紅樓夢新談 · 附錄五

中國文學裡的「羅密歐與朱麗葉」——吳宓對《紅樓夢》故事的英譯 吳學昭 我父親吳宓一生,似與《紅樓夢》一書 (父親始終認為此書開宗明義,應正名曰《石頭記》,《紅樓夢》乃其俗稱。筆者從俗。)有不解之緣。1907年寒假吳宓在故鄉家中守祖母之喪,嗣父仲旗公由新疆辭職歸來守喪,所帶回之行李中,有《增評補圖石頭記》一部,吳宓見之大喜,趕即閱讀。並於夜間,伏衾中枕上,燃小煤油燈續讀,故得於次年正月開學前讀畢全書,並能依序背誦一百二十回的回目,及書中的許多詩詞、對聯。以後他又時時重讀,內容極熟,體會愈深,於是《紅樓夢》一書後來大大影響了他的思想、感情及生活。 1917年父親留學美國,在所攜不多的中國書籍中,即有《增評補圖石頭記》一部。 民國時期,父親任教高校,得與許多中外學者暢論《紅樓夢》;所編報刊,注重刊登各方研究《紅樓夢》的進展與心得;教課與演講中,亦常借取《紅樓夢》書中之人物事實為例證以闡明一己之人生哲學。1939年元旦,更以英文作成A Praise of THE DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER,據其研究西洋文學、哲學、藝術之所得,及個人之體會,對《紅樓夢》一書作出全面的評論。其後譯成中文,題名《石頭記評贊》,登載1942年《旅行雜誌》第十六卷第十一期。吳宓在昆明西南聯合大學,還組織過一個專門研討《石頭記》的文學團體——石社,定期聚會討論《石頭記》。社員入社,須先交一篇閱讀《石頭記》的心得;如肯用自傳體裁,把自己比作《石頭記》中某一個人物,引伸譬解,夾敘夾議,寫一篇短文,更受歡迎。石社在西南聯大曾紅火一時,師生社員們所作論文,由吳宓編為厚厚的《紅樓夢研究集》上下兩大冊,擺放聯大圖書館,供眾閱覽。吳宓在聯大所作多次《紅樓夢講談》的講稿,亦均收入該集。十分可惜的是,1946年5月,西南聯大結束,北大、清華、南開三校分別復員,遷移平津;此二冊《紅樓夢研究集》不知流散何方,迄今下落不明。 新中國成立以後,除了自我檢討和接受批判,吳宓已很少公開談論《紅樓夢》,但個人研究與反覆閱讀,從未中止,在日記及零星冊頁中均有記述。 我父親命途多舛,生前雖撰有大量關於《紅樓夢》的文章、筆記及講演稿,然而由於戰亂和解放後的歷次政治運動,焚書、搜繳、抄家、批鬥、關押……文稿喪失殆盡。父親平反昭雪後,家人雖竭盡全力搜尋,所得甚微;以至父親去世後多年,我們無法將他關於《紅樓夢》的著作譯述結集出版,留為紀念。只有繼續努力搜尋,亦盼知情的仁人君子幫助提供線索,玉成此舉。 根據《吳宓自編年譜》,家人從中美有關檔案中尋見:吳宓1921年2月下旬以英文所撰The Dream of the Red Chamber一文,簡單譯述《紅樓夢》全書的大旨及故事綱要;在美國報紙檔案中,覓得1921年2月27日的《波士頓星期日郵報》Boston Sunday Post,該報於當日第40版刊載吳宓英譯《紅樓夢》的愛情故事,被稱為「中國文學的羅密歐與朱麗葉」……這就使他曾於《自編年譜》中提到的在美評論、譯介《紅樓夢》的兩次活動,(一是1919年3月2日,應波城中國學生會之請,在哈佛演講《紅樓夢新談》;二是中國留學生於1921年2月28日舉行為華北水災募捐晚會,義演啞劇《紅樓夢》故事片段,吳宓為此所作的對外宣傳。)尤其第二次所作關於《紅樓夢》的英文譯介內容補充齊全,緣由過程清晰可見。 據《吳宓自編年譜》,「1921二月二十八日,波城之中國留學生,舉行晚會(備有茶點及音樂),專為招待波城之富豪、巨商,及將前往中國商議財政之要員。具體目的,在為中國民國九年之華北水災募捐、籌賑,欲得其助力也」。中國女留學生所籌備的晚會節目,有《紅樓夢》啞劇(Pantomime),用中國人的服裝、動作,表演《紅樓夢》的故事綱要。(劇中男子如賈政、寶玉等,亦全由女生扮演。)此晚會的英文節目單及啞劇的英文說明書,特派吳宓撰成、付印。中國學生會猶恐不足,更於晚會前數日,派吳宓去《波士頓星期日郵報》(Boston Sunday Post)社洽談,助吾人宣傳。吳宓持介紹函及其自有的《增評補圖石頭記》一部,至報社,與社員(報社編輯人員)某談商。某聆吳宓口述而筆錄。最後某要求吳宓選《石頭記》書中「最熱烈的愛情場面」(a love-scene),逐字逐句直譯出原文,而彼寫錄。吳宓只得以晴雯臨終,寶玉往訪一段應之。以上均於1921年2月27日的《波士頓星期日郵報》第40版中刊出。 茲將吳宓1921年2月下旬所撰The Dream of the Red Chamber,以及1921年2月27日《波士頓星期日郵報》所刊吳宓對《紅樓夢》故事的譯述刊布如下,以饗讀者。為方便讀者閱讀,特將全文譯為中文,並將原文附於譯文之後。 紅樓夢[1] 中國學生在1921年2月28日為募捐籌賑中國饑荒表演的節目之一, 啞劇「破碎的愛」,是根據《紅樓夢》改編成戲的。從受歡迎的程度和藝術的觀點來看,《紅樓夢》都是中國所有小說中最偉大的一部。劍橋大學翟理斯[2]教授在他的《中國文學史》中曾就此書做過簡短的介紹:《紅樓夢》涵括有名字的男性人物235位,女性人物213位(沒有名字的人物尚未計算在內);此書的篇幅比理查遜的《克拉麗莎》[3]還長很多。《紅樓夢》由喬利[4]於1892年翻譯成英文, 但他只翻譯了120回中的52回[5],從未譯完整部書。 《紅樓夢》寫於18世紀晚期,它完整與真實地描繪出當時生活與社會圖景。但它的情景著重落在一座貴族府邸上,以市井生活和鄉村生活作陪襯。 它的主要情節是圍繞貴族的兒子與孤兒表妹間的愛情故事。