《枚瑰盛宴》書介:泰姬三部曲之二The Feast of Roses: Book Two of the Taj Mahal Trilogy

《枚瑰盛宴》書介:泰姬三部曲之二The Feast of Roses: Book Two of the Taj Mahal Trilogy

● 字源與歷史概念

Mughal(蒙兀兒)！波斯文 Mughul(蒙古人),所以中文也譯作「蒙兀兒」,指 16 世紀起統治印度大部分地區的王朝。empress(皇后、女皇)源自古法語 emperesse,是 emperere(皇帝)的陰性形式,上溯拉丁文 imperare(命令)。sequel(續集)源自古法語 sequelle,上溯拉丁文 sequela(跟隨),來自 sequi(跟隨),字面是「接在後面的東西」。authority(權威)源自古法語 auctorité,上溯拉丁文 auctoritas,來自 auctor(創始者、擔保人),與 augere(增加)有關。ally(盟友)源自古法語 alier,上溯拉丁文 alligare,由 ad-(向)加 ligare(綁)構成,字面是「綁在一起」。monument(紀念碑)源自拉丁文 monumentum,來自 monere(提醒),字面是「使人記住的東西」。

背景: 作者 Indu Sundaresan 生於印度,著有《第二十個妻子》(2002)、《枚瑰盛宴》(2003)與《Shadow Princess》(2010)三部組成的泰姬三部曲,其中第一部是她的處女作,並在 2003 年獲得華盛頓州圖書獎。《枚瑰盛宴》的英文版首次出版於 2003 年 4 月 29 日,篇幅依版本而異,平裝本約 470 頁上下。 (Indu Sundaresan +3)

前情: 第一部的主角梅露妮莎(Mehrunnisa)是波斯難民之女,嫁給阿富汗籍的軍官,後來成為賈汗吉爾(Jahangir)的第二十個、也是最後一個妻子。第二部開始時,她已是皇后。賈汗吉爾先賜她「宮殿之光」(Nur Mahal)的封號,幾年後改稱「世界之光」(Nur Jahan)。 (Indu Sundaresan +2)

情節: 這部小說寫的是努爾·賈汗在與皇帝婚姻的十六年裡,如何行使丈夫授予她的權力。她在後宮有勁敵賈加特·戈辛(Jagat Gosini)皇后,在朝廷上又與認為女人不該有發言權的大臣們周旋,於是與父親、哥哥和賈汗吉爾的兒子庫拉姆王子(Prince Khurram)組成可靠的小集團。書中她也曾差點失去女兒的感情。一則書評說,繼承權之爭升高時,她在一次意外殺死闖入宮中的人的事件後,走向失勢。 (Indu Sundaresan +3)

歷史對照: 作者指出,史書記載賈汗吉爾與努爾·賈汗沒有子女,而在後宮,有兒子才是女人擁有權威的途徑。作者在訪談中提到,泰姬陵是為梅露妮莎的姪女而建,梅露妮莎自己卻沒有這樣宏偉的紀念建築。書中的庫拉姆王子,即後來建造泰姬陵的沙賈汗(Shah Jahan)。 (indusundaresan) (socialstudies)

評價與閱讀: 《Booklist》稱讚它是豐富的歷史織錦。另一則書評則認為,情節過於繁雜,文筆華麗,部分段落冗長,但它把一個較少被寫進小說的時期寫得栩栩如生。Goodreads 上約有 7,300 多人評分,平均約 4.1 分(數字隨時間變動)。作者說,三部小說大致可以獨立閱讀,但最好依序閱讀。第三部《Shadow Princess》則以沙賈汗之女賈哈娜拉(Jahanara)為中心。 (www​.thriftbooks.com +4)

核心概念:

Power behind a veil(簾幕後的權力，垂簾聽政): 努爾·賈汗沒有兒子,卻靠皇帝的愛與自己的手腕行使權力。

Love and politics(愛情與政治): 賈汗吉爾為愛而娶,卻也把愛變成授權,愛情因此成為政治資本。

Rivalry in the harem(後宮之爭): 皇后之間、大臣與皇后之間的角力,是全書的動力。

Memory and monument(紀念與遺忘): 泰姬陵紀念的是她的姪女,而不是她,小說藉此問誰被記住。

同源與核心詞彙: Mughal(蒙兀兒)、empress(皇后)、sequel(續集)、authority(權威)、ally(盟友)、monument(紀念碑)

● 全新例句(101 字長句)

One of the most formidable women that Mughal history has recorded, Mehrunnisa, once a Persian refugee's daughter and the first woman Emperor Jahangir married for love, is shown in The Feast of Roses, the 2003 sequel to The Twentieth Wife, as Empress Nur Jahan, loved by him enough to be handed much of his authority during sixteen years of marriage, with her father, her brother and his son Prince Khurram, who would later build the Taj Mahal, arranged as allies against a rival empress and wary ministers, yet remembered by no monument as grand as the one raised for her niece.

