Love in a Fallen City 傾城之戀 Part 1

by, Eileen Chang

Translated by Yoyo  幽柚

http://www.rain8.com/article/class10/1512.htm

上海為了「節省天光」，將所有的時鐘都撥快了一個小時，然而白公館裡說：「我們用的是老鐘。」他們的十點鐘是人家的十一點。他們唱歌唱走了板，跟不上生命的胡琴。

For "daylight savings" in Shanghai, all clocks must move an hour forward.  But the Baigong Place said, "Our clocks are old."  Their 10 o'clock is people's 11 o'clock.  They sing off tempo, unable to keep up with life's huqin.

胡琴咿咿呀呀拉著，在萬盞燈的夜晚，拉過來又拉過去，說不盡的蒼涼的故事——不問也罷！……胡琴上的故事是應當由光艷的伶人來扮演的，長長的兩片紅胭脂夾住瓊瑤鼻，唱了，笑了，袖子擋住了嘴……然而這裡只有白四爺單身坐在黑沉沉的破陽台上，拉住胡琴 .

The huqin EEEEeee's and YAAAaaaas,  in the numerous cup lamp night, pulling back and forth, telling this bleak unending story--- never mind, don't ask.  The story coming from the huqin out to come from the bright colorful actors that come to perform.  Between two long pieces of rouge sits a jasper nose, singing, laughing, sleeve covering a mouth, yet this place only has 4th Brother Bai alone sitting on a deep dark on a ruined balcony, playing the huqin.

正拉著，樓底下門鈴響了。這在白公館是件稀罕事。按照從前的規矩，晚上絕對不作興出去拜客。晚上來了客，或是平空裡接到一個電報，那除非是天字第一號的緊急大事，多半是死了人。

While playing, the door rings downstairs.  To the Baigong Place this was a rare event.  Following the rules from the front, at night time there is no flashy welcome.  When a guest arrives a night, or during the day if a telegram arrives, it only means it's a first class emergency.  Most of the time the death of someone.

四爺凝神聽著，果然三爺三奶奶四奶奶一路嚷上樓來，急切間不知他們說些什麼。陽台後面的堂屋裡，坐著六小姐，七小姐，八小姐，和三房四房的孩 子們，這時都有些皇皇然。四爺在陽台上，暗處看亮處，分外眼明，只見門一開，三爺穿著汗衫短褲，楂開兩腿站在門檻上，背過手去，啪啦啪啦撲打股際的蚊子.

4th  listed closely, as usual 3rd Brother and 3rd Wife made a ruckus going upstairs, impatiently not know what they're saying.  Behind the balcony in the main room, 6th, 7th, and 8th Sister.  And in the 3rd and 4th room were the children.  During this time everyone was restless.  4th Brother from the balcony was peering into the brightness from his secret perch, with bright eyes observing only a door opening with 3rd Brother wearing and undershirt and shorts, legs spread standing under the doorstep, arms swinging pitter-pattering slapping his share of mosquitoes.

遠遠的向四爺叫道：「老四你猜怎麼著？六妹離掉的那一位，說是得了肺炎，死了！」

From afar he faced 4th Brother and shouted, "4th, guess what?  6th sister left that person, said it was pneumonia, dead!"

四爺放下胡琴往房裡走，問道：「是誰來給的信？」

4th Brother put down his huqin, walking toward the room he asked, "Who gave the letter?"

三爺道：「徐太太。」

3rd Brother replied, "Madam Xu."

說 著，回頭用扇子去攆三奶奶道：「你別跟上來湊熱鬧呀！徐太太還在樓底下呢，她胖，怕爬樓。你還不去陪陪她！」

While saying this, he turned his head and shooed 3rd wife and said, "Don't come here to add trouble!  Madam Xu is still downstairs.  She's fat and fearful of climbing stairs!  Go keep her company!"

三奶奶去了，四爺若有所思道：「死的那個不是 徐太太的親戚麼？」

When 3rd Wife left, 4th Brother as if he had a thought in his mind asked, "Isn't the one who died a relative of Madam Xu?"

三爺道：「可不是。看這樣子，是他們家特為託了徐太太來遞信給我們的，當然是有用意的。」

3rd Brother said, "No it isn't.  From the looks of it, it's their family specifically entrusting Madam Xu to pass the news to us.  without doubt with some intention."

四爺道：「他們莫非是要六妹去奔喪？」

4th brother said, "Could it be they want 6th sister to hurry home for the funeral?"

三爺用 扇子柄刮了刮頭皮道：「照說呢，倒也是應該……」

3rd Brother used a folding fan handle to scratch his scalp, " Normally, this ought to be that way..."

Part 2