書中年輕的男主人翁是一位詩才平平的詩人,他是(像哈姆雷特)「時流的明鏡,人倫的雅範,舉世矚目的中心」;他的信念如同濟慈[6]所言「美即是真,真即是美」;在他奢華舒適的家裡,所有一切都使他感到無法排遣的倦怠;他不喜歡學習及一切俗務;他能說出各種富有新意的警句名言,如(1) 「男人是泥做的骨肉,女人是水做的骨肉」——這句令人想起柏拉圖的話;(2)「女人純潔,美麗,有吸引力;而男人骯髒,沉重和無聊」;(3)「當我遭受先生痛打時, 我姐姐妹妹地亂喊著,立刻就不感覺疼了。」女主人翁,他的孤兒表妹是位有造詣的詩人和音樂家,她迷人、美麗、聰慧,但脆弱而憂鬱。雖然兩位年輕人彼此深愛, 但由於家長的意願,反覆無常的機緣,形形色色的家族謀算及其施加的影響, 他不能娶她。當他病重在床,並暫時精神錯亂時,他被動地履行了婚姻儀式;直到婚禮完成,他才發現新娘不是他的表妹, 而是另一位女士。 就在婚禮舉行的同時, 不幸的女主人翁撒手人寰。不久之後, 年輕的男主人翁棄世而去, 拋棄了他的家,拋棄了他的妻子,出家當了和尚,從此不知所蹤。 除了主要情節外,書中還有許多非主線的愛情故事,展現了性情各異的男女,在不同境遇下的愛情——舉例而言,舉止俏皮風流,但其實品行貞潔的丫鬟,臨死前拉著戀慕的人亦是主人的手哭道:「與其擔了壞人的虛名,不如真的做個壞人!」男女主人翁愛情故事發展的每一步都與這座貴族府邸的興衰緊密相連;這部書不僅是真實的歷史文獻,而且是一面鏡子,映射的是一個由榮至衰的國家、社會、時代。 但《紅樓夢》主要還是一個愛情故事,如同所有中國的愛情故事,其傳達的愛情理念就是忠貞——「見異思遷,並非真愛」。中國式的愛情理想,體現在小說和戲劇中,即是愛之堅貞不渝及忠貞不貳。在權力,財富或死亡使愛侶無法真正結合時,戀人會欣然信守終身不嫁不娶,死生契闊的誓言。任何折磨和死亡的威脅,地位和財富的誘惑,對孤獨的恐懼,甚至來自另一位絕色美人的吸引,都無以破壞和改變一個人的真愛。貞操不是強制性的美德,而是愛的真實象徵、體現和證明。徒有皮囊而無精神的契合,不足以生愛。 肉體的吸引和邂逅只是色慾。愛莊嚴神聖,愛彌足珍貴。 愛情故事並不是老生常談的兒女之情,而是有選擇性、理想化、有價值的浪漫感情,這樣的理念再次在《紅樓夢》中得到體現和闡釋。 波士頓星期日郵報 (1921年2月27日第40頁) 中國戀人的奉獻精神 波士頓各院校的中國留學生將展示中國戀人的奉獻精神是如何長久不變的。 他們為賑濟中國饑荒基金募捐,將於明晚演出一個神聖的愛情故事,中國文學裡的《羅密歐與朱麗葉》。 圖為1921年2月27日的美國《波士頓星期日郵報》第40版版面 該劇根據中國的薩克雷[7]——曹雪芹所著的小說《紅樓夢》改編。 一名哈佛大學的中國學生在這裡首次將其翻譯成英文,這是所有最偉大的中國愛情故事中最震撼的一節。 圖為在浪漫啞劇中扮演主要角色的中國留學生 圖為《波士頓星期日郵報》編輯為吳宓英譯《紅樓夢》故事之一折劇 《丫鬟的最後的時日》所作的編者按語 以下是吳宓先生的翻譯[8]。 「丫鬟的最後的時日」[9] (改編自曹雪芹的《紅樓夢》) 人物介紹: 賈寶玉:一位貴族少爺, 17歲,與丫鬟晴雯相愛 吳晴雯:寶玉家的丫鬟, 剛因受誣勾引少爺而被攆出寶玉家 吳太太:晴雯的嫂子, 一個猶如現代蕩婦的女人, 她根本就不在乎小姑子,企圖勾引寶玉 時間——九月的一個傍晚 地點——北京吳氏院內 場景 ——吳氏院內的一間屋子 (寶玉看到晴雯躺在蘆席上睡著了, 但當他含淚俯身看她時, 她醒了) 晴雯(用一隻手肘強撐著起來)—— 我只當再也見不到你了。阿彌陀佛,你來得正好。且替我倒些茶,拿來給我。 渴了這半日,叫了半天半個人也叫不著。 寶玉(四下環顧)——茶壺在哪兒? 晴雯(以手指示意)—— 那爐台上就是。 (寶玉用自己的絲帕擦拭腌臢的茶杯, 倒了茶, 遞給晴雯。 她一氣兒都灌下去了) 寶玉(溫柔地)—— 你有什麼說的,趁沒人告訴我。 晴雯(抽泣)——有什麼可說的! 我只是在等死, 不過是挨一刻是一刻,挨一日是一日。我知道我橫豎熬不過三五天光景,然後就得走了。 只有一事,我死也不甘心。我雖生的比別的丫鬟略好些,但並沒有私情密意勾引你,如何一口死咬定我做錯了,說我是「狐狸精」?早知如此,當日我還不如隨了你。我與其擔了壞人的虛名,不如真的做個壞人!我的心碎了。 (晴雯抬起手,一口咬下兩根她引以為矜的玉蔥指甲。她把指甲交給寶玉留作紀念。然後她在被窩內,連揪帶脫,褪下最貼身的紅綾小襖,遞給寶玉。 寶玉躲在屏風後,解開衣扣, 脫下自己的襖兒,穿上晴雯給他的紅綾小襖。怕被人發現,他匆匆忙忙地扣上外衣的扣子, 回到晴雯的床邊, 把自己的襖兒放在她身上。他這樣做的時候, 晴雯睜開眼,抬頭看他) 晴雯(虛弱地)—— 來, 扶我坐起來。 (寶玉照辦,晴雯半坐著,抓住寶玉放在她床上的襖兒,穿在身上。寶玉將指甲放進口袋裡) 晴雯(躺回枕頭上)——你快走吧!這裡太髒了, 你哪裡受得了。 你的身子要緊。你今日這一來,我就死了也不枉擔了虛名! 吳太太(笑嘻嘻進來)—— 雯,你兩個的話,我都聽見了! 吳太太(衝著寶玉)—— 你一個做主子的,跑到下人房來做什麼?敢是來調戲我的嗎? 寶玉(非常激動)—— 好姐姐,快別這麼大聲的。晴雯忠心耿耿地服侍我一場,我想再瞧瞧她。 吳太太(輕蔑地笑道)—— 怨不得人家都說你是個多情人兒! (她拉著寶玉,將他拖進自己的屋裡) 吳太太——你要不叫我嚷嚷,說出今天你倆之間的醜事兒,只消依了我一件事。 (她把寶玉推得跪下) 寶玉(又怕又臊)——好姐姐,別鬧。 吳太太(大笑)—— 我們總聽說你對朋友有情有義兒的。 寶玉(央求)—— 好姐姐, 放開我。被人發現了,對你沒好處。 吳太太(抓著寶玉不放)——我早溜進來了,故意打發走了老媽子,好只剩下我們倆。我等什麼似的,今兒可等著了你。你若不依了我,我就讓下人們都知道,你來看過晴雯,都做了些什麼勾當。 但你不像人們所說的那樣,是個輕薄人兒。我在窗下細聽你和晴雯的對話,我只道你有些個體己話要對她說,但沒想到你們竟各不相擾。 (寶玉拚命試圖掙脫, 最終當聽到晴雯朋友進屋才得以脫身) (幕落) 幾天後, 寶玉隨父親探親時,晴雯因心碎而死去。死訊被報給寶玉的母親,王夫人沒有按慣例發給埋葬丫鬟的錢,而是下令燒掉晴雯的屍首, 並將骨灰撒了。她仍然堅信,這個丫鬟曾勾引過寶玉,所以死後也應得到懲罰。 寶玉得知晴雯已經死了,萬分悲痛,他在晴雯送他的絲帕上題了一首美麗的詩。寶玉將這塊絲帕燒了,他相信,悼文會乘著風的翅膀飛向天堂, 抵達愛人的魂靈。 中國式的愛情理想,體現在小說和戲劇中,即是愛之堅貞不渝及忠貞不貳。當權力、財富或死亡使男女主人公無法真正結合時,他們會欣然信守終身不嫁不娶、死生契闊的誓言。即便是來自另一位妖艷如斯,被美國人稱之為蕩婦的美人,都無法破壞和改變寶玉對晴雯的真愛。 THE DREAM OF THE RED CHAMBER One item in the Program furnished by the Chinese students in the entertainment to be given on Feb.28th, 1921 for the benefit of the China Famine Relief, 「THE SHATTERED LOVE: a Pantomime」, is adapted and dramatized from the 「The Dream of the Red Chamber」 which is the greatest of all Chinese novels, both from the popular and the artistic point of view.Professor H.A.Giles of Cambridge gave a brief summary of this work in his 「Short History of Chinese Literature」.This novel contains 235 male characters and 213 female characters with names (the characters without names not being counted here); it is even much longer than Richardson’s 「Clarissa Harlowe」.It has been translated into English by H.Bencraft Joly in 1892; but he translated only 52 out of the 120 Chapters in the book, and never finished the work. Written in the late 18th Century, this novel presents a complete and realistic picture of the life and society of the time.But its scenes are chiefly laid in a nobleman’s house, with side-lights into the life of the street and the country.Its main plot is a love-story between the nobleman’s son and his orphan cousin.The young hero is a dilettantish poet, who was ( like Hamlet ) 「the glass of fashion and the mold of form, the observed of all observers」; who had faith only in the saying of Keats「 Beauty is truth, truth beauty」; who felt all the irrelievable ennui in his rich and comfortable home; who disliked study and all practical affairs; and who uttered all sorts of original epigrams such as (1) suggestive of Plato, 「Man is made of mud; woman is made of water」; (2)「Woman is pure, beautiful, and attractive; while man is dirty, heavy and boresome」; (3) 「When I suffered beating from my tutor, I cried GIRLS and at once I felt no pain」.The heroine, the orphan girl, is a highly accomplished poetess and musician, who is fascinating, beautiful, quick-witted, but fragile and melancholy.Though these young people loved each other heart and soul, the wish of parents, the caprice of chance, and all sorts of family intrigues and influences determined that he was not