孟宪波（学者）的个人简介
孟宪波，男，1969年生于山东省临沂市。学者、资深同声传译译员。毕业于中国外交学院，1993年进入外交部工作。教授（中国地质大学兼职教授、硕导；青岛大学兼职教授、硕导；临沂大学客座教授等）、翻译家、同声传译专家、中国译协专家委员。
背景介绍
学识渊博，著述甚丰。主要著作和译著有：《我们相信变革》、《中国林业发展和生态建设白皮书》、《中国医疗改革方案》、《汶川地震灾后恢复与重建总体规划》、《泛美开发银行文案》、《打造和谐海洋》、《跟奥巴马学英语》、《中外改革大事典》、《亡灵颂歌》、《震惊世界的国际间谍》、《奥运赋》、《采购与供应谈判》、《采购与供应关系管理》、《银行业务英语教程》、《春江花月夜》、《长恨歌》、《致橡树》、《孩子快抓紧妈妈的手》、《会唱歌的鸢尾花》、《独具特色的世界遗产――泰山》、《山东省守合同重信用企业概览》、《杜华画集》、《见证辉煌》、《大唐电力文件汇编》、《充满机遇的世界》、《跟奥巴马学英语2》等；曾担任江泽民、钱其琛、曾培炎、李克强、王岐山、成思危、郑万通、唐家璇等领导同志，厉以宁、江平等专家学者以及努乔马（Sam Nujoma）、骆家辉(Gary Lock）和朱棣文（Steven Chu）等外国政要的口译或同声传译译员。
2010年9月，由其翻译的《汉字中华》一书付梓。该书由原全国人大常委会副委员长许嘉璐教授亲自作序，著名学者、书法家黄苗子先生为该书题词。《汉字中华》已成为中华文化瑰宝以及弘扬汉字文化的教科书。
2010年11月，台湾作家李敖先生全权委托孟宪波先生作为其在中国大陆的唯一合法代理人，全权负责处理其新作――《阳痿美国》一书的翻译、出版、签约等一系列相关事宜。
译作欣赏
再别康桥 (Adieu, Cambridge)
徐志摩/ Xu Zhimo
孟宪波（译）/ Tr. by Meng Xianbo
2006年12月5日/ December 5, 2006
轻轻的我走了，
正如我轻轻的来；
我轻轻的招手，
作别西天的云彩。
Quietly I said adieu,
Just as quietly as I arrived;
I gently waved my hand,
Bidding farewell to the sunset glow.
那河畔的金柳，
是夕阳中的新娘；
波光里的艳影，
在我的心头荡漾。
The golden riverside willows,
Are brides in the afterglows.
They deeply touch my affections
With their enchanting reflections.
软泥上的青荇，
油油的在水底招摇；
在康河的柔波里，
我甘心做一条水草！
The verdant cresses
Are swaying in the sludge;
I wish I were an alga growing,
In the rippling waves of River Cam.
那树荫下的一潭，
不是清泉，是天上虹
揉碎在浮藻间，
沉淀着彩虹似的梦。
O’, under the shades is the pool,
It’s the rainbow from the sky,
Not springwater which is so cool.
Shattered among the duckweeds,
Are my rainbow-like dreams.
寻梦？撑一支长篙，
向青草更青处漫溯，
满载一船星辉，
在星辉斑斓里放歌。
Can I seek my dreams?
By vaulting a long pole against the river,
I yearn for the grass even greener.
As my boat is laden with starlight,
I’d love to sing in the star-spangled night.
但我不能放歌，
悄悄是别离的笙箫；
夏虫也为我沉默，
沉默是今晚的康桥！
But I can not sing aloud,
For silence’s the music for departure.
Summer insects also keep quiet,
Silence belongs to Cambridge tonight.
悄悄的我走了，
正如我悄悄的来；
我挥一挥衣袖，
不带走一片云彩。
Quietly I said adieu,
As quietly as I arrived;
By flicking my sleeves,
I left every cloud behind.
相思 (Love Peas)
王维（唐）/ By Wang Wei
孟宪波（译）/ Tr. Fred X. Meng
红豆生南国，
春来发几枝。
愿君多采撷，
此物最相思。
Only in the South does love pea grow,
Early in spring a few twigs may show;
Please gather more, my dear friends,
’Cause they are the best love tokens.
春江花月夜(The Moonlit Spring River)
(唐)张若虚
孟宪波译
2006年12月26日
Zhang Ruoxu, the Tang Dynasty
Tr. by Fred X. Meng
December 26, 2006
春江潮水连海平，
海上明月共潮生。
滟滟随波千万里，
何处春江不月明。
Into the sea empties the spring river tides,
Over the tides the bright full moon shines.
