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首發 │ 劉仲敬：通向曼德勒之路

2015-08-13 由 新民說iHuman 發表于教育

我們任勞任怨的責編邀請劉仲敬先生為他翻譯的（已經即將由我們出版的）魯德亞德·吉卜林的兩部著作——《原來如此的故事》及《山精靈普克》寫了篇稿子。明眼人看一眼，為此我們不能強求。

撰文：劉仲敬

在人類最古老的職業當中，詩人和武士並列前茅。最初的詩人和武士同樣不文，他們的作品完全依靠口傳。悅耳的節奏是輔助記憶的最佳手段，嘔啞嘲哳的旋律在無情的達爾文系統中自動淘汰。倖存者經過了比文明歷史久遠得多的修飾和篩選，只能視為集體智慧的結晶。文明產生後，職業文人隨之誕生。詩歌由歌變成詩，由口傳變成書面。集體的智慧讓位於個人的巧思，達爾文系統的裁決讓位於批評家小圈子的月旦。個人的虛榮心早晚會驅使作者越過最後一道藩籬，通過「以文入詩」炫耀自己的深刻和巧妙。他們的成功完成了最後的除根過程，繼承者迅速退化為無法吟唱的文字遊戲。與此同時，無文的詩歌回到文人圈外的達爾文系統。新世代的健者又將從達爾文系統的結晶中提取新的文學。

詩人在武則天和宋之問的時代越過了節點，於是達爾文系統帶來了仍然能夠吟唱的詞。詞人在蘇東坡和黃山谷的時代越過了節點，達爾文系統帶來了仍然能夠吟唱的曲。莎士比亞的詩歌產生了演員-作家的隨意發揮，劇本只是打小抄用的。時間和蘭姆奪走了古文的音韻，把作者不當回事的劇本變成了神聖的詩歌經典。十九世紀末葉以後，詩歌漸漸淪為閱讀用品。與此同時，書面詩歌的作者群和讀者群日益重合。如果莎士比亞死而復生，恐怕寧願選擇《魂斷藍橋》的主題曲作者為自己的同儕。然而萬事都有例外，原始意義的詩歌仍有自己的傳人。Rudyard Kipling仍然沉浸在莎士比亞和司各特的世界中，享受嬰兒和文盲都能體會的原始愉悅。外國人和翻譯家都不喜歡這樣的詩人，巴不得將兒歌和民謠統統改造成策論。

Rudyard Kipling的意象，只能通過反覆吟誦才能體會。如果你能夠念出和聽出（不是看出）德•昆西《癮君子自白》「牛津街」那一段著名的詠嘆調，就一定能理解下面這首詩的妙處。如果實在找不到感覺，那麼文本分析也沒有什麼用處。詩性體驗大半依靠多種感官的跨界交融，理解在其中所占的地位非常次要。莎士比亞有沒有能力理解德國批評家送給他的那些高帽子，非常值得懷疑。Rudyard Kipling碰巧屬於意向性很強的詩人，但他最膾炙人口的幾首詩仍然是看上去最不知所云的幾首。"Mandalay"和"Suez"的發音在《通向曼德勒之路》當中的作用，差不多就像兒歌裡面的"sweet"。「三春白雪歸青冢，萬里黃河繞黑山」並不是沒有「意思」，但根據「意思」理解就一點意思都沒有了。如果根據吟唱的鼓點釋放畫面感，異國想像就能以適當的節奏彌散到感知邊界以外。

BY the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin' lazy at the sea,There's a Burma girl a-settin', and I know she thinks o' me;For the wind is in the palm-trees, and the temple-bells they say:"Come you back, you British soldier; come you back to Mandalay!"

Come you back to Mandalay,Where the old Flotilla lay:Can't you 'ear their paddles chunkin' from Rangoon to Mandalay?On the road to Mandalay,Where the flyin'-fishes play,An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!

'Er petticoat was yaller an' 'er little cap was green,An' 'er name was Supi-yaw-lat -- jes' the same as Theebaw's Queen,An' I seed her first a-smokin' of a whackin' white cheroot,An' a-wastin' Christian kisses on an 'eathen idol's foot:

Bloomin' idol made o'mud --Wot they called the Great Gawd Budd --Plucky lot she cared for idols when I kissed 'er where she stud!On the road to Mandalay.

