英译《红楼梦》中的《好了歌》

好了歌

The Song of All Good Things Must End

作者：曹雪芹

By Cao Xueqin 

世人都晓神仙好，

惟有功名忘不了！

古今将相在何方，

荒冢一堆草没了。

All men long to be immortals, 

Yet to riches and rank each aspires.

The great ones of old, where are they now? 

Their graves are a wilderness of briars. 

世人都晓神仙好，

只有金银忘不了！

终朝只恨聚无多，

及到多时眼闭了。

All men long to be immortals, 

Yet silver and gold they prize

And grub for money all their lives, 

Till death seals up their eyes. 

世人都晓神仙好，

只有姣妻忘不了！

君生日日说恩情，

君死又随人去了。

All men long to be immortals, 

Yet dote on the wives they’ve wed, 

Who swear to love their husband evermore, 

But remarry as soon as he’s dead. 

世人都晓神仙好，

只有儿孙忘不了！

痴心父母古来多，

孝顺儿孙谁见了？

All men long to be immortals, 

Yet none can let go of their children.

Although fond parents are legion, 

Who has ever seen a really filial son? 

（英译：周柯楠）