Rippling waves roll thousands of miles,
Entire riveru2019s enshrouded as the moon rises.
江流婉转绕芳甸，
月照花林皆似霰。
空里流霜不觉飞，
汀上白沙看不见。
River winds through flower-dotted wilderness,
Graupel covers the moonlit flowering woods.
White sand beach can be seen nowhere,
While the moonbeam is flying everywhere.
江天一色无纤尘，
皎皎空中孤月轮。
江畔何人初见月，
江月何时初照人。
Looked alike sky and river are free of dust,
The lonely moon is full of clearness and luster.
Who was the first man ever to see the moon,
When did the moonlight first ever gleam on man.
人生代代无穷已，
江月年年只相似。
不知江月照何人，
但见长江送流水。
Generations run on without coming to an end,
Year on year the glimpse of the moon remains.
Does anyone know whom the moon is expecting?
Nothing except the river is forever flowing.
白云一片去悠悠，
清枫浦上不胜愁。
谁家今夜扁舟子？
何处相思明月楼？
A trace of white cloud wanders yonder,
How sorrowful the solitary wife is I wonder.
The wanderer is drifting on a skiff tonight,
Leaving his lovesick wife in the moonlight.
可怜楼上月徘徊，
应照离人妆镜台。
玉户帘中卷不去，
捣衣砧上拂还来。
The wretched moonoverheaddoes rover,
The beam cast on the toilet table in her boudoir.
Furling the curtains or whisking the washing-stone,
Yet the moonlight is bound to doggedly loiter.
此时相望不相闻，
愿随月华流照君。
鸿雁长飞光不度，
鱼龙潜跃水成文。
We can’t meet each other with the same moon though,
I wish I could follow the moon which shines over you.
Even wild geese can not beat the glittering moonlight,
No diving fish or dragons can bring you back to my sight.
昨夜闲潭梦落花，
可怜春半不还家。
江水流春去欲尽，
江潭落月复西斜。
I dreamed about some fallen petals in a serene pond,
Spring’s halfway past yet home’s nowhere to be found.
Gone with the river is nothing but the dearest spring,
The pond reflects the moon which is on the wane.
斜月沉沉藏海雾，
竭石潇湘无限路。
不知乘月几人归，
落月摇情满江树。
Behind the sea fog is the slanting moon hidden,
There is a long distance to cover afore our reunion.
The returning journey how many people can make,
Nothing but the moonlit woods by the river shake.
致橡树 (To an Oak)
舒婷（著）/ By Shu Ting
孟宪波（译）/Tr. by Fred X. Meng
2007年1月25日 / January 25, 2007
我如果爱你――
绝不像攀援的凌霄花
借你的高枝炫耀自己；
If I’m in love with you ――
Never shall I be garish like a trumpet creeper
By taking advantage of your high branches;
我如果爱你――
绝不学痴情的鸟儿
为绿荫重复单调的歌曲；
If I’m in love with you ――
Never shall I be monotonous like a bird
Repeating the same old tune in your shades;
也不止像泉源
长年送来清凉的慰藉；
也不止像险峰
增加你的高度，衬托你的威仪，
Nor just like a wellspring
Providing perpetual cool solace;
Nor just like a perilous peak
Enhancing your height and your impressiveness;
甚至日光。
甚至春雨。
不，这些都还不够！
Nor the sunlight
Nor the spring drizzle
No, as they’re far from satisfactory!
我必须是你近旁的一株木棉，
作为树的形象和你站在一起。
I must be a tree, a nearby kapok tree
Always standing with you side by side.
根，紧握在地下
叶，相触在云里。
Our roots intertwined under the surface
Our leaves caress each other in the clouds.
每一阵风过
我们都互相致意，
但没有人
听懂我们的言语。
With every gust of wind
We greet each other
Yet no one else
Can truly decode our secret messages.
你有你的铜枝铁干
像刀、像剑，
也像戟；
With your bronze branches and iron trunk
Like swords
Also like halberds;
我有我红硕的花朵
像沉重的叹息，
又像英勇的火炬。
With my deep sighs
And my bright-red blossoms
Like huge torches.
我们分担寒潮、风雷、霹雳；
我们共享雾霭、流岚、虹霓。
Let us share cold fronts, windstorms and thunderbolts;
Let us enjoy mists, hazes and multi-colored rainbows.
仿佛永远分离，
却又终身相依。
这才是伟大的爱情，
坚贞就在这里：
It seems we’re forever independent,
However we’re forever interdependent.