When the mist was on the rice-fields an' the sun was droppin' slow,She'd git 'er little banjo an' she'd sing "Kulla-lo-lo!"With 'er arm upon my shoulder an' 'er cheek agin' my cheekWe useter watch the steamers an' the hathis pilin' teak.

Elephints a-pilin' teakIn the sludgy, squdgy creek,Where the silence 'ung that 'eavy you was 'arf afraid to speak!

On the road to Mandalay...

But that's all shove be'ind me -- long ago an' fur away,An' there ain't no 'busses runnin' from the Bank to Mandalay;An' I'm learnin' 'ere in London what the ten-year soldier tells:"If you've 'eard the East a-callin', you won't never 'eed naught else."

No! you won't 'eed nothin' elseBut them spicy garlic smells,An' the sunshine an' the palm-trees an' the tinkly temple-bells;

On the road to Mandalay...

I am sick o' wastin' leather on these gritty pavin'-stones,An' the blasted English drizzle wakes the fever in my bones;Tho' I walks with fifty 'ousemaids outer Chelsea to the Strand,An' they talks a lot o' lovin', but wot do they understand?

Beefy face an' grubby 'and --Law! wot do they understand?I've a neater, sweeter maiden in a cleaner, greener land!

On the road to Mandalay...

Ship me somewheres east of Suez, where the best is like the worst,Where there aren't no Ten Commandments an' a man can raise a thirst;For the temple-bells are callin', an' it's there that I would be --By the old Moulmein Pagoda, looking lazy at the sea;On the road to Mandalay,

Where the old Flotilla lay,With our sick beneath the awnings when we went to Mandalay!On the road to Mandalay,Where the flyin'-fishes play,

An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!

山精靈普克作者：吉卜林譯者：劉仲敬廣西師範大學出版社·新民說2015.9

Rudyard Kiplin的文學路徑通向知識分子世界的反面，訴諸反理論的「健全常識」。他通過體驗而非知識，明白「原始」和「兒童」差不多是一個意思。「天真」翻到背面，就是「野蠻」的意思。「淳樸」翻到背面，就是「殘酷」的意思。原始意義上的歌謠和童話，猶如非洲大草原烈日下的白骨，無比的清潔源於無情的法則。真正了解兒童的人都知道：兒童非但不畏懼殘酷，而且比成人殘酷得多。殘酷是德性的訓練場，勇敢、高貴和忠誠只有在考驗的過程中才能存在。邪惡不是來自殘酷本身，而是來自企圖歪曲、利用殘酷的軟弱和逃避。溫莎寡婦和紅衣大兵都懂得怎樣昂起頭顱，面對殘酷的世界，活出責任、榮譽和信仰，不是因為什麼大道理，就因為他們是英國人。多餘的解釋是不必要的，只有外國人和知識分子才喜歡解釋。解釋不是德性的體現，暗示你懷疑神明、畏懼世界。

'AVE you 'eard o' the Widow at WindsorWith a hairy gold crown on 'er 'ead?She 'as ships on the foam -- she 'as millions at 'ome,An' she pays us poor beggars in red.Ow, poor beggars in red!

There's 'er nick on the cavalry 'orses,There's 'er mark on the medical stores --An' 'er troopers you'll find with a fair wind be'indThat takes us to various wars.Poor beggars! -- barbarious wars!

Then 'ere's to the Widow at Windsor,An' 'ere's to the stores an' the guns,The men an' the 'orses what makes up the forcesO' Missis Victorier's sons.Poor beggars! Victorier's sons!

Walk wide o' the Widow at Windsor,

For 'alf o' Creation she owns:We 'ave bought 'er the same with the sword an' the flame,An' we've salted it down with our bones.Poor beggars! -- it's blue with our bones!

Hands off o' the sons o' the Widow,Hands off o' the goods in 'er shop,For the Kings must come down an' the Emperors frownWhen the Widow at Windsor says "Stop"!Poor beggars! -- we're sent to say "Stop"!

