《朱自清·论做作》原文英译

原文

做作就是“佯”，就是“乔”，也就是“装”。苏北方言有“装佯”的话，“乔装”更是人人皆知。旧小说里女扮男装是乔装，那需要许多做作。难在装得像。只看坤角儿扮须生的，像的有几个？何况做戏还只在戏台上装，一到后台就可以照自己的样儿，而女扮男装却得成天儿到处那么看！侦探小说里的侦探也常在乔装，装得像也不易，可是自在得多。不过——难也罢，易也罢，人反正有时候得装。其实你细看，不但“有时候”，人简直就爱点儿装。“三分模样七分装”是说女人，男人也短不了装，不过不大在模样上罢了。装得像难，装得可爱更难；一番努力往往只落得个“矫揉造作！”所以“装”常常不是一个好名儿。

“一个做好，一个做歹”，小呢逼你出些码头钱，大呢就得让你去做那些不体面的尴尬事儿。这已成了老套子，随处可以看见。那做好的是装做好，那做歹的也装得格外歹些；一松一紧的拉住你，会弄得你啼笑皆非。这一套儿做作够受的。贫和富也可以装。贫寒人怕人小看他，家里尽管有一顿没一顿的，还得穿起好衣服在街上走，说话也满装着阔气，什么都不在乎似的。——所谓“苏空头”。其实“空头”也不止苏州有。——有钱人却又怕人家打他的主意，开口闭口说穷，他能特地去当点儿什么，拿当票给人家看。这都怪可怜见的。还有一些人，人面前老爱论诗文，谈学问，仿佛天生他一副雅骨头。装斯文其实不能算坏，只是未免“雅得这样俗”罢了。

有能耐的人，有权位的人有时不免“装模作样”，“装腔作势”。马上可以答应的，却得“考虑考虑”；直接可以答应的，却让你绕上几个大弯儿。论地位也只是“上不在天，下不在田”，而见客就不起身，只点点头儿，答话只喉咙里哼一两声儿。谁教你求他，他就是这么着！——“笑骂由他笑骂，好官儿什么的我自为之！”话说回来，拿身份，摆架子有时也并非全无道理。老爷太太在仆人面前打情骂俏，总不大像样，可不是得装着点儿？可是，得恰到分际，“过犹不及”。总之别忘了自己是谁！别尽拣高枝爬，一失脚会摔下来的。老想着些自己，谁都装着点儿，也就不觉得谁在装。所谓“装模做样”，“装腔作势”。却是特别在装别人的模样，别人的腔和势！为了抬举自己，装别人；装不像别人，又不成其为自己，也怪可怜见的。

“不痴不聋，不作阿姑阿翁”，有些事大概还是装聋作哑的好。倒不是怕担责任，更不是存着什么坏心眼儿。有些事是阿姑阿翁该问的，值得问的，自然得问；有些是无需他们问的，或值不得他们问的，若不痴不聋，事必躬亲，阿姑阿翁会做不成，至少也会不成其为阿姑阿翁。记得那儿说过美国一家大公司经理，面前八个电话，每天忙累不堪，另一家经理，室内没有电话，倒是从容不迫的。这后一位经理该是能够装聋作哑的人。“不闻不问”，有时候该是一句好话；“充耳不闻”，“闭目无睹”，也许可以作“无为而治”的一个注脚。其实无为多半也是装出来的。至于装作不知，那更是现代政治家外交家的惯技，报纸上随时看得见。——他们却还得勾心斗角的“做姿态”，大概不装不成其为政治家外交家罢？

装欢笑，装悲泣，装嗔，装恨，装惊慌，装镇静，都很难；固然难在像，有时还难在不像而不失自然。“小心陪笑”也许能得当局的青睐，但是旁观者在恶心。可是“强颜欢笑”，有心人却领会那欢颜里的一丝苦味。假意虚情的哭泣，像旧小说里妓女向客人那样，尽管一把眼泪一把鼻涕的，也只能引起读者的微笑。——倒是那“忍泪佯低面”，教人老大不忍。佯嗔薄怒是女人的“作态”，作得恰好是爱娇，所以《乔醋》是一折好戏。爱极翻成恨，尽管“恨得人牙痒痒的”，可是还不失为爱到极处。“假意惊慌”似乎是旧小说的常语，事实上那“假意”往往露出马脚。镇静更不易，秦舞阳心上有气脸就铁青，怎么也装不成，荆轲的事，一半儿败在他的脸上。淝水之战谢安装得够镇静的，可是不觉得意忘形摔折了屐齿。所以一个人喜怒不形于色，真够一辈子半辈子装的。

《乔醋》是戏，其实凡装，凡做作，多少都带点儿戏味——有喜剧，有悲剧。孩子们爱说“假装”这个，“假装”那个。戏味儿最厚。他们认真“假装”，可是悲喜一场，到头儿无所为。成人也都认真的装，戏味儿却淡薄得多；戏是无所为的，至少扮戏中人的可以说是无所为，而人们的做作常常是有所为的。所以戏台上装得像的多，人世间装得像的少。戏台上装得像就有叫好儿的，人世间即使装得像，逗人爱也难。逗人爱的大概是比较的少有所为或只消极的有所为的。前面那些例子，值得我们吟味，而装痴装傻也许是值得重提的一个例子。

