THE ART OF GETTING OUT OF POWER 谦退之道 | Chapter 21
2017年12月29日, 星期五
He named sixteen men of this group and stigmatized them as "lice," "bugs," "rogues and scoundrels," and "enemies of society."
虮虱、蝇蛆、佞奸小人、国之巨蠢
louse (pl. lice)
louse: [复数 lice] Any of numerous small, flat-bodied, wingless biting or sucking insects of the orders Mallophaga or Anoplura, many of which are external parasites on various animals, including human beings. 无数小的，身体扁平，没翼的咬人吸血昆虫，其中许多是多种动物的外部寄生物
louse: 虱；寄生虫
rogue
rogue: [dated旧] dishonest or unprincipled man
rogue: 不诚实或不道德的男子；无耻之徒
scoundrel
scoundrel: [OLD-FASHIONED 过时] If you refer to a man as a scoundrel, you mean that he behaves very badly towards other people, especially by cheating them or deceiving them. [disapproval]
scoundrel: 恶棍；流氓；无赖
Not only Su himself but his friends Chin Kuan, Huang Tingchien, Wang Kung and Sun Chueh were constantly made targets of criticism, either in formal protests or by the more subtle method of a smear campaign.
In two years' time, he had "four times received smears" from his enemies, and people recommended by him were also under attack by groundless slanders.
四遭毁谤
smear
smear: a story that is not true about sb that is intended to damage their reputation, especially in politics
smear: （尤指政治上的）抹黑，丑化
a smear campaign
(= in which unpleasant or untrue stories are spread about an important person)
一系列有预谋的诽谤活动
She claims she was the victim of a smear campaign (= repeated attempts to damage her reputation).
她声称自己是一系列抹黑行动的受害者。He puts all the accusations down to a smear campaign by his political opponents.
他把所有的指责都归结为政治对手们的造谣攻势。He was a victim of a smear campaign.
他受到对方的毁谤攻击。campaign smears against the socialist candidate
竞选活动中针对社会党候选人的诽谤
In this letter he wrote four postscripts, marked P.S., P.P.S., P.P.P.S., and P.P.P.P.S.
“贴黄” “又贴黄” “又又贴黄” “又又贴黄” （张）
“贴黄” “又贴黄” “又贴黄” “又贴黄”（宋）
It is natural that, after a long life of trials and tribulations, I should want to enjoy a life of peace in my remaining years.
今余年无几，不免有远祸全身之意。
trial
trial: A state of pain or anguish that tests patience, endurance, or belief.
trial: 磨炼，艰苦；考验耐心、承受力或信念的痛苦或苦闷的状态
- no consolation in their hour of trial
艰难时没有任何安慰
tribulation
tribulation: An experience that tests one's endurance, patience, or faith.
tribulation: 考验，磨难；考验某人的承受力，耐心或信念的过程
- the tribulations of the persecuted
被压迫人民的苦难
trials and tribulations
苏东坡力争为百姓谋福，也无惧宦海险恶，通晓谦退之道的他还是主动选择了离开政治中心。政治对文人，或者说对文化的放逐，或者是天朝年年岁岁相似重演的历史。
I know I have done nothing wrong, but nowadays right and wrong have nothing to do with anything.
虽自知无罪可言，而今之言者，岂问是非曲直。
我想到以写作朦胧诗代表八十年代青年发声的诗人北岛，而后辗转旅居海外，徘徊港澳，至今暧昧地不为主流正统所推崇。有评价说，如果是一个纯粹的诗人，相信北岛作为老北京一定会顺利适应帝都的高房价，也许在北大中文系任教，而不是出走半生才归来港岛，乃至对眼前的北京完全陌生。每个人的命运都有其必然，或许是因为一个逝去的时代，终究要有一个天才般的人物去冷眼旁观。
It is not that I am not grateful to your kindness, but that in my old age I am ashamed to fight and wrangle with these little wretches, and be laughed at by the high-minded recluse scholars.
非不怀恋天地父母之恩，而衰老之余，耻复与群小计较短长曲直，为世间高人长者所笑。
五十几岁的苏轼，和六十几岁的北岛，有相思的才情和命运。北岛后来推出的一系列诗作和散文集，隐约仍有宏大的历史叙述背景的鲜明特色。文集《城门开》里由北京的光影、气息和声音，委婉地带出政治痕迹的长尾。作为时代政治经济文化中心的记忆缩影，尘封的历史，重构的意象就如李健《父亲写的散文诗》唱的“缝纫机的踏板”“蓝色涤卡上衣”，带回那个年代。到《北京四中》出现的一个个还执掌权柄的高级干部名字，北岛作为一个文人思考的轮廓已经清晰。才华横溢而又出身不凡，隔着文字都能感受到北岛后来被迫离开大陆漂泊欧美的痛楚。
Therefore, after careful consideration, I have decided to quit.
“所以反复计虑，莫若求去。”旷达的苏轼或者冷峻的北岛，在政治高压震慑个人理想抱负的年代，其实都不过只是个漂泊的游子，是无家可归的孤魂。谦退、避让、出走，与自己达成和解也许不是最坏的结局。
Now I am free of all cares in this life,
And this year the farmers are promised good crops.
Coming down the hill, I hear the good news;
Even the flowers and birds wear a face of joy.
此生已觉都无事，今岁仍逢大有年。
山寺归来闻好语，野花啼鸟亦欣然。
以上。