● 排列為比較容易閱讀的方式

One of the most formidable women

　that Mughal history has recorded,

Mehrunnisa,

　once a Persian refugee's daughter

　and the first woman Emperor Jahangir married for love,

is shown in The Feast of Roses,

　the 2003 sequel to The Twentieth Wife,

as Empress Nur Jahan,

　loved by him enough to be handed much of his authority

　during sixteen years of marriage,

with her father, her brother

　and his son Prince Khurram,

　　who would later build the Taj Mahal,

arranged as allies

　against a rival empress and wary ministers,

yet remembered by no monument

　as grand as the one raised for her niece.

● 分解為原初的短小句

Mehrunnisa is one of the most formidable women.

(前置同位語的還原。)

Mughal history has recorded such women.

(that 子句的還原,現在完成。)

Mehrunnisa was once a Persian refugee's daughter.

(第一個並列同位語的還原。)

She was the first woman Emperor Jahangir married for love.

(第二個並列同位語,含接觸子句。)

The Feast of Roses is the 2003 sequel to The Twentieth Wife.

(同位語 the 2003 sequel 的還原。)

The novel shows Mehrunnisa as Empress Nur Jahan.

(is shown as 的還原。)

Emperor Jahangir loved her enough.

(loved by him enough 的還原。)

He handed her much of his authority.

(be handed 的還原。)

This lasted sixteen years of marriage.

(during 片語的還原。)

Her father, her brother and Prince Khurram are her allies.

(with 構句的還原。)

Prince Khurram is Jahangir's son.

(his son 的還原。)

Prince Khurram would later build the Taj Mahal.

(who 子句的還原,過去將來。)

The allies stand against a rival empress and wary ministers.

(arranged as allies against 的還原。)

A monument was raised for her niece.

(the one raised 的還原。)

That monument is very grand.

(as grand as 的比較基準。)

No monument as grand as that one remembers her.

(yet remembered by no monument 的還原。)

● 全新文法解析

前置同位語 + one of the most...that + 現在完成

句型:One of the most + 形容詞 + 複數名詞 + that + 主詞 + has + 過去分詞, + 人名, + ...

作用:One of the most formidable women that Mughal history has recorded 是放在主詞前面的同位語,說明 Mehrunnisa 是誰,所以動詞是單數 is shown。one of the most + 形容詞 + 複數名詞 表示「最……的之一」,that 子句用現在完成式,表示「至今為止的記載」。這種把評價放在句首的寫法,是書介常見的開場。

關鍵詞彙:one of the most(最……的之一)、formidable(令人敬畏的)、Mughal(蒙兀兒的)、record(記載)

並列同位語 + once + 接觸關係子句

句型:人名, + once + a + 名詞 + and + the + first + 名詞 + 主詞 + 動詞 + for + 名詞,

作用:兩個同位語以 and 並列,補充說明 Mehrunnisa 的出身與地位。once a Persian refugee's daughter 的 once 是副詞,意為「曾經」,把過去的身分與現在的皇后對照。the first woman Emperor Jahangir married for love 中,省略了關係代名詞 that,是接觸子句。for love 說明結婚的理由。

關鍵詞彙:once(曾經)、refugee(難民)、the first woman...(第一個……的女人)、marry for love(為愛結婚)

is shown...as + 名詞 + 同位語插入

句型:主詞 + is + shown + in + 書名, + the + 年份 + 名詞 + to + 書名, + as + 名詞

作用:show A as B 的被動式是 A is shown as B,意為「A 被呈現為 B」。這裡 as Empress Nur Jahan 說明書中如何呈現主角。中間的 the 2003 sequel to The Twentieth Wife 是 The Feast of Roses 的同位語,sequel to 表示「……的續集」。書名與出版年份放在同位語裡,是書介交代書目資訊的方式。

關鍵詞彙:be shown as(被呈現為)、sequel to(……的續集)、empress(皇后)

過去分詞後置 + enough to + 被動不定詞

句型:過去分詞 + by + 人 + enough + to + be + 過去分詞 + 受詞 + during + 期間

作用:loved by him 是過去分詞片語,後置修飾 Empress Nur Jahan。形容詞或副詞 + enough to 意為「夠……以至於能……」,這裡 loved enough to be handed 說明愛的程度大到足以讓她被授權。be handed much of his authority 是被動式,hand A B 的直接受詞 much of his authority 保留在被動句中。during 後接期間,說明這段授權持續十六年。

關鍵詞彙:enough to(足以)、be handed(被交付)、authority(權威)、during(在……期間)

with + 受詞 + 過去分詞 + who would later

句型:with + 名詞, + 名詞 + and + 名詞, + who + would + later + 動詞 + 受詞, + 過去分詞 + as + 名詞 + against + 名詞

