Eternal Youth: Sonnet XVIII

To William Shakespeare, By Yiyan Han (c), 2020-12-06

In 2009, I first came across Sonnet XVIII by William Shakespeare when I searched “Darling Buds of May” on internet. As you can see, I was a little late to read Shakespeare. But this doesn’t stop me falling in love with this piece!

After reading it, particularly with some detailed analysis in today’s English on

http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/xviiicomm.htm

I was immensely attracted to his great poem that ardently praised the fair youth whoever s/he was (more he than she, as it seems), as I could imagine all the young students stood on the Tian-An-Men Square, Beijing, in 1989, twenty years earlier! Alas! 20-year is a generation, and what about today’s youth? So I decided to translate this poem into Chinese to share with the Chinese speaking people around the world.

As with Sonnet XLIII by Elizabeth Barrett Browning that I’ve translated and given a title “Eternal Love”, there are some Chinese translations already out there, which were found out after I did some initial work. However, I believe my translation is better so it’s worth my effort. Not only my texts are in modern Chinese, but also I’ve done it enthusiastically as with all my other writings. The words and sentences I use sound more energetic, and of course poetic as well. Most importantly, when you read it in Chinese, you will feel the great passion!

I choose “Eternal Youth” for the Chinese title, and think it does the full justice for this great piece. Also, it’s very unique in my translation, compared to others, that “thou/thee” is replaced by “youth or the youth”. This is my very attempt to make this poem of universal appeal that any one in their youth or young at heart will love to read! In other words, my translation will tell the reader:

The youth is eternal.

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long human life continues, the vitality is with the youth.

That is, my Chinese translation of this poem is not just for one fair youth but to all youth. Last but not least, a very good news is my work has now been formally published, together with the original English poem, on

• Traditional Chinese: http://www.epochtimes.com/b5/20/12/5/n12598088.htm
• Simplified Chinese: http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/20/12/5/n12598088.htm

A fun thought just occurs in my mind - XLIII to XVIII: L to V stands out!