Chapter 238 Preface to "Selected Works of Bing Xin's Translations"

Strait Literature and Art Publishing House edits and publishes "Fujian Writers Series". I feel very ashamed to publish my collection.In recent years, there have been several collections of mine published by different publishers, and those few articles have been edited and edited, and I am bored reading them, let alone readers!But as a Fujianese, I have never made any contribution to my hometown. If I dare not even donate a collection, it is too unreasonable, so I have no choice but to agree. What is self-forgivable is that this collection is different from other collections. In addition to novels, poems, and essays, it also collects some of my translations.As for foreign languages, I only know one English, and I am not yet proficient (I studied French for a year when I was in college. When I was studying in the United States, in order to obtain a master's degree, I was required to know two languages ​​besides my own language. Foreign language. I took two months of French tutoring during the summer vacation, and after I had to deal with the master’s defense, I gave it up again).But whenever I read a beautiful poem written in English, I interpret or translate it, so that people who don't understand English, such as my mother, can share some beautiful enjoyment.These sporadic translations have never been collected. After my mother passed away in 1930, I was sick and bored, so I translated the Lebanese poet Gibran. Just in time, the "Crescent Society" in Shanghai asked me for a manuscript, so I gave this translated poem to them for publication.Later I translated some poems and novels of the Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore, my favorite is his collection of prose poems.This poem is similar to You, full of picturesque and poetic feeling.But Tagore's mood is more innocent, more cheerful, and more mysterious; while Gibran's works are more serious, more philosophical, and a little bit sad!The works of these two poets are all written in English by themselves, rather than being translated from Bengali and Arabic into English by others. I can be responsible for translating the word "letter" by myself.I never dare to retranslate!In addition to the works of these two writers, I have also translated some other poems and essays, and some of them have been retranslated. That is the task given to me.I had to retranslate it from English, but I did my best.

We have produced two great interpreters in Fujian, Yan Fu and Lin Shu.These two old gentlemen are my grandfather's friends, and Mr. Yan is also my father's teacher.My translation work is so insignificant compared to theirs!But we in Fujian have beautiful mountains and rivers, and our style of writing does not fall.The children of Bamin are so talented. I hope that the young people in my hometown will study their own language well, and then learn one or two foreign languages ​​well, and take up the task of translation and interpretation to promote cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. January 19, 1985