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黑与白交，

黑能污白，

白不能掩黑；

香与臭混，

臭能胜香，

香不能敌臭。

——(清）张潮

胡读《幽梦影》

不得已而谀之者，宁以口，毋以笔；不可耐而骂之者，亦宁以口，毋以笔。

If one has to praise someone, rather do it by word of mouth than by pen; if there are persons that must be castigated, also do it by word of mouth rather than in writing.

文人读武事，大都纸上谈兵；武将论文章，半属道听途说。

When literary men talk about military affairs, it is mostly military science in the studio [literally, “discussing soldiers on paper”]; and when military generals discuss literature, it is mostly rumors picked up on hearsay.

黑与白交，黑能污白，白不能掩黑；香与臭混，臭能胜香，香不能敌臭，此君子小人相攻之大势也。

Black can besmirch white and bad odor wipe out a fragrance easily, but not vice versa. This is what happens when a gentleman is confronted by a cad or a sneak.

傲骨不可无，傲心不可有。无傲骨则近于鄙夫，有傲心不得为君子

A man must have pride in his character (literally in his bones), but notin his heart. Not to have pride in character is to be with the common herd, and to have pride in one’s heart does not belong to a gentleman.

庄周梦为蝴蝶，庄周之幸也；蝴蝶梦为庄周，蝴蝶之不幸也。

It was fortunate of Chuangtse to dream of being a butterfly, but a misfortune for the butterfly to dream of being Chuangtse.

鹤令人逸；马令人俊；兰令人幽；松令人古。

The stork gives a man the romantic manner, the horse gives a man the heroic manner, the orchid gives a man the recluse’s manner, and the pine gives a man the grand manner of the ancients.

美味以大嚼尽之，奇境以粗游了之，深情以浅语传之；良辰以酒食度之，富贵以骄奢处之，俱失造化本怀。

It is against the will of God to eat the delicate food hastily, to pass gorgeous views hurriedly, to express deep sentiments superficially, to pass a beautiful day steeped in food and drinks, and to enjoy your wealth steeped in luxurious.

春者，天之本怀；秋者，天之别调。

Spring is the natural frame of mind of heaven; autumn is one of its changing moods.

律己宜带秋气，处世宜带春气。

One should discipline oneself in the spirit of autumn, and deal with others in the spirit of spring.

求知己于朋友易；求知己于妻妾难；求知己于君臣则尤难之难。

It is easier to find bosom friends (“those who know our hearts”) among friends than among one’s wife and concubines, and it is still more difficult to find a bosom friend in the relationship between ruler and ministers.

——引自(清）张潮 著《幽梦影》

林语堂英译

本文由胡宗锋教授整理：胡宗锋，现任民建中央文化委员会委员，中国翻译协会理事，陕西省翻译协会主席，第十二届西安市政协委员，陕西省斯诺研究中心主任，陕西省外国文学学会副会长，6165cc金沙总站检测中心外语学院教授、博士生导师、院长。