This, I believe, is the true love,
Herein lies our mutual faithfulness.
爱――
不仅爱你伟岸的身躯，
也爱你坚持的位置，足下的土地。
Love means――
Apart from your outstanding stature,
I also love the soil under your feet
And the position you hold in persistence.
长恨歌(Ode to Everlasting Regrets)
By Bai Juyi （白居易）
Tr. Fred X. Meng (孟宪波)
Aug. 26, 2001
汉皇重色思倾国，御宇多年求不得。杨家有女初长成，养在深闺人未识。
More than anything else His Majesty loves beauties who’re fond,
Enthronedfor years the most satisfying has not yet been found.
Presently Yang’s daughter is reported to have been well-bred,
No one has noticed her as it is in her boudoir that she’s confined.
天生丽质难自弃，一朝选在君王侧。回眸一笑百媚生，六宫粉黛无颜色。
None of her beautiful features would be cast in oblivion,
Only because she has been presented to the sovereign.
Casting a smiling glance she is the most attractive lady,
All the concubines and beauties can do nothing but flee.
春寒赐浴华清池，温泉水滑洗凝脂。侍儿扶起娇无力，始是新承恩泽时。
Permitted to bathe in Huaqing Pool in the still chilly spring,
Warm spring water cleans her smooth and silky skin,
The fragile lady is helped to her feet by her maid,
Thus begins their most fascinating wedding day.
云鬓花颜金步摇，芙蓉帐暖度春宵。春宵苦短日高起，从此君王不早朝。
Her hair is decorated with dangling glittering jewelry,
The warm spring night they spend is most fascinating.
The joyous night is too short as the hideous sun rises,
Hence he refuses to attend business early in the morning.
承欢侍宴无闲暇，春从春游夜专夜。后宫佳丽三千人，三千宠爱在一身。
She spends every minute making him happy by waiting at feasts,
She’s the only lady he endears and they travel as spring tourists.
The only woman he adores is Yang, the delicate empress.
Leaving behind three thousand beauties in his palace,
金屋妆成娇侍夜，玉楼宴罢醉和春。姊妹弟兄皆列土，可怜光彩生门户。
With meticulous makeup she spends the nights with the emperor,
Drinking at feasts makes her an even more beautiful charmer.
All her brothers and sisters are being given royal titles.
Auspicious clouds are hovering above the family’s tiles.
遂令天下父母心，不重生男重生女。骊宫高处入青云，仙乐风飘处处闻。
This helps all the parents to change their minds,
For they now prefer producing girls to having males.
The top of the Li Palace is piercing into the clouds,
While beautiful melodies of fairy music ringing aloud.
缓歌谩舞凝丝竹，尽日君王看不足。渔阳鼙鼓动地来，惊破霓裳羽衣曲。
Enjoying pleasant songs and graceful dances
Never has the ruler got tired from dawn to dusk.
Alas! A rebellion breaks out all of a sudden,
Dancers and singers are extremely panic-stricken.
九重城阙烟尘生，千乘万骑西南行。翠华摇摇行复止，西出都门百余里。
The stronghold is immediately left in dusty chaos,
Thousands of his troops are moving southwest.
When troops abruptly stop moving his banner flies,
Covering a distance form West Gate of forty miles.
六军不发无奈何，宛转蛾眉马前死。花钿委地无人收，翠翘金雀玉搔头。
The troops decline a step forward and he can do nothing,
The poor delicate Empress has to be executed by hanging.
The execution ground is strewn with her golden jewelry,
No one cares to pick up the fallen hairpins in such a hurry.
君王掩面救不得，回看血泪相和流。黄埃散漫风萧索，云栈萦纡登剑阁。
Covering his tear-smeared face His Majesty can do nothing,
He keeps turning back his head with tears and blood blending.
The air is filled with yellow sand and saddening wind soughs.
Along the trail His Majesty is mounting the precipitous steps,
The zigzag trail of ancient Jiange is connected with the clouds,
峨嵋山下少人行，旌旗无光日色薄。蜀江水碧蜀山青，圣主朝朝暮暮情。
Few travelers can be seen at the foot of the EmeiMountain,
The banners and flags droop and the skies darken.
The rivers of Sichuan are lucid and the mountains green,
From morning to evening her image lingers over his dreams.
行宫见月伤心色，夜雨闻铃肠断声。天旋地转回龙驭，到此踌躇不能去。
The gloomy moon hovering above his temporary palace,
He’s heartbroken upon hearing the bells midst the night rain.
The situation has changed and the ruler is expected to return,
However he is hesitant to mount his royal chariot.
