序 Preface

生死場/一The Field of Life and Death / I

生死场/一

記得已是四年前的事了，時維二月，我和婦孺正陷在上海閘北的火線中，眼見中國人的因為逃走或死亡而絕跡。I remember it was already four years ago now — it was February, and my wife and child and I were caught in the crossfire in Zhabei, Shanghai, watching Chinese people vanish from sight, some fleeing, some dead.後來仗著幾個朋友的幫助，這才得進平和的英租界，難民雖然滿路，居人卻很安閒。Later, with the help of several friends, we managed at last to get into the peaceful British Concession; though refugees filled the roads, the residents there were quite at ease.和閘北相距不過四五里罷，就是一個這麼不同的世界，——我們又怎麼會想到哈爾濱。It was no more than four or five li from Zhabei, and yet it was such a different world — how could we have thought of Harbin then?

记得已是四年前的事了，时维二月，我和妇孺正陷在上海闸北的火线中，眼见中国人的因为逃走或死亡而绝迹。后来仗著几个朋友的帮助，这才得进平和的英租界，难民虽然满路，居人却很安闲。和闸北相距不过四五里罢，就是一个这么不同的世界，——我们又怎么会想到哈尔滨。

這本稿子的到了我的桌上，已是今年的春天，我早重回閘北，周圍又復熙熙攘攘的時候了。By the time this manuscript reached my desk, it was already this spring; I had long since returned to Zhabei, and the bustle of life had resumed all around.但卻看見了五年以前，以及更早的哈爾濱。Yet in it I saw Harbin as it was five years ago, and even earlier.這自然還不過是略圖，敘事和寫景，勝於人物的描寫，然而北方人民的對於生的堅強，對於死的掙扎，卻往往已經力透紙背；This is of course still no more than a sketch — the narration and depiction of scenery surpass the portrayal of characters — and yet the northern people's tenacity in living, their struggle against death, often already show through with a force that pierces the very paper;女性作者的細致的觀察和越軌的筆致，又增加了不少明麗和新鮮。and the woman author's fine, careful observation and her unconventional brushwork add no small measure of brightness and freshness besides.精神是健全的，就是深惡文藝和功利有關的人，如果看起來，他不幸得很，他也難免不能毫無所得。The spirit of it is sound — even one who deeply loathes any connection between literature and utility, should he happen to read it, would, unfortunately for him, find it hard to come away with nothing at all.

这本稿子的到了我的桌上，已是今年的春天，我早重回闸北，周围又复熙熙攘攘的时候了。但却看见了五年以前，以及更早的哈尔滨。这自然还不过是略图，叙事和写景，胜于人物的描写，然而北方人民的对于生的坚强，对于死的挣扎，却往往已经力透纸背；女性作者的细致的观察和越轨的笔致，又增加了不少明丽和新鲜。精神是健全的，就是深恶文艺和功利有关的人，如果看起来，他不幸得很，他也难免不能毫无所得。

聽說文學社曾經願意給她付印，稿子呈到中央宣傳部書報檢查委員會那裡去，擱了半年，結果是不許可。I heard that the Literature Society had once been willing to print it; the manuscript was submitted to the Books and Periodicals Censorship Committee of the Central Propaganda Department, where it sat for half a year, and in the end was not approved.人常常會事後才聰明，回想起來，這正是當然的事：對於生的堅強和死的掙扎，恐怕也確是大背「訓政」之道的。People often grow wise only after the fact; thinking back on it now, this was only to be expected — tenacity in living and struggle against death are, I fear, indeed quite contrary to the way of "political tutelage."今年五月，只為了《略談皇帝》這一篇文章，這一個氣焰萬丈的委員會就忽然煙消火滅，便是「以身作則」的實地大教訓。This May, over nothing more than the essay "A Brief Word on Emperors," this once towering and imperious committee suddenly vanished like smoke and dying embers — a great practical lesson in "leading by example."奴隸社以汗血換來的幾文錢，想為這本書出版，卻又在我們的上司「以身作則」的半年之後了，還要我寫幾句序。The Slave Society, with the few coins earned by its own sweat and blood, wished to publish this book, but that was already half a year after our superiors had "led by example" — and now they want me to write a few words of preface as well.然而這幾天，卻又謠言蜂起，閘北的熙熙攘攘的居民，又在抱頭鼠竄了，路上是駱驛不絕的行李車和人，路旁是黃白兩色的外人，含笑在賞鑒這禮讓之邦的盛況。Yet these past few days, rumors have swarmed up again, and the bustling residents of Zhabei are once more clutching their heads and fleeing like rats; the roads are choked with an endless stream of luggage carts and people, while by the roadside foreigners, yellow-haired and white-skinned alike, stand smiling as they take in the grand spectacle of this land of ceremony and deference.自以為居於安全地帶的報館的報紙，則稱這些逃命者為「庸人」或「愚民」。The newspapers, run by people who fancy themselves safely out of harm's way, call these people fleeing for their lives "mediocrities" or "the foolish masses."我卻以為他們也許是聰明的，至少，是已經憑著經驗，知道了煌煌的官樣文章之不可信。But I think they are perhaps the clever ones — at least, through experience, they have already learned that grand, official pronouncements cannot be trusted.他們還有些記性。They still have some memory left.

