张良奇遇与翻译工作
又一届CATTI考试落下了帷幕，小伙伴们一定都在急切地等待着考试成绩的公布，由此证明自己的水平。记得很多年前读过翻译大师写的一本杂谈，他把译者分为三个等级：一等译者为经验丰富、态度端正者当属；二等译者经验欠佳，但态度端正；三等译者为缺乏经验、态度恶劣之辈。这自然与考试的评判标准大相径庭，却多多少少反映出了一些困扰译界的现实问题。通过翻译考试，拿上期待许久的翻译资格证书，是否就代表自己能胜任翻译工作了？有多少人能安下心来，踏踏实实地长久履行自己作为文字工作者的职责与品行？除技术上的标准之外，还有什么能助使我们练就出一身硬功夫？对于个人而言，张良的故事或许能带给我们一些启迪。
Another CATTI session has come to a close. You, dear reader, must have been anxiously waiting for the release of test scores, a proof of your translation skills. Many years ago, I stumbled upon a collection of short essays by an expert translator. In it, as I remember, the author put translators into three categories: Grade One are translators with both rich experiences and admirable attitudes; Grade Two, only with the latter; and Grade Three, with none. Of course, this is hugely different from the official test criteria, but more or less it reflects some issues that harrow the translation community. Can one be regarded as able to take on translation work when s/he has passed the test and has been issued the long-anticipated certificate? How many of the successful candidates can settle down and remain dutiful and honorable as linguists in weeks, months, and years to come? Apart from technical assessment, what else can beef up our skills? Hope the following story will personally provoke some constructive thoughts on these questions.
故事发生在秦朝，距今已有两千两百多年。主人公名叫张良，字子房，原是韩国贵公子，后因在博浪沙行刺秦始皇未遂，成功逃避追捕，隐姓埋名居住在下邳。
The story took place in the Qin Dynasty nearly two thousand and two hundred years ago. The protagonist was named Zhang Zifang, a well-known statesman and a descendant of a noble family in the State of Han during the Spring and Autumn Period. He had failed at his plot to avenge the destruction of the State of Han by killing the First Emperor of Qin in Bolangsha. He got away with it by using fake identities and thus lived a fugitive life in Xiapi.
一日，张良在下邳附近的圯水桥上散步。这时，一位身穿粗布短衣的老人，走到张良面前，故意将鞋甩到桥下。他瞪着张良说道：“小子，下去把鞋给我捡上来！”
“孺子!下取履!”
One day, Zhang took a stroll on the Yishui Bridge near Xiapi. There he met an old man in rough clothes. The old man walked up to him, chucked one of his shoes down the bridge on purpose, and yelled at Zhang, “Hey, boy, go down and fetch me my shoe!”
张良惊愕不已，本想将他痛扁一顿，但转念一想，尊重长者是美德。于是，他强忍怒火，只得下桥取鞋。
Zhang was astonished. The old man’s manners annoyed him so much that he wanted to give him beans. But then on second thought he decided to help because he regarded respect for the elderly as a moral virtue.
那老人还不满意，又对张良说：“来！把鞋给我穿上！”
The old man then lifted his foot and demanded, “Boy, put on the shoe for me.”
“履我!”
张良想，好事做到底，便跪下替老人穿鞋。老人穿上鞋之后，未表示谢意，大笑着离去。张良感到莫名其妙，望着老人的背影发呆。
Zhang thought he should honor him all the way through, so he bent over to put on the shoe. The old man showed no sign of gratitude and walked away laughing, leaving Zhang standing there and staring after him in bewilderment.
那老人走了很远，又返回来，对张良说：“孺子可教也。五天后拂晓之时，来这里与我见面。”
“孺子可教矣！后五日平明，与我会此。”
The old man turned back after walking a distance and said, “This child is good enough to be taught!” With that he asked Zhang to meet him on the bridge again at dawn five days later.
张良听罢，虽然心中疑窦丛生，但仍然答应。
Still bewildered, Zhang nevertheless agreed.
五日后，天色刚亮，张良按时前往，发现对方早已在桥边等候。老人生气地说：“与长者见面，反而晚到，这是何道理？五天之后早点来见我！”
“与老人期，后，何也? 后五日早会。”
Five days later, Zhang arrived at the stroke of dawn, but the old man was already waiting for him on the bridge. The old man chided him, “How can you be late for meeting with an elderly man? Come back again five days later!”
又过了五日，晨鸡报晓之时，张良便赶到桥上。不料老人又先到了，他怒气冲冲地说道：“你又来晚了。五天之后再早点来！”
”后，何也? 后五日复早来。“
This time Zhang hurried to the bridge upon roosters crowing in the early morning, but the old man still arrived earlier than him. He was scorned once more, “You are late again. Come back again five days later!”
又过五日，张良不到半夜便赶到了桥上等候老人。过了一会儿，老人才缓缓走到桥上，看到张良心中欢喜，说：“小伙子，这样才对！”
“当如是。”
The third time, Zhang set off to the bridge at midnight and waited until the old man showed up. It was not a while later that the old man walked onto the bridge and rejoiced at Zhang’s early arrival, “Good job, boy!”
老人十分欣赏张良坚韧、谦逊的态度，拿出《太公兵法》，说道：“你读完这部书便可成就一番大业，作帝王之师。”
“读此则为王者师矣。”
Impressed by Zhang’s fortitude and humility, the old man presented Zhang with a book titled Art of War by Jiang Taigong, saying, “You can counsel an emperor after reading this book.”
老人说罢便扬长而去。
Then he left without looking back.
后来，张良潜心研读《太公兵法》，收获颇丰，成为汉高祖刘邦手下的重要谋士，与萧何、韩信一同被誉为“汉初三杰”，为刘邦建立汉朝立下了汗马功劳。
Zhang immersed himself in this book and learned a great deal from it. Before long, he started to counsel Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Han Dynasty. Eventually, Zhang made history as one of the “Three Heroes of the early Han Dynasty”, along with Han Xin and Xiao He, for his outstanding service to the emperor.
重温了这个家喻户晓的故事，不知小伙伴们有什么感想？翻译工作何尝不是这位长者，难以对付，要求严苛，唯有拿出100%的耐心，以谦逊诚恳的态度对待它，抛开功利，不计得失，周而复始，长此以往，方可成就一番事业。加油！
Now we have revisited this popular legend, any thoughts? Isn’t the old man an effective embodiment of a career in translation? One in which difficult and intense tasks are often assigned, demanding our utmost patience, humility, and stamina. One that cures us of any utilitarian and egotistical desires. One that repeatedly throws hard work into the future. Therein lies a greatness that can be achieved down the road. More power to your elbow!
(感谢清梦smile为本文提供历史素材和专业见解。)
(Much thanks to Crystal for providing historic fodder and professional insight as reflected herein.)
(欢迎各界朋友对本专栏提宝贵意见和建议！)
(Any comments or suggestions are welcome!)
来源：全国翻译专业资格（水平）考试网 日期：2019年11月29日 作者：胡婧
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