作阿姑阿翁得装几分痴，这装是消极的有所为；“金殿装疯”也有所为，就是积极的。历来才人名士和学者，往往带几分傻气。那傻气多少有点儿装，而从一方面看，那装似乎不大有所为，至多也只是消极的有所为。陶渊明的“我醉欲眠卿且去”说是率真，是自然；可是看魏晋人的行径，能说他不带着几分装？不过装得像，装得自然罢了。阮嗣宗大醉六十日，逃脱了和司马昭做亲家，可不也一半儿醉，一半儿装？他正是“喜怒不形于色”的人，而有一向当时人多说他痴，他大概是颇能做作的罢？

装睡装醉都只是装糊涂。睡了自然不说话，醉了也多半不说话——就是说话，也尽可以装疯装傻的，给他个驴头不对马嘴。郑板桥最能懂得装糊涂，他那“难得糊涂”一个警句，真喝破了千古聪明人的秘密。还有善忘也往往是装傻，装糊涂；省麻烦最好自然是多忘记，而，“忘怀”又正是一件雅事儿。到此为止，装傻，装糊涂似乎是能以逗人爱的；才人名士和学者之所以成为才人名士和学者，至少有几分就仗着他们那不大在乎的装劲儿能以逗人爱好。可是这些人也良莠不齐，魏晋名士颇有仗着装糊涂自私自利的。这就“在乎”了，有所为了，这就不再可爱了。在四川话里装糊涂称为“装疯迷窍”，北平话却带笑带骂的说“装蒜”，“装孙子”，可见民众是不大赏识这一套的——他们倒是下的稳着儿。

英译

Affectation means“to feign”,“in disguise”and“to pretend”. There are dialects to express“affectation”in northern Jiangsu province, and“disguise oneself”is known to everyone. In the conventional novels, girls dressed as boys is called in disguise, which demands a large amount of affectation. Difficulty lies in closing the artist image as much as possible. For example, In Chinese operas, can you figure out several actresses who play the part of an elderly male character really well? Besides, the actresses just perform on the stage and can behave themselves in the greenroom, however, the girl disguising as a boy must act in the novel all the time! Detectives in the detective stories are also in disguise, it.s not easy for them to pretend though, they feel much more comfortable. However, no matter it.s easy or not, sometimes we have to pretend. In fact, observing carefully, you will know that it.s not limited to“sometimes”, people like some affectation in the daily life.“Thirsty percent appearance and seventy percent making up”is about women, men cannot do without acting either, but they seldom do counterfeit appearance. Difficult to act alike, it.s more difficult to be loved. We usually be regarded as affectation after much effort. So generally“pretense”is not a good word.

“One is doing good, the other is doing evil”, for minor matter, they will ask you for some money while for big event, they will force you to do some shameful and embarrassing things. It has been a cliché, and everywhere you can see. The“good”people pretend to be good while the“evil”people pretend to be evil. They hold you by different ways, one loose and the other tight, making you between tears and laughter. This set of affectation makes you quite trying. The poor and the rich can also be pretended. The poor are afraid to be looked down upon by others, though food is still a problem for their families, they still appear in the street in good-looking clothes as well as in the tone of a millionaire, pretending to care for nothing. It.s called“phonies in Suzhou”. In fact, phonies are not only limited to Suzhou province. The men of wealth are afraid that others will covet their money, so they always cover their treasures and pretend to be poor. Furthermore, they will deliberately go to a pawnbroker and show the pawn ticket to others. How pitiful it is! Also, there are some other people who are ready to talk about poetic prose and literature, it seems that he was born with artistic talent. Pretending to be gentle is not bad but it is such a vulgar gentility.

Those in authority and status would naturally“act with affected manners”or“strike an attitude or a pose”. The promises that can be made immediately turn into“I need to think it over”; the promises that can be made directly turn into beating about the bush. His status is“not lower than the horizon but no higher than the sky”, but when meeting his guests, he just nods without rising; when answering, he just does several hums from his throat. It.s we who seek his help while he calls the shots!—“he doesn.t care our laughter or curse, he makes the decision of being a good or bad official!”However, it.s not entirely unreasonable to show off identity or put on airs. For example, it seems undignified for the lord and his lady to flirt in the presence of servants, so shouldn.t they put on airs? However, for pretending, it needs certain degree, because“overdone is worse than undone”. In a word, don.t forget who you are! Don.t just choose the high ladder to stay and take no care of falling down. Thinking a bit of yourself, when everyone pretends in some degree, affectation becomes common. Generally“acting with affected manners”and“strike an attitude or a pose”, we in fact put on others.poses, attitudes and manners. We feign others in order to show off ourselves. We fail to look like others and lose ourselves either. What a pity!