听说文学社曾经愿意给她付印，稿子呈到中央宣传部书报检查委员会那里去，搁了半年，结果是不许可。人常常会事后才聪明，回想起来，这正是当然的事：对于生的坚强和死的挣扎，恐怕也确是大背「训政」之道的。今年五月，只为了《略谈皇帝》这一篇文章，这一个气焰万丈的委员会就忽然烟消火灭，便是「以身作则」的实地大教训。奴隶社以汗血换来的几文钱，想为这本书出版，却又在我们的上司「以身作则」的半年之后了，还要我写几句序。然而这几天，却又谣言蜂起，闸北的熙熙攘攘的居民，又在抱头鼠窜了，路上是骆驿不绝的行李车和人，路旁是黄白两色的外人，含笑在赏鉴这礼让之邦的盛况。自以为居于安全地带的报馆的报纸，则称这些逃命者为「庸人」或「愚民」。我却以为他们也许是聪明的，至少，是已经凭著经验，知道了煌煌的官样文章之不可信。他们还有些记性。

現在是一九三五年十一月十四的夜裡，我在燈下再看完了《生死場》。It is now the night of November 14, 1935, and by lamplight I have just finished reading The Field of Life and Death once more.周圍像死一般寂靜，聽慣的鄰人的談話聲沒有了，食物的叫賣聲也沒有了，不過偶有遠遠的幾聲犬吠。All around is silent as death; the neighbors' voices I am used to hearing are gone, and the food vendors' cries are gone too — only now and then, far off, a few dog barks sound.想起來，英法租界當不是這情形，哈爾濱也不是這情形；Thinking of it, this surely is not how things are in the English and French Concessions, nor how they are in Harbin;我和那裡的居人，彼此都懷著不同的心情，住在不同的世界。I and the people living there each carry different feelings in our hearts, and dwell in different worlds.然而我的心現在卻好像古井中水，不生微波，麻木的寫了以上那些字。And yet my heart just now is like the water in an old well, raising not the slightest ripple, and numbly I have written down the words above.這正是奴隸的心！——但是，如果還是攪亂了讀者的心呢？This is precisely the heart of a slave! — But then, what if it still manages to stir up the reader's heart?那麼，我們還決不是奴才。Then we are, after all, most certainly not slaves.

现在是一九三五年十一月十四的夜里，我在灯下再看完了《生死场》。周围像死一般寂静，听惯的邻人的谈话声没有了，食物的叫卖声也没有了，不过偶有远远的几声犬吠。想起来，英法租界当不是这情形，哈尔滨也不是这情形；我和那里的居人，彼此都怀著不同的心情，住在不同的世界。然而我的心现在却好像古井中水，不生微波，麻木的写了以上那些字。这正是奴隶的心！——但是，如果还是搅乱了读者的心呢？那么，我们还决不是奴才。

不過與其聽我還在安坐中的牢騷話，不如快看下面的《生死場》，她才會給你們以堅強和掙扎的力氣。But rather than listen to my grumbling, spoken here in my seat of ease, better to go straight on and read The Field of Life and Death below — it is she who will give you the strength to endure and to struggle.魯迅。Lu Xun

不过与其听我还在安坐中的牢骚话，不如快看下面的《生死场》，她才会给你们以坚强和挣扎的力气。鲁迅。