to wed her.While he was very sick in body and temporarily deranged in mind, he was made to go through the performance of matrimonial rites; and it was only when the wedding was an accomplished act, that he could discover that the bride was not his cousin but another lady.In the very hour in which the wedding took place, the unfortunate heroine had died.After a while, the young man forsook the world, his family, and his wife, and went to be a Buddhist monk wandering forever where he was not to be found. Besides the main plot, there are many minor love-stories, showing the varied manifestations of Love in men and women of all sorts of temperaments and conditions— for example, the sprightly but chaste chambermaid, who at the moment of death was holding the hand of her lover and master and cried: 「It is better to be vile than vile esteemed」! Connected with the progress of the hero and heroine’s love story at every step, is the rise and fall of the fortune of the house; and therein the book is not only authentic historical document, but the mirror of a state, a society, or an age, in its brilliant decadence. But 「The Dream of the Red Chamber」 is primarily a love- story; and like all Chinese love-stories, its Gospel of love is Constancy-「Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds」.The Chinese ideal of love, as reflected in drama and fiction, is the endurance of one’s love through time and its concentration on one person.Where power, fortune or death has made an actual marriage between them impossible, the lovers would with all gladness observe the vows of lifelong celibacy and eternal union in the spirit.No threats of torture and death, no allures of rank and wealth, no fear of solitariness, not even the attraction of another surpassing beauty, should break and change one’s true love.Chastity is not an enforced virtue, but a genuine symbol and proof and expression of love.Beauty without harmony of mind and spirit could not call forth love.Physical attraction and chance acquaintance is only lust.Love is sacred; love is rare.And a love-story is not a commonplace narration of a Jack and his Jill, but a selective and idealized worthy romance.Such a conception is once more embodied and illustrated in 「the Dream of the Red Chamber」. Boston Sunday Post Feb.27, 1921 page 40 The devotion of lovers in China Chinese students at the colleges here are going to show how constant it is. They are going