第36章 荷塘月色(2)

Their prows veer slowly，

    But the winecups pass quickly；

    Their oars are entangled，

    As they cut through the duckweed，

    And girls with slender waists Turn to gaze behind them.

    Now spring and summer meet，

    Leaves are tender，flowers fresh；

    With smiles they protect their silks，

    Drawing in their skirts，afraid lest the boat upset.

    忽然想起采莲的事情来了。采莲是江南的旧俗，似乎很早就有，而六朝时为盛；从诗歌里可以约略知道。采莲的是少年的女子，她们是荡着小船，唱着艳歌去的。采莲人不用说很多，还有看采莲的人。那是一个热闹的季节，也是一个风流的季节。梁元帝《采莲赋》里说得好：

    于是妖童媛女，

    荡舟心许；

    鷁首徐回，

    兼传羽杯；

    欋将移而藻挂，

    船欲动而萍开。

    尔其纤腰束素，

    迁延顾步；

    夏始春余，

    叶嫩花初，

    恐沾裳而浅笑，

    畏倾船而敛裾。

    There we have a picture of these merry excursions.This must have been a delightful event，and it is a great pity we cannot enjoy it today.

    I also remember some lines from the poem West Islet：

    When they gather lotus at Nantang in autumnThe lotus blooms are higher than their heads；They stoop to pick lotus seeds，Seeds as translucent as water.

    If any girls were here now to pick the lotus，the flowers would reach above their heads too—ah，rippling shadows alone are not enough！I was feeling quite homesick for the south，when I suddenly looked up to discover I had reached my own door.Pushing it softly open and tiptoeing in，I found all quiet inside，and my wife fast asleep.

    可见当时嬉游的光景了。这真是有趣的事，可惜我们现在早已无福消受了。

    于是又记起《西洲曲》里的句子：

    采莲南塘秋，

    莲花过人头；

    低头弄莲子，

    莲子清如水。

    今晚若有采莲人，这儿的莲花也算得“过人头”了；只不见一些流水的影子，是不行的。这令我到底惦着江南了。——这样想着，猛一抬头，不觉已是自己的门前；轻轻地推门进去，什么声息也没有，妻已睡熟好久了。（未完待续）