张岱《西湖七月半》英译(林语堂 译）

西湖七月半，一无可看，止可看看七月半之人。看七月半之人，以五类看之：
There is nothing to see during the moon on West Lake [Hangchow]. All you can see are people who come out to see the moon. Briefly there are five categories of these holidaymakers.

其一，楼船箫鼓，峨冠盛筵，灯火优傒，声光相乱，名为看月而实不见月者，看之。
First there are those who come out in the name of looking at the harvest moon but never even take a look at it: the people, who expensively dressed, sit down at gorgeous dinners with music in brightly illuminated boats or villas in a confusion of light and noise.
(第一类，（乘坐）有楼台装饰的游船，船上有乐器吹弹，戴着高冠，摆着盛大的酒席，灯光中歌妓表演，仆役侍候，歌声与灯光交错，迷人耳目，（这是）名义上是为了赏月而来但实际上并没有看见月亮的一类人，可以看看这一类人；)

其一，亦船亦楼，名娃闺秀，携及童娈，笑啼杂之，环坐露台，左右盼望，身在月下而实不看月者，看之。
Secondly, those who do sit in the moonlight but never look at it: ladies, daughters of high families in boats and towers also handsome boys [homosexuals] who sit in open spaces and giggle and chatter and look at other people.
(第二类，也有坐在船上的，也有坐在楼上的，（有）名门的美女，大家的小姐，带领着美貌的男孩，笑声叫声相杂，环坐在楼船的平台上，看看左边又望望右边，（这是）人虽在月亮下面却实际上不看月亮的一类人，可以看看这一类人；)

其一，亦船亦声歌，名妓闲僧，浅斟低唱，弱管轻丝，竹肉相发，亦在月下，亦看月而欲人看其看月者，看之。
Thirdly, boat parties of famous courtesans and monks with time on their hands who enjoy a little sip and indulge in song and flute and string instruments. They are in the moonlight, too, and indeed look at the moon but want people to see them looking at the moon.
(第三类，也有船，也有音乐歌声，名妓助欢，闲僧佐谈，慢慢地喝酒，轻轻地歌唱，萧管低吹，琴瑟轻弹，乐器伴和着歌声，也在月亮下面，（这是）自己赏月同时希望别人观赏他赏月情状的一类人，可以看看这一类人；)

其一，不舟不车，不衫不帻，酒醉饭饱，呼群三五，跻入人丛，昭庆、断桥，嚣呼嘈杂，装假醉，唱无腔曲，月亦看，看月者亦看，不看月者亦看，而实无一看者，看之。
Fourthly, there are the young men, who neither ride nor go into boats, but after a drink and a good dinner, rush about in their rowdy dress and seek the crowd at Chaoching and Tuanchiao where it is thickest, shouting, singing songs of no known melody and pretending to be drunk. They look at the moon, look at the people looking at the moon, and also look at those not looking at the moon, but actually see nothing.
(第四类，不乘船也不坐车，不穿长衫也不戴头巾，酒足饭饱（之后），叫上三五个人，挤进人群里，（去）昭庆寺、（过）断桥，大叫大嚷（声音）杂乱，假装酒醉，唱歌没有腔调，月亮也看，赏月的人也看，不赏月的人也看，但实际上（这是）什么也没看的一类人，可以看看这一类人；)

其一，小船轻幌，净几暖炉，茶铛旋煮，素瓷静递，好友佳人，邀月同坐，或匿影树下，或逃嚣里湖，看月而人不见其看月之态，亦不作意看月者，看之。
Lastly, there are those who hire a small boat, provided with a clay stove and a clean table and choice porcelain cups and pots, and who get into the boat with a few friends and their sweethearts; they hide under a tree or row out into the Inner Lake in order to escape from the crowd, and look at the moon without letting people see that they are looking at the moon and even without consciously looking at it.
(第五类，乘着带有细薄帷幔的小船，（船上）有干净的茶几和温暖的茶炉，一小锅茶不久就煮好了，（用）雅洁精致的瓷茶杯静静地传递，好友美人，对着明月坐在一起，有的藏身于树下，有的为逃避（外湖人多）喧闹而躲入里湖，（他们在认真）赏月但别人却看不到他们赏月的情态，（他们）也不是故意做作的赏月之人，可以看看这一类人。)

杭人游湖，巳出酉归，避月如仇。是夕好名，逐队争出，多犒门军酒钱，轿夫擎燎，列俟岸上。
The local Hangchow people come out on the lake, if they do at all, between eleven in the morning and eight in the evening, as if they had morbid fear of the moon. But on this night, they all come out in groups, in the hope of getting good tips. The sedan chair carriers line up on the bank.
(杭州人游西湖，巳时出城，酉时返回，躲避月亮好像（躲避）仇人似的。（他们）这天晚上（只是）热衷于名声，（才）跟随（出游的）队伍争着出游，慰劳守门的军士不少酒钱，轿夫举着火把，排列在岸上等候。)