to present a Celestial love story, the 「Romeo and Juliet」 of Chinese literature, tomorrow evening, for the benefit of the China Famine Relief Fund. The play is dramatized from the novel, 「The Dream of the Red Chamber」, by Hsieh-Chin Tsao, the Thackeray of China. And here, translated into English for the first time, by a Chinese student at Harvard University, is the most powerful episode of this greatest of all Chinese love stories. The translation was rendered by Mr.M.Wu. 「The Days of the Chambermaid」 (From The Dream of the Red Chamber, by Hsieh-Chin Tsao) THE CHARACTERS: Pao-yu Ka - Son of a nobleman, age 17, in love with his chambermaid, Chin-wen Wu. Chin-wen Wu - Chambermaid at the home of Pao-yu Ka, who has just been dismissed on the false charge that she made affection advances to the young lord. Mrs.Wu - Wife of Chin-wen Wu’s elder brother, a woman likened to the modern 「vamp」, who cares little for her sister-in-law, and attempts to lead Pao-yu Ka into temptation. TIME - An Evening in September just after sunset. PLACE - Interior of the home of Mrs.Wu in Peking. SCENE - A room in the house. (Pao-yu finds Chin-wen lying on a bed of loose straw, asleep, but she awakes as he bends over her with tears in his eyes) CHIN-WEN (raising herself on one elbow) - I thought I should never see you again.Thanks to God, you come just at the right moment.Please pour out some tea and give it to me.I am very thirsty.I have been calling out for someone to help me for a long time, but no one has answered. PAO-YU (looking around) - where is the teapot? CHIN - WEN (pointing) - On the fire. (Pao-yu wipes the dirty teacup with his silk handkerchief, pours the tea and gives it to Chin-wen.She drinks it at one draught.) PAO - YU (tenderly) - Now we are alone.Tell me what you wish to say. CHIN - WEN (sobbing) - I have nothing to tell you.I am merely waiting for death, moment by moment and days by days.I know I cannot endure such suffering more than three or four days longer.Then I will find Paradise.Only one thing disturbs my mind and prevents my dying in peace.Although I am more beautiful than the other maids in your household, I have never made love to you, nor induced you to show my affection.Why should they charge me as they have and dismiss me? How could they be sure that I have done wrong and say that I am like a fox? Had I known that such accusations would have been made against me, I would not have resisted