马嵬坡下泥土中，不见玉颜空死处。君臣相顾尽沾衣，东望都门信马归。
Dirt at the foot of Mahuai Ridge witnesses her execution,
Unfortunately her beautiful face is nowhere to be seen.
Both His Majesty and his subordinates are weeping,
No one urges steeds back to the palace but let them be roving.
归来池苑皆依旧，太液芙蓉未央柳。芙蓉如面柳如眉，对此如何不泪垂。
Lotus in Taiye Pond blooms by green willows in WeiyangPalace.
The regal ponds and gardens in the palace still remain intact,
What else can remind of the delicate features of the late empress?
How can His Majesty refrain from being lost in tearful distress?
春风桃李花开日，秋雨梧桐叶落时。西宫南内多秋草，落叶满阶红不扫。
Peaches and plums are blooming in the spring,
Chinese parasol leaves are falling with autumn wind.
The steps are strewn with fallen frost-bitten leaves,
Palace courtyard’ s covered with autumn grass luxuriant.
梨园弟子白发新，椒房阿监青娥老。夕殿萤飞思悄然，孤灯挑尽未成眠。
The opera singers have become gray haired,
The faces of court maids have turned wrinkled.
Dusks find glowworms flying in the palace,
His Majesty in agony is again lost in meditation.
The oil of the lonely lamp is almost burning out,
Nonetheless His Majesty can hardly fall asleep.
迟迟钟鼓初长夜，耿耿星河欲曙天。鸳鸯瓦冷霜华重，翡翠衾寒谁与共。
Bell announces beginning of a night unbearably long,
The dim starlight is ushering in the next dawn.
Covered with heavy frost the tiles are so cold,
Cold quilt can no longer bring dreams she can haunt.
悠悠生死别经年，魂魄不曾来入梦。临邛道士鸿都客，能以精诚致魂魄。
Year in and year out hence her decease,
Her soul has never visited the ruler’s dreams.
In the capital resides a kind Taoist priest,
With sincerity he can work as an exorcist.
为感君王辗转思，遂教方士殷勤觅。排空驭气奔如电，升天入地求之遍。
Deeply moved by His Majesty’s restless lovesickness,
The Taoist priest offers to help with eager attentiveness.
Soaring by riding the clouds and air like a lightning,
He hunts in heaven and the nether world for the Empress.
上穷碧落下黄泉，两处茫茫皆不见。忽闻海上有仙山，山在虚无缥缈间。
No news from heaven or the otherworldliness,
The Empress can be found from neither place.
Suddenly he learns a fairy mountain on the sea,
And the fairyland is just like a mirage scene.
楼阁玲珑五云起，其中绰约多仙子。中有一人字太真，雪肤花貌参差是。
Magnificent pavilions are hidden in clouds auspicious,
In the beautiful buildings live many nymphs gracious.
Amongst them there is one named Taizhen,
With delicate features and snow-white skin.
金阙西厢叩玉扃，转教小玉报双成。闻道汉家天子使，九华帐里梦魂惊。
The priest knocks at west wing made of jade,
Please inform your mistress he pleads the maid.
Learning the arrival of the envoy of His Majesty,
Startled in her dreams under the brocade canopy.
揽衣推枕起徘徊，珠箔银屏迤逦开。云鬓半偏新睡觉，花冠不整下堂来。
Pushing aside the pillow she gets up hesitantly,
The pearl curtains and the silver screens are open,
She makes her maids usher in the visitor immediately.
Eyes blurred she finds her dresses in disarray.
风吹仙袂飘飘举，犹似霓裳羽衣舞。玉容寂寞泪阑干，梨花一枝春带雨。
Her long sleeves are rippling in breeze,
As if she were dancing to the Nichang music.
Her lovely face is smeared with lonely tears,
A branch of pear blossoms dampened by spring rain.
含情凝睇谢君王，一别音容两渺茫。昭阳殿里恩爱绝，蓬莱宫中日月长。
With affection she expresses her gratitude to the king,
Never have they met each other since their separation.
They once truly love each other in Palace Zhaoyang,
The lonely days in Palace Penglai are unbearably long.
回头下望人寰处，不见长安见尘雾。惟将旧物表深情，钿合金钗寄将去。
Looking down at the earthly human scene,
Enshrouded in dust the capital can’t be seen.
I can do nothing but express my affections.
By sending my beloved our old love tokens
钗留一股合一扇，钗擘黄金合分钿。但教心似金钿坚，天上人间会相见。
Half of the jewelry and my golden hairpin I’ll keep,
And the rest of them shall undoubtedly go to him.
