文學作為對抗黑暗之光

Literature as Light Against Darkness

本文是陳世驤英譯〈文賦〉之前兩部分的中譯。該文英文原題「Literature as Light Against Darkness」，刊於《北京大學五十周年紀念論文集》第11冊（1948年出版）。原文共有三部分：第一部分是陸機生平與〈文賦〉撰定時間之考證；第二部分是英譯〈文賦〉中若干關鍵字的理解與詮釋；第三部分為作者以韻語英譯〈文賦〉之全文。陳世驤認為〈文賦〉於西晉惠帝永康元年（西元300年）寫成。此刻正是陸機生命歷程中的黑暗時段，文學之感應特深，一時間創作力大爆發；其弟陸雲形容為「兄頓作爾多文，而新奇乃爾，真令人怖，不當復道作文」。〈文賦〉之作宣示了陸機的文學觀：文學正如黑暗中之光源，有其超越之力量，能夠彰顯人性堅韌一面，可以安頓心靈。陳世驤又認為〈文賦〉中包含陸機對文學原理之洞察，與西方現代文學理論之關懷有不少可以參照比較之處；故爾選出若干重要詞彙，作出梳理闡釋，以揭示〈文賦〉在文學傳統以至現代的意義。

This paper is aChinese translation of the first two parts of Chen Shih-hsiang's English translation of Essay on Literature (Wen Fu). The original title of Chen's paper is ''Literature as Light against Darkness,'' published in the National Peking University Semi-centennial Papers no. 11 (1948). It consists of three parts: The first part includes abiography of Lu Ji and research on the time when Essay on Literature was written. The second part offers understanding and interpretation of several key concepts in Essay on Literature. The third part is acomplete translation of Essay on Literature in rhymed English. Chen believed that Essay on Literature was written in the first year of Yongkang under the reign of emperor Hui, Western Jin (300 CE), during the darkest days of Lu Ji's life. The literary calling was very compelling and there was an explosion of creativity. Lu Ji's younger brother Lu Yun commented: ''My brother, you wrote so many essays and they are so unorthodox, almost to the degree that they frighten people, so that they are no longer mere essays.'' Essay on Literature illustrates Lu Ji's views on literature: literature is like alight source in darkness. It possesses transcendental power, and can highlight human resilience and sooth mind and soul. Chen understood Essay on Literature as elaborating on Lu Ji's insights into literary principles, which were comparable with the concerns of western modern literary theories. Consequently, he selected several key concepts to analyze and interpret, to reveal the significance of Essay on Literature for both literary tradition and modernity.