜色很多了,be separated by mountains and passes。