“You cannot be the mother-in-law or father-in-law unless you pretend to be ignorant.”And sometimes it.s better to play deaf and dumb, not that they.d like to avoid responsibility, or hide some evil intentions. As the mother-in-law or father-in-law, they have the responsibility to inquire into the matters that deserve their attentions; but something that needn.t to be attended to, if they still take an interest in or take up personality, probably they will fail to be the right mother-in-law or father-in-law, or at least it shows their ignorance. In a large American company, the manager with eight phones in front of him, is very busy everyday while the other manger working in another company, without phones in his room takes things easy and works in a leisurely manner. The latter manager passes himself off as a“deaf-mute”.“Not bothering to ask questions or listen to what.s said”sometimes is a phrase of praise;“Turning a deaf ear to”and“turning a blind eye to”can be a footnote to the phrase“governing by non-interference”. Actually inaction is presumably fitted. Pretending ignorance is also a customary tactics of modern politicians and diplomatists, and it is very common in the newspaper. However, they have to put on airs and intrigue against each other. Probably no affectation, no politicians or diplomatists!

It.s very difficult to pretend to be happy, sad, angry, displeased, scared and calm. To close the artistic image, it.s much harder. Even though it doesn.t look alike, to be natural is still not so easy.“Putting on a smile face”is favored by the superior but makes the onlooker sick. Conscientious people see bitterness in the forced laughter. Hokey weeping with snivel and tears, just like the prostitute does to her guest in conventional novels, can just make the readers laugh.“Enduring tears and pretending to bow her head”, however, moves people that much. Acting in a pettishly charming manner is women.s“specialty”, and acting properly, it can be lovely and enchanting; Qiao Cu sets a good example.Hate emerges at the extreme of love; though“gnashing the teeth in anger”, it.s still the love that reaching its extremity. The phrase“pretended panic”usually appears in conventional novels, in fact it always gives the show away. Qin Wuyang, an able and virtuous soldier of Yan State (11th BC century-222BC), showed everything on his face. Jin Ke was a warrior of the Warring State (475BC-221BC), and his failure was mostly due to Qin.s disability of pretense. Pretending to be calm enough, Xie An, a general director of East Jin (316-420AD), succeeded in the battle of Feishui River, however, he was too excited to broke his clog. So learn to not betray our emotions is a lifelong career.

Qiao Cu is a drama; in fact, no matter pretense or affectation, it has something of drama—comedy or tragedy. Children always say“simulating”this or that, which holds the heaviest drama flavor. They simulate seriously, however, they don.t care the result. Adults are also ready to“feign”seriously but with the lightest drama flavor. Dramas have no special purpose, at least the actor doesn.t, but affected people always holds some certain purpose. Therefore, actors on the stadium act more naturally than people in society. Audiences will applaud if actors perform well. However, for people in society, though they are good at pretending, being loved by others is still hard. The people loved by others probably have fewer purposes or just hold some certain purposes in negative ways. The cases above deserve our pondering, the deaf-mute case may be worth raising again.

As a mother-in-law or father-in-law, you should feign ignorance, which does something in a negative way.“Pretending to go mad in the imperial palace”does something in a positive way. It has invariably insisted that scholars and people with literary reputations or talents are a little silly. In fact, they feign foolishness more or less. Their pretense seems meaningless, or means something in a negative way.“I have been drunk and will go to sleep, enjoy yourself my friend”, which describes the natural and casual lifestyle of Tao Yuanming, a famous writer of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (371-420AD). However, according to people.s behaviors in Wei-Jin era, are you sure that he had no affectation? In my view, he just pretended naturally and authentically. Ruan Ji, a famous poetry in the Three Kings Period (220-265 AD), styled himself Ruan Sizong, pretended to be drunk heavily for sixty days and successfully avoided being the son-in-law of Si Mazhao who was a politician. Wasn.t the half of Ruan Ji.s behavior from drinking and the other half from pretense? He was a master of not betraying his emotions. At that time, people almost regarded him as a fool, however, it just proved he did well in pretense.

Pretending to be asleep or drunk are just pretending to be silly. When sleep, they can not speak; when drunk, they almost can not speak either. Even if they can speak, they always feign madness and act like an idiot, and give irrelevant answers. Zheng Banqiao, a painter and poet in Qing Dynasty (1616-1912AD), knew best how to feign ignorance. His epigram“where ignorance is bliss”reveals the secret of smart people through the ages. Forgetfulness always tends to feign ignorance; it.s the best and smart way to avoid troubles. And it seems that feigning ignorance can gain people.s adoration; the scholars and people with literary reputations or talents pretend to be careless, and then they get honors and others.adoration. But there are good and bad people, by playing the fool some people with literary reputations in Wei-Jin era served themselves. It shows their ulterior motives, and people don.t like them at all. In Sichuan dialect, they use“zhuang feng mi qiao”to express playing the fool while in Beijng people will curse“zhuang suan”(=pretending not to know) or“zhuang sun zi”(=pretending to be grandson/ pretending to be helpless and miserable) with smile, from which, we can see that people don.t appreciate pretense—They just voice it straightforwardly.