As long as our devotion remains as sturdy as gold,
We shall meet in heaven or in the human world.
临别殷勤重寄词，词中有誓两心知。七月七日长生殿，夜半无人私语时。
Will the envoy please take my message to His Majesty?
The pledges are perfectly understood by our two hearts.
When meet in Longevity Hall on the 7th day of the 7th month,
By midnight we shall be able to whisper into each otheru2019s ears:
在天愿作比翼鸟，在地愿为连理枝。天长地久有时尽，此恨绵绵无绝期。
In heaven we’ll be a pair of birds flying wing to wing,
On earth we’ll be trees intertwined from twig to twig.
The profound eternity may come to an end,
Our hatred for separation will forever remain.
致韩兴国教授
孟宪波
2007年1月17日致韩兴国教授函
兴国兄台鉴：
喜闻雅潜学有所成，甚感欣慰。兄嫂教女有方，可见一斑！
有道是，长兄如父，老嫂比母。然也。
想我兄弟萍水相逢，竟成莫逆。每每念及弟年少轻狂、无知好胜；而兄嫂仁心宅厚、至柔至刚，无不潸然涕下，感慨万千。
光阴似箭，日月如梭。弟美利坚一别，而来已近七载。其间委屈、愤懑、彷徨、无奈，时常哀叹古来才大难为用，往往不堪回首月明中。
痛定思痛，然后以常人十倍乃至百倍之努力，悬梁刺股，闻鸡起舞。韬光养晦、潜心钻研。如今，未敢言学有所成，却可以下笔成文；不能称满腹经纶，却可以出口成章；岂敢论腰缠万贯，却足以衣食无忧。著作盈尺，桃李万千。娇妻犬子，夫复何求？
信口开河，不知所言。
……
书愤
孟宪波
问世间，情为何物？
说什么，
忠贞不渝，地老天荒；
举案齐眉，白头偕老。
到头来，
见异思迁，劳燕分飞；
山盟海誓，弥天大谎。
话人生，岁月几何？
谁不道，
福星高照，文曲下凡，
前程似锦，一片光明。
曾记否？
垂成功败，顿足捶胸；
世态炎凉，注定坎坷。
……
纵千疮百孔，
但生命如歌。
人生苦短，岂敢蹉跎。
流言蜚语，任凭世说。
命运多舛，我心自若。
我为书狂，世语心说。
诗以言志，知己颇多。
读史明鉴，仰慕贤哲。
观今怀古，文功武略。
莺歌燕舞，天上宫阙。
举杯邀月，把酒放歌。
心怀华夏，轩辕荐血。
生当人杰，至死不懈。
明日还乡，高唱凯歌。
注：著名翻译家李尧教授读完作者所写书信及译作后，除褒奖外，称仍有意犹未尽之意。作者浮想联翩，夜不能寐，不觉已旭日东升，遂结合自己的人生经历以及对生命的感悟，欣然命笔，一挥而就。
孩子快抓紧妈妈的手(Hurry, Baby, Hold Mommyu2019s Hand)
献给在四川大地震中遇难的孩子们
To the little victims who died in the earthquake in Sichuan
翻译：孟宪波 / Tr. By Fred X. Meng
2008年5月16日 / May 16, 2008
孩子
快
抓紧妈妈的手
去天堂的路
太黑了
妈妈怕你
碰了头
快
抓紧妈妈的手
让妈妈陪你走
Hurry
Baby
Hold Mommyu2019s hand
Donu2019t let go
The road to the heaven
Is too dark
Iu2019m so worried
Mind your head
Hurry, Baby
Hold Mommyu2019s hand
Donu2019t let go
And let me go accompany you
妈妈
怕
天堂的路
太黑
我看不见你的手
自从
倒塌的墙
把阳光夺走
我再也看不见
你柔情的眸
Mommy, Mommy
Iu2019m so scared
Itu2019s too dark
Along the road to heaven
I canu2019t see your hand
Since the wall collapsed
The sunshine has been blocked
Your soft eyes can no longer be seen
孩子
你走吧
前面的路
再也没有忧愁
没有读不完的课本
和交不完的答卷
你要记住
我和爸爸的模样
来生还要一起走
Go, Baby
Please go
Along the road ahead of you
No more textbooks
No more exam papers
And no more sorrow
But will you remember
The looks of Mom and Dad
For in our next life
Together again we shall go
妈妈
别担忧
天堂的路有些挤
有很多同学朋友
我们说
不哭
哪一个人的妈妈都是我们的妈妈
哪一个孩子都是妈妈的孩子
没有我的日子
你把爱给活的孩子吧
Mommy, Mommy
Stop worrying, wonu2019t you?