you.It is better to be vile than vile esteemed.My heart breaks. (Chin-wen puts her hand up to her mouth and bites off two of the long fingernails that distinguish her as a girl of culture and refinement.She gives the fingernails to Pao-yu to keep as mementos of her.Then, with wriggling motions under the bed coverings, she slips off the red silk shirt that has been closest to her heart of all her garments, and this also she gives to Pao-yu.Retiring behind a screen Pao-yu unbuttons his own clothing, takes off his own shirt and puts on that which Chin-wen has given him.Fearing that he will be discovered, he buttons only his outer garments hurriedly, and advancing to Chin-wen’s rough bed, places his shirt over the sick girl.While he is doing this, Chin-wen opens her eyes and looks up at him.) CHIN-WEN (weakly) -Come, help me to sit up. (Pao-yu does so, and Chin-wen in a half sitting position, grasps the shirt the young nobleman placed on her bed and puts it on.Pao-yu puts the fingernails in his pocket.) CHIN - WEN (lying back on her pillow) - Now, you go.It is so dirty here, you cannot endure it.Your health is important.I am glad you have come today.Now I can die happy, though I have been falsely accused of wrongdoing with you. MRS.WU (entering, smiling) - Wen, I have overheard all that has passed between you two. MRS.WU (to Pao-yu) - You are our master.Why have you come to the home of a maid? Is it because you want to play with me? PAO - YU (greatly agitated) - Good sister, don』t speak so loud.Chin-wen has been serving me so faithfully for so many years that I wanted to see her once more. MRS.WU (laughing scornfully) - It is not strange that all people say that you are full of love and sentiment. (She grasps Pao-yu by the hand and draws the boy into her own room.) MRS.WU - There is one way that you can prevent me from telling what has passed between yourself and Chin-wen today.Grant me wish and I shall be silent. (She pushes Pao-yu down upon his knees.) PAO - YU (frightened and ashamed) - Please don』t, good sister. MRS.WU (laughing) - We have always heard that you are devoted to your friends. PAO - YU (entreating) - Good sister, let me go.If we are discovered it will do you no good. MRS.WU (still holding the boy) - I slipped into the house some time ago and purposely sent away the old woman who works for me that I might have you all to myself.For a long while I have been trying to catch you and