作用:with 引導的獨立構句,為主詞補上背景:她身邊有哪些盟友。arranged as allies 是過去分詞,表示這些人被安排成盟友;其中 who would later build the Taj Mahal 的 would 是「過去將來」,從故事當時的角度看,建泰姬陵是後來的事。against 帶出對手:a rival empress and wary ministers。

關鍵詞彙:with + O + p.p.(在……被……的情況下)、would later(後來將要)、ally(盟友)、wary(警覺的)

yet + 省略主詞的分詞 + no...as...as + the one + 過去分詞

句型:yet + 過去分詞 + by + no + 名詞 + as + 形容詞 + as + the one + 過去分詞 + for + 名詞

作用:yet remembered by no monument 省略了主詞與 she is,承接前面的主詞 Mehrunnisa,表示轉折。no + 名詞 + as grand as 是同級比較的否定,意為「沒有一座……像……那麼宏偉」。the one raised for her niece 中,the one 代替 monument,後面的過去分詞 raised 修飾它。比較對象不是泰姬陵本身,而是「為她姪女而建的那一座」。

關鍵詞彙:yet(然而)、no...as...as(沒有……像……一樣)、the one(那一座)、raise(建起)、niece(姪女)

● 參考翻譯

梅露妮莎(Mehrunnisa)是蒙兀兒歷史所記載的最令人敬畏的女性之一,她曾是波斯難民的女兒,也是賈汗吉爾皇帝(Emperor Jahangir)第一位為愛而娶的女人。在 2003 年的《枚瑰盛宴》(《第二十個妻子》的續集)中,她以努爾·賈汗皇后的身分登場:婚姻的十六年裡,皇帝愛她,愛到把許多權力交給她。她的父親、哥哥與皇帝的兒子庫拉姆王子(Prince Khurram,後來建了泰姬陵)是她對抗敵對的皇后與警覺的大臣的盟友。然而,沒有一座紀念建築像為她姪女而建的那一座那麼宏偉地紀念她。

● 逆向工程(請嘗試不看原文,還原長句)

Mehrunnisa is one of the most formidable women.

Mughal history has recorded such women.

Mehrunnisa was once a Persian refugee's daughter.

She was the first woman Emperor Jahangir married for love.

The Feast of Roses is the 2003 sequel to The Twentieth Wife.

The novel shows Mehrunnisa as Empress Nur Jahan.

Emperor Jahangir loved her enough.

He handed her much of his authority.

This lasted sixteen years of marriage.

Her father, her brother and Prince Khurram are her allies.

Prince Khurram is Jahangir's son.

Prince Khurram would later build the Taj Mahal.

The allies stand against a rival empress and wary ministers.

A monument was raised for her niece.

That monument is very grand.

No monument as grand as that one remembers her.

對照完整句子:

One of the most formidable women that Mughal history has recorded, Mehrunnisa, once a Persian refugee's daughter and the first woman Emperor Jahangir married for love, is shown in The Feast of Roses, the 2003 sequel to The Twentieth Wife, as Empress Nur Jahan, loved by him enough to be handed much of his authority during sixteen years of marriage, with her father, her brother and his son Prince Khurram, who would later build the Taj Mahal, arranged as allies against a rival empress and wary ministers, yet remembered by no monument as grand as the one raised for her niece.

補充說明: 全句逐字核算為 101 字(2003 以一字計,refugee's 以一字計)。文法解析共 6 點,句型採用「前置同位語加 one of the most...that 加現在完成、並列同位語加 once 加接觸子句、is shown...as 加同位語插入、過去分詞後置加 enough to 加被動不定詞、with 加過去分詞加 who would later、yet 加 no...as...as 加 the one 加過去分詞」,與前面七句的結構不重複。

● 後記

這是歷史小說,不是史書。 努爾·賈汗、賈汗吉爾、庫拉姆王子都是真實的歷史人物,但書中的對話、內心活動與部分情節,是作者的想像與詮釋。引用時宜寫成「小說中的努爾·賈汗」,不宜把書中情節直接當作史實,例如意外殺人那一段,依據的是一則書評的摘要,原書細節以全文為準。

注意人名、書名的譯法。 這些名字的中文譯名各版本不同(例如賈汗吉爾也常寫作賈漢吉爾,梅露妮莎)。「枚瑰盛宴」是沿用台灣書林出版公司的中文譯本書名。另外,有些網路文章把她寫成「印度武則天」之類的比喻,那是評論者的說法,不是書中的定位。

把書目資訊、情節與本句論點分開。 2003 年出版、三部曲的次序與獲獎,屬於書目資訊;後宮勁敵、盟友小集團、庫拉姆王子,屬於小說情節;「沒有像泰姬陵那麼宏偉的紀念建築紀念她」,出自作者在訪談中的說法,但句子把它當作全書的對照,則是本句的論點,屬於詮釋。「最令人敬畏的女性之一」是書介式的評價語,不是定論。