For Iu2019ve got many school pals
The road to heavenu2019s a bit crowded though
We all say:
We will not cry
For any Mommyu2019s our Mommy
Any babyu2019s Mommyu2019s baby
In those days without me
Will you give your love to other babies
Who are still alive?
妈妈
你别哭
泪光照亮不了
我们的路
让我们自己
慢慢的走
妈妈
我会记住你和爸爸的模样
记住我们的约定
来生一起走
Mommy, Mommy
Stop crying
Tears wonu2019t lighten
Our road to heaven
Slowly but surely
Please let us go
Mommy, Mommy
Iu2019ll remember the looks of
Both Dad and you
And our appointment:
In our next life
Together again we shall go
Two Truths to Live By (人生之二原则)
亚历山大?M?辛德勒（著）/ By Alexander M. Schindler
孟宪波（译）/ Tr. by Fred. X. Meng
2007年2月6日/February 6, 2007
Hold fast, and let go: understand this paradox, and you stand at the very gate of wisdom. The art of living is to know when to hold fast and when to let go. For life is a paradox: it enjoins us to cling to its many gifts even while it ordains their eventual relinquishment. The rabbis of old put it this way:" A man comes to this world with his fist clenched, but when he dies, his hand is open." Surely we ought to hold fast to life, for it is wondrous, and full of beauty that breaks through every pore of God’s own earth. We know that this is so, but all too often we recognize this truth only in our backward glance when we remember what it was and then suddenly realize that it is no more. We remember a beauty that faded, a love that waned. But we remember with far greater pain that we did not see that beauty when it flowered, that we failed to respond with love when it was tendered.
收与放：收与放为一对矛盾，懂得这个道理，您即为智者。生活的艺术在于懂得何时该收以及何时该放。生活本身即是一个矛盾统一体：它鼓励我们紧拥其馈赠的同时又命令我们最终放弃。“一个人呱呱坠地时，他双拳紧握；当他撒手人寰时却是两手空空。”古代犹太智者如是说。诚然，我们需要紧紧地拥抱生命，因为美丽人生充满了奇迹，它存在于上帝所佑庇的每一寸土地。我们知道这一点，但是，我们往往在回首往事时才记起它，然后突然意识到它已经随风而去，不复存在了。我们记得容颜不再和昨日恋歌，但是，当我们发现美丽绽放时，自己却没有看到它；爱情需要回应时，自己却没有呵护它，就会倍感痛苦。
奥运赋 (Ode to the Olympics)
王金玲（著）/ By Wang Jinling
孟宪波、高平（译）/ Tr. by Fred X. Meng & Gao Ping
公元二零零八，廿九奥运在京。全球为之呼吸，亿万为之伫目，旷世空前。予壮其盛，遂作斯赋，赋曰：
The 29th Olympics are going to be hosted in Beijing, China in 2008. Billions of people from all over the world are holding their breath, attaching great importance and looking forward to this grand occasion. In order to stress its significance, I, hereby, compose the ode as follows:
夫奥运者，现代奥运之谓也。史源希腊，古今有别。始，希人为尊万神之王宙斯，于前七七六年立节以庆，约四年一举，地择奥林匹亚，曰奥林匹亚赛。每逢其典，体乐文皆备，历时十六日。胜者折桂橄榄，刻石雕影，备极崇幸。其俗绵延千载，始盛终衰，止于公元三九四年。此为古之奥运，系为希国一地之赛事也。今之奥运，始自一八九六，已历百年。先是，法人顾拜旦，倡复奥运。应者鹊起，聚首巴黎，决袭希奥之名，四载轮换，易地而行。旨宗友谊，帜挚五环，寓五洲共举之会也。于是，地不分欧、亚、非、澳，人不择黑、白、棕、黄，能者为伍，万国一擂。更添人文灌输、吉祥择物、会徽征选、圣火传递，启闭艺演，奏凯升帜，凡此呈善争荣之举，莫不登峰造极。是故，与赛者神之往之，个个思折桂如越龙门、出手不遗余力；人人慕摘金似登麟阁，拼搏何惜剩勇？破旧标新，记录无极限之说；昨是今非，王者无常岁之冠。击心震魄，竞者吁吁，观者吆吆，天下为之倾倒，人间为之疯狂，遂成寰宇无匹之大观也。
The said Olympic Games refer to the modern ones, which originated from ancient Greece but are different from their ancient counterparts. Originally, the Olympics had been held once every four years by the Greek since 776 BC in honor of Zeus, the king of all gods. The venue chosen was called Olympia, thus came the name of Olympia Games. The grand occasion used to last for 16 days when sports, music as well as other recreational activities were performed. The winners would be presented with laurels made of olive and bay branches, have their names engraved on the stone tablets and win great acclamations. The tradition lasted for over one thousand years before it came to an end by AD 394. The events aforementioned were ancient Olympics limited to one state, Greece only. The modern Olympics, however, started in 1896, with a history of over one hundred years. A Frenchman named Pierre de Coubertin was the first to advocate the resurrection of the Olympics and was applauded by numerous enthusiasts who gathered at Paris and decided to adopt the name of the Olympics held in ancient Greece. The new event was to be held once every four years in different cities around the world for peaceful purposes. The five rings on the specially designed flag represent a grand meeting