today I have succeeded.If you don』t grant my wish I will let your people know all about your visit and actions with Chin-wen.You are not so forward with young girls as people say.I was listening at the window and heard your conversation with Chin-wen.I had thought you would have many things to say to your love, but you kept your distance. (Pao-yu tries desperately to free himself and finally succeeds when a friend of Chin-wen is heard coming into the house.) (Curtain.) A few days later while Pao - yu is visiting relatives with his father, Chin-wen dies of a broken heart.The fact is reported to Pao-yu’s mother, and instead of granting any money for the burial of the maid as was the custom, the lady orders that the body of Chin-wen shall be burned and the ashes scattered to the winds, for she is still convinced that the chambermaid had attempted to win the love of Pao-yu, and deserved such punishment even after death. When he finds out that Chin-wen is dead, Pao-yu is much grieved, and writes a beautiful poem to the maid on a silk handkerchief which she had given him.This he burns, believing that the contents of the tribute will be carried to Paradise on the wings of the wind, and so reach the spirit of his sweetheart. The Chinese ideal of love, as reflected in this romantic and dramatic episode, is the endurance of one’s love through time, and its concentration on one person. Where power, fortune or death has made an actual marriage between the two principals impossible, they gladly observe the laws of celibacy and eternal union in the spirit.Not even the attraction of another surpassing beauty, a 「Vamp」 as she would be called in America, could break or change Pao-yu’s devotion for Chin-wen. * * * [1] 本文作於1921年2月下旬,簡述《紅樓夢》全書之大旨及故事綱要。 [2] 翟理斯Herbert Allen Giles (1845—1935),英國漢學家,為威妥瑪—翟理斯漢語羅馬字拼音系統創製人之一。曾就學查特豪斯公學,1867—1892年在英國駐中國領事館工作,返英後於1897年繼威妥瑪任劍橋大學漢語教授。譯著有《漢語無師自通》、《聊齋志異》、《中國文學史》、《中國的文明》等。 [3] 英國小說家塞繆爾·理查遜 Samuel Richardson (1689—1761)的著名小說《克拉麗莎》,又名《一位青年婦女的故事》。該書長達七卷100萬字,寫少女克拉麗莎為逃避家長包辦婚姻,落入貴族闊少洛夫萊斯之手,遭強姦,最後飲恨而死。 [4] 喬利 H · Bencraft Joly (1857—1898) ,英國領事官。1880年來華,在英駐華使館學習漢語。後來在各埠任領事職。1892年將《紅樓夢》的一部分譯成英文。 [5] 喬利所譯《紅樓夢》,實際至1894年已譯有56回,後以患疾,未再續譯。 [6] 約翰·濟慈John Keats(1795—1821),英國浪漫主義詩人。 [7] 威廉·梅克比斯·薩克雷William Makepeace Thackeray(1811—1863),英國著名小說家,擅寫英國資產階級的風俗人情,尤其揭示上流社會的陰暗面。 [8] 以上為《波士頓星期日郵報》編者為該文所作的按語。 [9] 1921年2月28日,美國波士頓地區各院校的中國留學生為賑濟華北水災舉行募捐晚會,本文乃吳宓晚會上演出的啞劇——《紅樓夢》故事的一折《丫鬟的最後的時日》所作英語譯述的劇情介紹。