The Chinese legend of the butterfly lovers - Lijun Zhang

譯者: Camila Lin 審譯者: Helen Chang

Adjusting her disguise, Zhu Yingtai prepared to bid her parents goodbye.

扮成男裝後，祝英台準備和父母拜別。

She had always been a dutiful daughter— staying home

她一直都是個盡責的乖女兒， 總是待在家裡做女紅，

and creating works of embroidery that brought her parents pride.

讓她的父母為此感到驕傲。

And yet, although only boys were allowed at the Confucius Academy in Hangzhou,

雖然只有男性能到杭州的書院讀書，

what Yingtai truly wanted was to go to school.

但祝英台最想要的就是去上學。

She begged her parents to let her attend dressed as a boy

她懇求父母讓她女扮男裝去上學，

and, seeing her determination and clever disguises, they finally agreed.

而在看見女兒的決心 和完美的扮裝後，他們終於答應了。

However, they only gave her permission when she promised

前提是祝英台答應這兩件事：

to keep her true identity a secret

她必須保守女兒身的秘密，

and eventually return to the traditional path they’d set for her.

而且最後要回歸他們 為她規劃好的傳統女性道路。

Elated, Yingtai began her journey to Hangzhou.

祝英台興高采烈地往杭州出發，

On the way, she found herself at a crossroads,

在旅途中 ，她來到一個十字路口，

unsure which route to take when a young man approached.

正不知道該往哪個方向前進時， 出現了一個年輕男子。

As their eyes met, they shared an instant connection.

他們眼神一交會， 便立刻感受到強烈的吸引力。

Yingtai learned that his name was Liang Shanbo,

英台得知這個年輕人叫梁山伯，

and that he’d be her classmate at the academy,

同樣要去書院就讀，

so they walked the rest of the way together, rapt in conversation.

因此他們結伴同行，盡情暢談。

Yingtai realized that, despite her meticulous disguise,

英台發現，雖然她的男裝天衣無縫，

she felt that she could finally be herself.

卻能真正展露自己的模樣。

The two decided to celebrate what they thought would be

兩人都堅信這段友情將又長久又親密，

a long, close friendship, and became sworn brothers.

為讚頌這段情誼，兩人成為結拜兄弟。

At the academy, Yingtai buried herself in books

在學院中，英台全心投入學習，

and studied with Shanbo late into the nights.

總是和山伯一同挑燈夜戰。

The two felt at home so long as they were at each other’s sides.

只要在彼此身邊， 兩人就感到自在又放鬆。

They shared a room, but even though Shanbo questioned her about it,

他們同住一室， 山伯也曾經問過英台，

Yingtai always used the bathroom alone

為何她總是獨自使用浴室，

and buttoned her thick robes up to her chin— no matter the weather.

以及為何總是將厚重的袍子扣到下巴。

Now and again, Yingtai heard students muttering about her secretive behavior.

英台時不時就會聽見 其他同學討論她詭異的行為。

As months slipped into years, Yingtai continued to excel at her studies

從數月到數年，英台繼續精進學業，

and felt like her past— and intended future—were lifetimes away.

覺得以前在家的那段日子， 以及被規劃好的未來都恍若隔世。

Yet the whispers grew louder.

但是同學的竊竊私語更加猖狂。

And after three years, she had no choice but to leave.

才入學第三年，她就只能離開學校。

Parting tearfully, Yingtai asked Shanbo to visit her.

英台含淚向山伯道別， 並要求山伯一定要來看她。

When Yingtai returned home,

英台回家後，

her parents announced that the Ma family from the neighboring village

父母告訴她，

鄰村的馬家派來一個媒婆求親，

had sent a matchmaker to ask their permission

for Yingtai to marry their son.

要求他們把她嫁給馬家的兒子。

They’d found it a fitting match and accepted.

他們認為兩家門當戶對， 就接受了這樁親事。

Trying to hide her disappointment, Yingtai honored their agreement.

英台試著藏起失望的情緒， 履行他們的決定。

But as she prepared for another new life, she thought of Shanbo.

但在她準備結婚時，她想起了山伯。

Meanwhile, he too was distracted— his studies dull without Yingtai near.

這時的山伯也無法集中注意力： 沒有英台的陪伴，讀書變得很無趣。

When Shanbo finally visited Yingtai’s house,

在山伯終於拜訪英台家時，

he came upon a young woman.

他遇見一個年輕女子。

He was about to ask for her brother,

他本來想問她，她的哥哥在哪裡，

but as their eyes met, he recognized the young scholar he’d always loved.

但在他們視線交會時， 他認出了他一直深愛的同學。

Shanbo knew he couldn’t stand being separated from Yingtai again

山伯知道自己無法忍受再次和她分別，

and asked her to marry him.

因此向她求婚。

But, heartbroken, Yingtai told him that she was already promised to another.

但是心碎的英台告訴他， 她已經被父母許配給另一個人了。

Shanbo was devastated, but he understood that Yingtai had to abide

山伯心碎了，

但他明白英台必須聽從父母之命。

by her parents’ wishes, and they parted again.

他們就此分別。

Shanbo fell ill and grew weaker by the day.

山伯病倒了，每天都更加虛弱，

Worried, his family sent a matchmaker to the Zhu family.

他的家人很擔心他， 就派了一個媒婆到英台家求親，

But, because of Yingtai’s current engagement,

但因為英台已經被許配給馬家，

her father refused the proposal.

她的父親拒絕了梁家的求親。

Doing otherwise would bring their family public shame.

因為如果他同意這門婚事， 只會讓自己家蒙羞。

Shanbo’s Illness took a turn for the worse

山伯的病明顯加重，

and, sensing he wouldn’t live to see her married,

知道自己無法活到英台成親的那天，

Shanbo wrote Yingtai a final letter.

山伯寫了一封絕筆信給英台。

If Yingtai loved him, he asked that she burn incense

他說，如果英台愛他，

就請她在去馬家成親的路上， 到他墓前上香。

in front of his tomb when she was on her way to the Ma family.

When Yingtai’s wedding day came, it also felt like a funeral.

英台出嫁那天，氣氛像喪禮般陰沉。

As the procession wound through town under stormy skies,

出嫁隊伍在狂風暴雨下穿越城鎮。

Yingtai broke off and knelt in front of Shanbo’s tomb,

英台突然下轎，跪在山伯的墓前，

lighting incense and offering sacrifices through her tears.

哭著燒香祭祀山伯的靈魂。

Suddenly, a clap of thunder sounded above

突然，天上響起一陣雷鳴，

and a lightning bolt shot through the tomb,

一道閃電劈開了墳墓，

fracturing the stone.

使石頭裂開。

Without hesitation, Yingtai threw herself in.

英台毫不猶豫地跳進墳墓。

As her parents rushed to rescue their daughter,

在她的父母衝過去救女兒時，

two butterflies fluttered out of the crack.

兩隻蝴蝶從裂縫中飛出來，

This time, Yingtai had transformed for good.

這一次，英台永遠變成另一個樣子。

Finally free, she could float forever with Shanbo at her side.

終於獲得自由的英台， 可以永遠和山伯一起飛翔了。