《野草》英文譯本序

馮Y·S·先生由他的友人給我看《野草》的英文譯本，並且要我說幾句話。Mr. Feng Y.S., through a friend of his, showed me the English translation of Wild Grass, and asked me to say a few words.可惜我不懂英文，只能自己說幾句。Unfortunately I do not know English, and can only say a few words on my own account.但我希望，譯者將不嫌我只做了他所希望的一半的。But I hope the translator will not mind that I have done only half of what he wished.

冯Y·S·先生由他的友人给我看《野草》的英文译本，并且要我说几句话。可惜我不懂英文，只能自己说几句。但我希望，译者将不嫌我只做了他所希望的一半的。

這二十多篇小品，如每篇末尾所注，是一九二四至二六年在北京所作，陸續發表于期刊《語絲》上的。These more than twenty short pieces, as noted at the end of each, were written between 1924 and 1926 in Beijing, and published one after another in the periodical Yusi.大抵僅僅是隨時的小感想。For the most part they are merely passing small impressions.因為那時難于直說，所以有時措辭就很含糊了。Because at that time it was difficult to speak plainly, the wording sometimes became rather vague.

这二十多篇小品，如每篇末尾所注，是一九二四至二六年在北京所作，陆续发表于期刊《语丝》上的。大抵仅仅是随时的小感想。因为那时难于直说，所以有时措辞就很含糊了。

現在舉幾個例罷。Let me give a few examples now.因為諷刺當時盛行的失戀詩，作《我的失戀》，因為憎惡社會上旁觀者之多，作《複仇》第一篇，又因為驚異于青年之消沈，作《希望》。《這樣的戰士》，是有感于文人學士們幫助軍閥而作。《臘葉》，是為愛我者的想要保存我而作的。Because I was satirizing the lovelorn poems then in fashion, I wrote "My Lost Love"; because I detested the great number of onlookers in society, I wrote the first piece of "Revenge"; and because I was startled by the dejection of the young, I wrote "Hope." "Such a Fighter" was written out of feeling roused by men of letters and scholars helping the warlords. "Wax Leaf" was written for the sake of those who loved me and wished to preserve me.段祺瑞政府槍擊徒手民衆後，作《淡淡的血痕中》，其時我已避居別處；After the Duan Qirui government fired on unarmed people, I wrote "In the Faint Bloodstains"; by that time I had already gone into hiding elsewhere;奉天派和直隸派軍閥戰爭的時候，作《一覺》，此後我就不能住在北京了。When the Fengtian and Zhili warlord factions were at war, I wrote "An Awakening"; after that I could no longer live in Beijing.

现在举几个例罢。因为讽刺当时盛行的失恋诗，作《我的失恋》，因为憎恶社会上旁观者之多，作《复仇》第一篇，又因为惊异于青年之消沈，作《希望》。《这样的战士》，是有感于文人学士们帮助军阀而作。《腊叶》，是为爱我者的想要保存我而作的。段祺瑞政府枪击徒手民众后，作《淡淡的血痕中》，其时我已避居别处；奉天派和直隶派军阀战争的时候，作《一觉》，此后我就不能住在北京了。

所以，這也可以說，大半是廢馳的地獄邊沿的慘白色小花，當然不會美麗。So it may be said that most of these are pale, wretched little flowers on the edge of a decaying hell, and of course they cannot be beautiful.但這地獄也必須失掉。But this hell, too, must inevitably be lost.這是由幾個有雄辯和辣手，而當時還未得志的英雄們的臉色和語氣所告訴我的。This is what the expressions and tones of voice of a few heroes, eloquent and ruthless-handed but as yet unsuccessful in their day, told me.我于是作《失掉的好地獄》。So I wrote "The Good Hell That Was Lost."

所以，这也可以说，大半是废驰的地狱边沿的惨白色小花，当然不会美丽。但这地狱也必须失掉。这是由几个有雄辩和辣手，而当时还未得志的英雄们的脸色和语气所告诉我的。我于是作《失掉的好地狱》。

後來，我不再作這樣的東西了。Afterward, I no longer wrote things of this kind.日在變化的時代，已不許這樣的文章，甚而至于這樣的感想存在。In an age changing day by day, such writings, and even such feelings, are no longer permitted to exist.我想，這也許倒是好的罷。I think this may perhaps be a good thing after all.為譯本而作的序言，也應該在這裏結束了。This preface written for the translation should also come to an end here.

后来，我不再作这样的东西了。日在变化的时代，已不许这样的文章，甚而至于这样的感想存在。我想，这也许倒是好的罢。为译本而作的序言，也应该在这里结束了。

一九三一年十一月五日November 5, 1931