6 卻說李、郭二賊欲弒獻帝,張濟、樊稠諫曰:“不可。今日若便殺之。恐眾人不服。不如仍舊奉之為主,賺諸侯入關,先除其羽翼然后殺之,天下可圖也。”
Translation 1:
Li Jue and Guo Si would have taken the sovereign’s life, but the other two generals Zhang Ji and Fan Chou, demurred: “The people will never accept the authority of regicides. Rather, uphold the Emperor and lure the lords of the realm into the region Chang’an controls. That way we can pare down the Emperor’s support and prepare to take over at the proper time.”
(Translated by Moss Roberts)
(譯文緊扣原文,行文注意了英語規范。)
Translation 2:
When Li Jue and Guo Si were going to commit regicide by killing Emperor Xian, Zhang Ji and Fan Chou offered their advice: “It is not the right time for that, for the country would not accept the regicide. On the contrary, we’d better employ him as a figurehead and lure the armed lords into the capital. By paring down the lords before killing the emperor, we can then rule the realm.”
(譯文緊扣原文,遣詞造句有別于前譯。)
7 卻說獻計之人,乃東海朐縣人,姓糜,名竺,字子仲。此人家世富豪,嘗往洛陽買賣,乘車而回,路遇一美婦人來求同載,竺乃下車步行,讓車與婦人坐。婦人請竺同載,竺上車端坐,目不邪視。行及數里,婦人辭去。臨別,對竺曰:“我乃南方火德星君也。奉上帝敕,往燒汝家。感君相待以禮,故明告君。君可速回,搬出財物。吾當夜來。”
Translation 1:
The man who proposed to resist Cao Cao’s siege was Mi Zhu (Zizhong), from an old and wealthy family in the county of Qu in the district of Donghai. Mi Zhu had once had an extraordinary experience. On the way home after doing business in Luoyang, he met a beautiful woman who requested a ride. Mi Zhu offered the woman his seat and proceeded on foot, but the woman insisted that they share the carriage. So Zhu climbed back up, but he sat stiffly, holding his gaze away from the passenger. Several li farther on the woman said good-bye, adding, “I am the deity of solar fire, sent by the Supreme God to destroy your household. Your commendable gentility has moved me to give you this warning: rush home and remove your valuables. I am due tonight.”
(Translated by Moss Roberts)
(譯文緊扣原文,將糜竺的字置于括號中翻譯。)
Translation 2:
Who offered the advice but Mi Zhu, styled Zizhong, a native of Quxian of Donghai District. He was born into a wealthy family with traditions. Once on returning from his business trip in Luoyang, he met a pretty lady, asking for a lift. Then Mi Zhu got off the cart to let the lady on, who, however, asked him to share the seat with her. Then Mi Zhu got on the cart and seated himself beside her uprightly, without shooting a glace from the corner of his eye at the lady. Having covered several miles, the lady thanked him for the lift. On her departure, she told him: “I am Goddess of Fire of the South, summoned by the Emperor of the Heaven to set fire on your residence. Moved by your polite manners, I would like to tell you the truth. You’d better hurry home and move out all the valuables before I ignite your house tonight.”
(譯文緊扣原文,遣詞造句有別于前譯。)
8 曹操正慌走間,正南上一彪軍到,乃夏侯惇引軍來救援,截住呂布大戰,斗到黃昏時分大雨如注,各自引軍分散。操回寨,重賞典韋,加為領軍都尉。
Translation 1:
The panicked Cao Cao was saved by Xiahou Dun, who had rushed to the southern front, intercepted Lü Bu, and engaged him. As night fell, a rainstorm finally forced them apart. Later, at camp, Cao Cao rewarded Dian Wei amply and gave him a command.
(Translated by Moss Roberts)
(譯文緊扣原文。)
Translation 2:
Panicked, Cao Cao escaped in a hurry when he found an army coming from south led by Xiahou Dun on his rescue, who intercepted Lü Bu and engaged him in a fierce struggle. At dusk, a downpour separated them apart. On reaching his camp, Cao Cao lavished awards on Dian Wei and appointed him commander of an army.
(譯文緊扣原文,遣詞造句有別于前譯。)
9 卻說曹操大破呂布于定陶,布乃收集殘敗軍馬于海濱,眾將皆來會集,欲再與曹操決戰。陳宮曰:“今曹兵勢大,未可與爭。先奪取安身之地,那時再來未遲。”布曰:“吾欲再投袁紹,何如?”宮曰:“先使人往冀州探聽消息,然后可去。”布從之。
Translation 1:
Badly beaten at Dingtao by Cao Cao, Lü Bu collected his battered units at points near the coast; his commanders rallied, eager for a showdown with Cao Cao. “Cao Cao has the upper hand now,” objected Chen Gong. “This is no time to take him on. Once we have a base of our own, there will be time enough for another battle.” “What about turning to Yuan Shao as we did before?” Lü Bu suggested. “Send someone to Jizhou to sound him out,” replied Chen Gong, and Lü Bu did so.
(Translated by Moss Roberts)
(譯文緊扣原文。)
Translation 2:
Impaired severely by Cao Cao at Dingtao, Lü Bu collected his battered forces near the coast. At the conference, his generals wished to fight a showdown battle with Cao Cao when Chen Gong said: “At present, Cao Cao is so powerful that we are no match for him. We’d better seize a place as our base and it will not be too late to seek revenge when we are strong enough.” Then Lü Bu asked: “How about turning to Yuan Shao again?” “Send someone to Jizhou to find Yuan Shao’s attitude before leading our troops to him,” replied Chen Gong and Lü Bu agreed.
(譯文緊扣原文,注意了自身的銜接與連貫,遣詞造句多有別于前譯。)
10 卻說李樂引軍詐稱李傕、郭汜,來追車駕。楊奉曰:“此李樂也。”遂令徐晃出迎之。李樂親自出戰,只一合被徐晃一斧砍于馬下,殺散余黨,保護車駕過箕關。
Translation 1:
Tear overcame the Emperor at the thought that Li Yue now had Li Jue and Guo Si’s backing. But Yang Feng said, “It’s only Li Yue!” and sent out Xu Huang, who cut the rebel down in a single exchange. The White Wave gang dispersed, and Yang Feng guided the Emperor safely through Winnow Basket Pass.
(Translated by Moss Roberts)
(譯文緊扣原文,交代了獻帝流淚的情節,將箕關譯成了the Winnow Basket Pass。)
Translation 2:
Disguised as Li Jue and Gao Si, Li Yue led his forces after the Emperor. Judging that it must be Li Yue in disguise, Yang Feng said, “It’s only Li Yue,” and ordered Xu Huang to charge. Li Yue accepted the charge but was killed by Xu Huang in a single exchange. With the gang of rebels dispersed, Yang Feng guarded the Emperor through the Jiguan Pass.
(譯文緊扣原文,遣詞造句有別于前譯,將箕關譯成了the Jiguan Pass。)