一入舟，速舟子急放断桥，赶入胜会。以故二鼓以前，人声鼓吹，如沸如撼，如魇如呓，如聋如哑。
The moment they get into a boat, they tell the boatman to hurry and row across to the Tuanchiao area, and get lost in the crowd, therefore in that area before the second watch [ten o'clock] the place is filled with noise and music bands in a weird, boiling confusion, like a roaring sea or a landside, or a nightmare, or like Bedlam let loose, with all the people in it rendered deaf and dumb for the moment.
(（游人）一进到船里，（便）催促船夫赶快驶向断桥，（为了）赶上盛大的集会。因为（这个）缘故，在二更之前,众人的吵嚷声，器乐的合奏声,（是那样的喧闹嘈杂，）好像水在沸腾，如有巨物震撼，又好像有人在梦中惊叫和说梦话一般，还好像聋子大声说话和哑巴张口乱叫似的。)

大船小船，一齐凑岸，一无所见，止见篙击篙，舟触舟，肩摩肩，面看面而已。
Large and small boats are tied up along the bank, and one can see nothing except boats creaking against boats, punting poles knocking punting poles, shoulders rubbing shoulders, and faces looking at faces.

少刻兴尽，官府席散，皂隶喝道去，轿夫叫，船上人怖以关门，灯笼火把如列星，一一簇拥而去。岸上人亦逐队赶门，渐稀渐薄，顷刻散尽矣。
Soon the feasting is over, the officials leave, the yamen runners shout to clear the way, the sedan chair carriers scream for fare, the boatmen give warning that the city gates will soon be closed. A grand procession of torches and lanterns, with swarms of retainers passes on. Those on land also hurry to get into the city before the closing of the gate, and very soon almost the entire crowd is gone.
(无论大船、小船，一齐凑到岸边，（人们）根本看不到美丽的景致，只是看见竹篙击着竹篙，船触着船，肩头擦着肩头，脸看着脸罢了。没多久（人们的）游兴（就）没有了，官府的（官员们）酒罢席散，由差役们在前面吆喝开道，（接连）离去。轿夫召唤船上的游人，用城门即将关闭（晚了进不了城）来恐吓他们，灯笼火把像排列的星星，一伙一伙地簇拥着离开了。在岸上的游人也跟随着队伍，（为的是）赶在城门关闭之前回到城中，（西湖这里）游人逐渐减少，不多时全都走光了。)

吾辈始舣舟近岸，断桥石磴始凉，席其上，呼客纵饮。
Only then do we move the boat to Tuanchiao. The rocks have become cool by this time, and we spread a mat on the ground and invite ourselves to a great drink.

此时月如镜新磨，山复整妆，湖复頮面，向之浅斟低唱者出，匿影树下者亦出。
At this time the moon looks like a newly polished mirror, the hills appear draped in a new dress, and the face of lake is like a lady after a fresh make-up. Those who have been hiding themselves under a tree and enjoying a quiet sip come out now also.

吾辈往通声气，拉与同坐。韵友来，名妓至，
We exchange names and invite them to join us. There we have charming friends and famous courtesans;

杯箸安，竹肉发。月色苍凉，东方将白，客方散去。吾辈纵舟，酣睡于十里荷花之中，香气拍人，清梦甚惬。
Cups and chopsticks are in place, and songs and music begin, in the chilly dream world of moonlight. The party breaks up at dawn, and we get into the boat again and move it into the miles of lotus-covered surface, where we catch a nap in an air filled with its fragrance, and has a perfect sleep.
(我们这些人这才将船向岸边靠拢,断桥的石阶开始变凉,（我们）在它的上面摆设酒席，招呼（同游）客人纵情畅饮。这时，天上的明月,好像刚磨出的镜面；远处的青山好像重新梳妆打扮过一般；眼前的湖面，好像刚洗过脸似的又恢复了平静光洁，刚才慢慢地喝酒、轻声歌唱的游人（从船中）出来了，藏身于树下的游人也出来了，我们这些人过去跟他们互相招呼问答，拉过来跟（他们）一同闲坐。高雅的朋友来了，著名的歌妓到了，酒杯和棋子安置好了，乐器伴和着歌声开始了。天上的月色（变得更加）幽凉，东方将要（露出）白光（天快亮了），客人才分散离去。我们这些人任船在湖面飘流，在十里的荷花丛里酣睡，花的香气扑人，连做梦都感到清香，真是畅快舒服极了。)