小引 Preface

我常想在紛擾中尋出一點閒靜來，然而委實不容易。I have often thought to seek out a bit of quiet leisure amid the turmoil, but it is truly not easy.目前是這麼離奇，心裏是這麼蕪雜。The present is so bizarre, and my heart is so tangled and confused.一個人做到只剩了囘憶的時候，生涯大概總要算是無聊了罷，但有時竟會連囘憶也沒有。When a person is reduced to having nothing left but memories, his life must on the whole be reckoned tedious indeed — yet sometimes he cannot even manage that much, and is left without even memories.中國的做文章有軌範，世事也仍然是螺旋。In China, the writing of essays has its set rules, and the affairs of the world likewise still move in spirals.前幾天我離開中山大學的時候，便想起四個月以前的離開廈門大學；A few days ago, when I left Zhongshan University, I recalled leaving Xiamen University four months before;聽到飛機在頭上鳴叫，竟記得了一年前在北京城上日日旋繞的飛機。hearing the drone of airplanes overhead, I even remembered the planes that circled day after day over the city of Beijing a year ago.我那時還做了一篇短文，叫做《一覺》。At that time I even wrote a short essay called 'A Moment of Awakening.'現在是，連這「一覺」也沒有了。Now, even that 'moment of awakening' is gone.

我常想在纷扰中寻出一点闲静来，然而委实不容易。目前是这么离奇，心里是这么芜杂。一个人做到只剩了囘忆的时候，生涯大概总要算是无聊了罢，但有时竟会连囘忆也没有。中国的做文章有轨范，世事也仍然是螺旋。前几天我离开中山大学的时候，便想起四个月以前的离开厦门大学；听到飞机在头上鸣叫，竟记得了一年前在北京城上日日旋绕的飞机。我那时还做了一篇短文，叫做《一觉》。现在是，连这「一觉」也没有了。

廣州的天氣熱得眞早，夕陽從西窗射入，逼得人只能勉强穿一件單衣。The weather in Guangzhou turns hot remarkably early; the setting sun shines in through the west window, forcing one to make do with wearing only a single unlined garment.書桌上的一盆「水橫枝」，是我先前沒有見過的：就是一段樹，只要浸在水中，枝葉便青蔥得可愛。On my desk is a pot of 'water-soaked twig,' something I had never seen before: it is simply a length of branch that, so long as it is kept soaked in water, puts forth leaves lush and green and lovely.看看綠葉，編編舊稿，總算也在做一點事。Looking at its green leaves, compiling my old drafts — this at least counts as doing something.做着這等事，眞是雖生之日，猶死之年，很可以驅除炎熱的。Occupied with such things, truly, though it be a day among the living, it feels like a year among the dead — and this is quite effective at driving off the summer heat.

广州的天气热得真早，夕阳从西窗射入，逼得人只能勉强穿一件单衣。书桌上的一盆「水横枝」，是我先前没有见过的：就是一段树，只要浸在水中，枝叶便青葱得可爱。看看绿叶，编编旧稿，总算也在做一点事。做着这等事，真是虽生之日，犹死之年，很可以驱除炎热的。

前天，已將《野草》編定了；The day before yesterday, I finished compiling Wild Grass;這囘便輪到陸續載在《莽原》上的《舊事重提》，我還替他改了一個名稱：《朝華夕拾》。this time it is the turn of 'Old Events Retold,' which had been serialized bit by bit in Mangyuan — and I have even given it a new title: Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk.帶露折花，色香自然要好得多，但是我不能够。To pluck flowers while the dew is still on them naturally gives far better color and fragrance, but that I am unable to do.便是現在心目中的離奇和蕪雜，我也還不能使他即刻幻化，轉成離奇和蕪雜的文章。Even the bizarreness and tangled confusion presently in my mind, I still cannot make transform at once into essays that are themselves bizarre and tangled and confused.或者，他日仰看流雲時，會在我的眼前一閃爍罷。Perhaps, some other day, as I gaze up at the drifting clouds, it will flash once before my eyes.

前天，已将《野草》编定了；这囘便轮到陆续载在《莽原》上的《旧事重提》，我还替他改了一个名称：《朝华夕拾》。带露折花，色香自然要好得多，但是我不能够。便是现在心目中的离奇和芜杂，我也还不能使他即刻幻化，转成离奇和芜杂的文章。或者，他日仰看流云时，会在我的眼前一闪烁罢。

我有一時，曾經屢次憶起兒時在故鄉所喫的蔬果：菱角、羅漢豆、茭白、香瓜。There was a time when I repeatedly recalled the vegetables and fruits I ate in my childhood back home: water chestnuts, broad beans, wild rice stems, muskmelons.凡這些，都是極其鮮美可口的；All of these were exceedingly fresh and delicious;都曾是使我思鄉的蠱惑。all of them had once been the enchantment that made me homesick.後來，我在久別之後嘗到了，也不過如此；Later, after a long absence, I tasted them again, and found them no more than ordinary;惟獨在記憶上，還有舊來的意味留存。only in memory does something of their old flavor still remain.他們也許要哄騙我一生，使我時時反顧。They will perhaps go on deceiving me my whole life long, making me look back time and again.

我有一时，曾经屡次忆起儿时在故乡所吃的蔬果：菱角、罗汉豆、茭白、香瓜。凡这些，都是极其鲜美可口的；都曾是使我思乡的蛊惑。后来，我在久别之后尝到了，也不过如此；惟独在记忆上，还有旧来的意味留存。他们也许要哄骗我一生，使我时时反顾。

這十篇就是從記憶中抄出來的，與實際容或有些不同，然而我現在只記得是這樣。These ten pieces are just what I have copied out from memory; they may well differ somewhat from what actually happened, but as it stands, this is all I now remember.文體大概很雜亂，因爲是或作或輟，經了九個月之多。The style is probably rather uneven, since the writing was done fitfully, on and off, over as long as nine months.環境也不一：前兩篇寫于北京寓所的東壁下；The circumstances, too, varied: the first two pieces were written beneath the east wall of my lodgings in Beijing;中三篇是流離中所作，地方是醫院和木匠房；the middle three were written while I was drifting about, in a hospital and in a carpenter's shop;後五篇却在廈門大學的圖書館的樓上，已經是被學者們擠出集團之後了。the last five, however, were written upstairs in the library of Xiamen University, after I had already been squeezed out of the scholars' circle.

这十篇就是从记忆中抄出来的，与实际容或有些不同，然而我现在只记得是这样。文体大概很杂乱，因为是或作或辍，经了九个月之多。环境也不一：前两篇写于北京寓所的东壁下；中三篇是流离中所作，地方是医院和木匠房；后五篇却在厦门大学的图书馆的楼上，已经是被学者们挤出集团之后了。

一九二七年五月一日，魯迅于廣州白雲樓記。May 1, 1927, written by Lu Xun at Baiyun Lou, Guangzhou.一作「五月一日，廣州。」Alternately given as: 'May 1, Guangzhou.'

一九二七年五月一日，鲁迅于广州白云楼记。一作「五月一日，广州。」