co-held by the five continents. Hence the black, white, brown and yellow contestants from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, etc. could meet at the same arena. Moreover，the modern Olympics are characterized by humanitarian elements, the choice of mascots, passing-on of the holy fire, performances on the opening and closing ceremonies, national anthems played and flags raised. All of these well-intentioned and honor-oriented activities are performed consummately without any exception. Therefore, the contestants are most fascinated by the Games and would spare no efforts at all in vying each other for the olive crowns. Each and every of them is striving after the gold medals with which they are obsessed, and breaking old records and establishing new ones which know no limits. As the record before shall always be excelled by the later, who can remain evervictoriousin the Olympics? It is most exciting to watch the Games where athletes are exerting their best while the spectators are cheering aloud. The whole world is overwhelmed and the entire earth is thrilled by such unprecedented and spectacular events!
奥运百年，其况逾巨，其势逾炽。人皆思而主之。每届轮换，申办者趋之若鹜，东游西说，莫不使尽浑身解数。廿九之会，逐鹿愈烈。决出之日，奥官齐聚俄都。亿万决眦，唯恐失报：全球屏气，只待消息。会终，萨翁一语天惊：东道有主，北京胜出！此语忽如坠雷，中华为之沸鼎，爆竹争鸣不眠之夜；世界为之颌首，贺函纷至难了之情。至是，史碑重立矣！
As the centennial Olympics are drawing close with the largest scale ever of its kind, each state had been looking forward to winning its bid. Whenever a new Olympiad is to be held, there would always be numerous applicants scrambling for its bid, trying to be as persuasive as they can. The 29th was by no means an exception. On the contrary, the competition for its bid became ever fierce. On the day of declaration, all the officials of IOC were present in Moscow. Again, millions and millions of people were holding their breath, for they were extremely anxious to hear the last result by themselves, for fear that they should miss such a decisive moment. When the meeting was over, Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch solemnly declared: the host of the 29th Olympic Games will be Beijing! Like a sudden thunderbolt fallen, Mr. Samaranchu2019s remarks were promptly followed by cheers and hoorays from the ecstatic people across China and the deafening sounds of fireworks throughout the sleepless night. The exciting news was also greeted by smiles on the faces from other parts of the world and numerous congratulatory letters and correspondences arrived in Beijing without an end. Hence a new historical monument was erected!
嗟乎！奥运之于中华，实非寻常之择：在彼为通塞衔源，弥了缺憾；在我乃厘弱厕强，夙愿终偿。想我中华，亦为世界体坛之滥觞者，其情其史非迟于希之奥运。追远溯源，可佐可陈者莫不彰然于史。今之靡世之事，其巨莫过于足赛，然我蹴鞠为戏，已盛数千载。迹遍临淄，“鞠革为之，踏之为戏”，实为足球之祖。春秋论剑，“追形逐影，光若仿佛”，堪为击剑之先。汉代百戏，“乌获扛鼎”，当为举重之始。《诗经》载泳，“就其深矣，方之舟之。就其浅矣，泳之游之”，游泳之举，实我为宗矣。竞舟之赛，远古已习，汉唐逾兴，“影翰波飞万剑，鼓声劈浪鸣千雷。”其况之壮，今人观之，亦叹弗如！若乃竞射、角力、赛马、操技之类，行世历久，皆可为始为先。奥运移擂中华，无异临源慕宗之举，补益了憾之行也。
Alas! Hosting the Olympics is far from an ordinary choice for the Chinese nation. On the one hand, Olympiad is to be hosted in China, one of the cradles of the world civilization, and the universal regret of never hosting such a great event in China is finally relieved. On the other hand, China is shedding its indigence and marching toward prosperity and strength and our long-cherished dream have come true at long last. In reminiscence, China can well be called one of the birthplaces of sports and games, and such a history is by no means later than that of the Greek Olympia Games. In retrospection of the original sources, we are fortunate to be able to find so many supporting evidences and proofs, which lie in our historical heritages. The most popular event in todayu2019s world is no other than FIFA. However, our ancestors had started playing Cuju (similar to the present-day football) several thousand years ago all over Linzi, the capital city of Qi, one of Chinau2019s famous warlord states in ancient times. “The Cuju made of leather was played for fun”. Therefore, the