Then 'ere's to the Lodge o' the Widow,From the Pole to the Tropics it runs –To the Lodge that we tile with the rank an' the file,An' open in form with the guns.Poor beggars! -- it's always they guns!]:

We 'ave 'eard o' the Widow at Windsor,It's safest to let 'er alone:For 'er sentries we stand by the sea an' the landWherever the bugles are blown.Poor beggars! -- an' don't we get blown!

Take 'old o' the Wings o' the Mornin',An' flop round the earth till you're dead;But you won't get away from the tune that they playTo the bloomin' old rag over'ead.Poor beggars! -- it's 'ot over'ead!

Then 'ere's to the sons o' the Widow,Wherever, 'owever they roam.'Ere's all they desire, an' if they requireA speedy return to their 'ome.Poor beggars! -- they'll never see 'ome!
...

原來如此的故事作者：吉卜林譯者：劉仲敬廣西師範大學出版社·新民說2015.9
...

When the 'arf-made recruity goes out to the East'E acts like a babe an' 'e drinks like a beast,An' 'e wonders because 'e is frequent deceasedEre 'e's fit for to serve as a soldier.

Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,Serve, serve, serve as a soldier,So-oldier of the Queen!

Now all you recruities what's drafted to-day,You shut up your rag-box an' 'ark to my lay,An' I'll sing you a soldier as far as I may:A soldier what's fit for a soldier.Fit, fit, fit for a soldier ...

First mind you steer clear o' the grog-sellers' huts,For they sell you Fixed Bay'nets that rots out your guts --Ay, drink that 'ud eat the live steel from your butts --An' it's bad for the young British soldier.Bad, bad, bad for the soldier ...

When the cholera comes -- as it will past a doubt --Keep out of the wet and don't go on the shout,For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out,An' it crumples the young British soldier.Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier...

But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead:You must wear your 'elmet for all that is said:If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead,An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier.Fool, fool, fool of a soldier...

If you're cast for fatigue by a sergeant unkind,Don't grouse like a woman nor crack on nor blind;Be handy and civil, and then you will findThat it's beer for the young British soldier.Beer, beer, beer for the soldier ...

Now, if you must marry, take care she is old --A troop-sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told,For beauty won't help if your rations is cold,Nor love ain't enough for a soldier.'Nough, 'nough, 'nough for a soldier...

If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loathTo shoot when you catch 'em -- you'll swing, on my oath! --Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er: that's Hell for them both,An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier.Curse, curse, curse of a soldier...

When first under fire an' you're wishful to duck,Don't look nor take 'eed at the man that is struck,Be thankful you're livin', and trust to your luckAnd march to your front like a soldier.Front, front, front like a soldier...

When 'arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch,Don't call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch;She's human as you are -- you treat her as sich,An' she'll fight for the young British soldier.Fight, fight, fight for the soldier...

When shakin' their bustles like ladies so fine,The guns o' the enemy wheel into line,Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the shine,For noise never startles the soldier.Start-, start-, startles the soldier...

If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white,Remember it's ruin to run from a fight:So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,And wait for supports like a soldier.Wait, wait, wait like a soldier...

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,And the women come out to cut up what remains,Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brainsAn' go to your Gawd like a soldier.

Go, go, go like a soldier,Go, go, go like a soldier,Go, go, go like a soldier,So-oldier of the Queen!

Rudyard Kipling的藝術屬於《舊約》時代和前伊莉莎白時代，仿佛召回了喬叟和皮爾斯「壯健的英國鄉民」。他們覺得自己像遲鈍堅毅的獵犬，瞧不起脆弱虛榮的聰明人。他們不是好高騖遠的夢想家，知道痛苦就是生命的底色，相信服從才是律法的精髓。然而他們的痛苦不是聽天由命的苦難，而是「野豬頭酒店」里跳動著琥珀色衝動的苦啤酒。「壯健的英國鄉民」只要三年當中有一年走運，就會舉杯預祝明年更好。他們的服從源於信任和驕傲，而沒有律法的下等人只知道基於恐懼的服從。英國人因服從而強大，正如下等人因服從而軟弱。你無需明白「為什麼」，只要看清「是這樣」就足夠了。因為世界不是德性的仲裁者，德性才是世界的仲裁者。Rudyard Kipling將他的眼睛借給世界，世界還能對他要求什麼呢？
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