【汉译英】

　　我们在田野散步：我，我的母亲，我的妻子和儿子。

　　母亲本不愿出来的。她老了，身体不好，走远一点就觉得很累。我说，正因为如此，才应该多走走，母亲信服地点点头，便去拿外套。她现在很听我的话，就像我小时候很听她的话一样。

　　天气很好。今年的春天来得太迟，太迟了，有一些老人挺不住。但是春天总算来了。我的母亲又熬过了一个严冬。

　　这南方初春的田野，大块小块的新绿随意地铺着1，有的浓，有的淡;树上的嫩芽也密了;田里的冬水也咕咕地起着水泡。这一切都使人想着一样东西——生命。

　　我和母亲走在前面，我的妻子和儿子走在后面。小家伙突然叫起来：“前面也是妈妈和儿子，后面也是妈妈和儿子2。”我们都笑了。

　　后来发生了分歧：母亲要走大路，大路平顺;我的儿子要走小路，小路有意思。不过，一切都取决于我。我的母亲老了，她早已习惯听从她强壮的儿子;我的儿子还小，他还习惯听从他高大的父亲;妻子呢，在外面，她总是听我的。一霎时，我感到了责任的重大。我想一个两全的办法，找不出;我想拆散一家人，分成两路，各得其所，终不愿意。我决定委屈儿子，因为我伴同他的时日还长。我说：“走大路。”

　　但是母亲摸摸孙儿的小脑瓜，变了主意：“还是走小路吧。”她的眼随小路望去：那里有金色的菜花，两行整齐的桑树3，尽头一口水波粼粼的鱼塘。“我走不过去的地方，你就背着我。”母亲对我说。

　　这样4，我们在阳光下5，向着那菜花、桑树和鱼塘走去。到了一处，我蹲下来，背起了母亲，妻子也蹲下来，背起了儿子。我的母亲虽然高大，然而很瘦，自然不算重;儿子虽然很胖，毕竟幼小，自然也轻。但我和妻子都是慢慢地，稳稳地，走得很仔细，好像我背上的同她背上的加起来6，就是整个世界。

　　【参考译文】

　　We went for a walk in the fields, my mother, my wife, my son and I.

　　Mother had been reluctant to come out with us, for, advanced in years, she was in poor health, and even a short distance would make her feel exhausted. But I insisted that, precisely for this reason, walking was necessary. Nodding her consent, she went to fetch her overcoat. Now she was very obedient to me, just as I was to her in my childhood.

　　The weather was fine. This year, spring came late, too late. Some old people found it hard to endure the long cold spell. But after all spring was here now, my mother had survived another harsh winter.

　　Spring was just unfolding: patches of green, big and small, light and dark, formed a random mosaic on this piece of land in south China; new sprouts on tree branches were multiplying; the irrigated water in the fields all winter was warming up, gurgling with bubbles. All these reminded us of one thing, the vitality of life.

　　My mother and I walked in front, followed by my wife and son. Our boy suddenly shouted out: “A mother and son in front, another mother and son behind.” We all laughed.

　　Later, differences occurred between us: my mother wanted to take the main road, for it was wide and smooth, while my son preferred the little path, where more interesting things might be awaiting. It was up to me to make the final decision. My mother, in her old age, had got used to listening to her robust son, and my son, like most other young kids, was in the habit of obeying his father, a lofty figure in his mind. As for my wife, well, she always appeared submissive once we stepped out of our home. I suddenly felt the weight of a heavy responsibility. I tried to work out a win-win choice, but failed. Then I considered dividing the family into two groups, each going its favorite route, but had second thoughts and gave up the idea. Finally, I decided against my son, because there would be long years ahead in which I could be with him. So, I announced: “Let’s take the main road.”

　　But my mother changed her mind, and, caressing her grandson’s head, said, “We’d better take the little path.” She raised her eyes toward the path flanked with mulberry trees, where there were patches of golden rape flowers and a rippling fish pond at the far end. “You’ll have to carry me on your back in places I can’t walk across,” my mother said to me.

　　Differences thus settled, we picked our way along the little path toward the flowers, the trees, and the pond，all bathed in the sun. When we came to a certain spot, I crouched down to let my mother get on my back. My wife followed my example and carried our son. Tall as my mother was, she was quite thin and not heavy at all. My son was fat, but a child could only be so heavy. Despite this, both my wife and I walked slowly and cautiously, as steadily as possible, as if we bore the whole world on our backs.

　　注释:

　　1. 此处用比喻的手法译出，将随意铺着的一块块绿地比作mosaic。

　　2. 此处译文有意译得近于押韵，以添趣味。

　　3. 此处译作分词短语做定语，修饰path(上文的“小路”)。

　　4. 此连接词语在译文中结合上文有所增益，译作分词独立结构。

　　5. 此状语成分译作后置定语。

　　6. 此处词义融于整句译文中，较直译“…as if what were on our backs would amount to/equal the whole world.”反而来得直接、有力。