said Cuju can be well called the predecessor of the modern football. The contests of swordsmanship during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C. u2013 476 B.C.) were recorded as “glittering shapes and shadows of clanking swords”, and they can be regarded as the precursor of the modern fencing. According to the historical records of the acrobatics of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. u2013 A.D. 220), Wu Huo, Chinau2019s Hercules, raised a tripod vessel，which could be acclaimed as the progenitor of the modern weight-lifting. According to “The Book of Songs”, Chinau2019s ancient poetry, described swimming： “Rowing a boat where the water is deep; going swimming where the water is shallow”. Thereby, China can be regarded as the birthplace of swimming. The boat racing had been an ancient practice which reached its summit during the Han and Tang Dynasties (206 B.C. u2013 A.D. 907), “the oars were hitting the waves like ten thousand swords flying, the rataplans of the drums sounded like one thousand thunders rumbling”. It was so spectacular that even people now may fail to beat their grandeur. As to archery, wrestling, horse-racing, gymnastics, etc., each can find its time-honored herald in ancient China. Actually，the new arena put up in China is no other than paying tribute to the birthplace of sports and compensating for the aforesaid regrets.
神州之主东道，国人孰不喟古叹今？泱泱中华，万古隆荣，而近世蒙羞。清廷昏昧，丧权辱国，列强聚而瓜剖豆分，倭寇侵而鲸吞蚕食。我为鱼肉，求存尚且难保，哪得益文强体；人为刀俎，亡我唯恐不速，何能争雄一席？是以生灵涂炭，骸骨布野，百年饮恨，英灵泣血。于是，志士救亡，振臂揭竿，挽狂澜于既决，扶大厦之将倾。百折不回，赢得中华新生。想十届之赛，刘氏长春，只身与会，孑然吊影，观之悲怆。然时异景迁，廿三洛会，组军首战，浩荡之势，睹者刮目。更有许氏海峰，一枪而中首金，开元罅无，世界始呼，眠狮复醒矣！自始，届届以步以进，会会以进以前。廿八大会，囊金卅二，位列季前。终显体育强帮之雄，尽洗东亚病夫之辱。国运强盛，谋扬威之于域外，思奥运不出国门。此愿既萌，举国同应。国奥申委，奋争罔顾途舛；何公振梁，奔波不惜头白。几代戮力，百年梦圆。
Upon hearing the news of Chinau2019s hosting the new Olympics, all of us could not help sighing with emotions over the vicissitudes of the Chinese nation, which had enjoyed prosperity over thousands of years but became disaster-ridden in modern history. Because of their fatuities, the rulers of the later period of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644 - 1911) were coerced to sign many an unequal treaty which humiliated the nation and forfeited its sovereignty and China was soon carved up by the invading foreign powers through piecemeal encroachment or wholesale annexation. As the conquered slaves, the Chinese people could hardly secure survival, let alone promote our culture or enhance our physique. Confronted with the blood-thirsty butchers who could not wait to see our perdition, how could we compete against them for a place in the Olympics? Since then, the Chinese people were plunged into the abyss of misery, the remains of innocent people were seen everywhere. Such hatred was brewed over 100 years when the spirit of our martyrs shed both tears and blood. At such a time of great jeopardy, however, heroes came forth to raise the standards of revolt in order to save our nation from extinction. They were making most vigorous and perseverant efforts to turn the adverse situation to a favorable one and to win the rebirth of the Chinese nation. At the 10th Olympics, Liu Changchun was the only Chinese contestant representing China, and his solitude looked so saddening. Time passed and the situation changed greatly, a grand delegation of Chinese athletes was organized for the first time to attend the 23rd Olympics in Los Angeles, drawing worldwide attention. Xu Haifeng, a shooting athlete, won the first Olympic gold medal ever for China in the history of Olympics. The world exclaimed: the sleeping lion was awakening! Ever since, China has continuously made greater progress after each Olympiad. On the 28th Olympics, the Chinese athletes won 32 gold medals, ranking the 2nd in the world, displaying Chinau2019s strength as a sports power and casting away the humiliating title of “Sick Man of East Asia”. Along with growth of comprehensive national strength, C
