属马的,三十一岁,正月二十三日辰时建生。见做国子监上舍,不久就是堂进±。有满腹文章,弓马熟闲,诸子百家,无不通晓。”(第九十一回)
译文:MotherTaodrewadeepbreaht:“Nowlisten tome.Heistheonly son ofourDistrictMan—darin.His~therisfiftyyearsold;hehimselfisthir-ty—one,andhewasborn on thetwenty-third dayofthefirstmonth,atthehourofthedragon.Hestud—ledatthe Impeirla Pirnces’Academy,and he ex·pects before long to take his doctor’S degree.Hisbellyisfulloflearning,and he has mastered htewritingsofallthe hundred sages.’’
“举人”、“进士”是中国古代科举制度的产物,与“博士”学位完全是两码事,译者却用了doctor一词正确的译文分别是“successfulCall-didateinhteimpeiral examinationsattheprovinciallevelintheMingandQingDynsaties”和“success-fulcandidate in the highestimperila examinaitonsheldinthepalaceundertheemperor’Ssupervision”(《新世纪汉英大词典》)。
(7)李瓶儿先叫过王姑子来,与了他五两一锭银子、一匹绸子:“等我死后,你好歹请几位师父,与我诵《血盆经忏》。”(第六十二回)
译文:MistressPinggaveSisterWangasliverbar,fiveouncesinweight,andaboltofplainsilk.“BeSOkindastoread,aftermydeath,withsomeofyoursistersofthecloister,asolemnmassforthere-poseofmysoul!”shebegged.