史料 | 徐志摩给奥格登的六封信：“我在中国的工作和生活枯燥乏味”

整理： 韩石山

翻译： 刘洪涛

《东方历史评论》微信公号： ohistory

奥格登 （1889-1957）语言学家、哲学家和作家。剑桥学术、思想组织邪学社的创办人之一，并于1912年创办《剑桥杂志》。

徐志摩致奥格登信函据加拿大麦马士德大学罗素档案馆所藏手稿，译文由刘洪涛先生翻译。这份史料中文版为首次面世。此文由学者、徐志摩研究专家韩石山先生修订审校。韩石山称：“这几封信，要一并看，还要放在一个大背景上看。那就是，徐志摩到了英国进入剑桥大学之后，一心向往的英国文化人的社会生活，在他的面前展现出一道灿烂的风光，让他景仰，也让他沉醉，甚至入迷。此中的关键人物，便是这位奥格登先生。奥格登先生在西方的文化史上，也许不算是个重要的人物，但他的组织社团、办刊物、出丛书的路数，无疑给了徐志摩不小的启发。他回国后的所作所为，若要找一个理想化的标杆，那就是这位奥格登先生。”

1

1921年7月12日

Sawston

July 12, 1921

Dear Mr. Ogden，

Sorry I cannot come on Tuesday. I am afraid we shall be ourselves in London on Thursday. Perhaps it would be better to postpone our meeting till next week. Shall write you again.

Yrs. Sincerely,

C. H. Hsu

奥格登先生：

抱歉我星期二不能来。 我恐怕我们几个人星期四得去伦敦。 或许把大家见面的时间推迟到下个星期最好。 我会再写信给您。

徐志摩敬启

1921年7月12日

沙士顿

徐志摩于剑桥大学求学期间留影

2

1921年7月18日

Prince’s Cottage, Sawston

July 18, 1921

Dear Mr. Ogden:

I am sorry my friend Mr. Chang has left England and he regretted not having met you. The other Mr. Chang, the ‘advocate of professionalism’ too, has gone to the Continent. But both of them will come back and perhaps we shall be able to arrange a meeting later on. It would be very kind of you to come out one day to see us here at Sawston. I wonder if this Saturday would suit you.

With best wishes.

Yours sincerely,

C. H. Hsu

P. S. I might come to Cambridge Saturday morning.

奥格登先生：

很抱歉我的朋友张先生已经离开英国。 没有能够见到您，他深感遗憾。 另外一位张先生——也就是倡导“职业精神”的那个人——也去了欧洲大陆。 但是他们都还会回来。 或许我们以后可以安排一个时间会面。 如果您能够拨冗抽一天时间到沙士顿来与大家相见甚好。 未知此星期六是否适合您？ 谨祝

安好。

徐志摩敬上

1921年7月18日

沙士顿王子居

另： 我可能星期六早上回剑桥。

3

1922年9月×日

Excellent voyage， but heat’s getting more and more intolerable. You shall hear from me. Can you send me copy of Roger Fry’s Vision and Design (to Yeh Zah Chekiang, China)?

Best wishes to you and remember me to your Trio brotherhood.

Yours ever,

Tsemon Hsu

旅行极佳，但酷热越来越难当。 你会收到我的信。 能否给我邮一本罗杰·弗赖的《视觉与设计》？ 请寄至中国浙江硖石。

祝你一切如意！ 也代我向你们三人帮致意！

你的挚友

徐志摩

4

1923年5月10日

Sung-Po Library

7 Shih-Hu Hu-tung, Peking,

May 10, 1923.

Dear Mr. Ogden,

Well, Well! You can’t imagine a more disastrous correspondent, can you? And a more disappointing friend? What, a letter half a year overdue. But then, that’s just precisely the Chinese way. We are a nation of superb idlers. Haven’t you heard of a friendly game of Wei-chi lasting just a little over for teen〈fourteen〉 days, and acknowledgments of letters received couple of years ago? Don’t you see, to be punctual and so forth has never been in our habit. Besides, we can never see the necessity of making hastes of one thing on the other. So you may blame me for being a Chinese, but allowing my nationality, you can’t blame me for being lazy, can you?

Now, let’s come to business. There are three things requiring answer. First, as to Mr. Liang’s book on Chinese thought. It’s entirely my fault. The book has not only been prepared but also published (in Chinese) two months ago already. It doesn’t bear exactly the same title as you suggested it, it’s called History of Political Thought in China; but it amounts to the same thing as a history of general thought. Mr. Liang was exceedingly happy to know your design and suggestion, and wanted me to do the translation which I promised. But so far I have only done the introductory chapter and the book is of overwhelming quantity, no less than 350 pages in its English rendering I think. I might do a good deal in the summer if I can make up my mind for it. In any case, I personally consider the book a worthy contribution from the East and shouldn’t mind spending months over the translation myself. I am sending a copy to your shop, and when it reaches you might show it to Giles or Waley or both for opinion. Tell me what they say about it.

II. The book supply business. The former readers circle has disappeared and all the books it possessed are new property of the Library where I have my lodgings, namely, the above address. The Library is to be established in memory of the Hero of our Third Revolution and is named after him. It looks a promising under taking and, if things go well, we can have something like £500 to buy books every year. I shall see Mr. Liang to send you some money for further supplies; meantime you may send us books you think we ought to have. I expect to read your new book on Meaning especially.

III. I published your letter in two leading daily and I have met quite a few scholars who professed their interest in the subject but I am at a loss to discover anything of cogency and likely to meet your point. I think sent you a little book on Logic by Mr. Hu-Su about X’mas time, but in case it miscarry I am I sending another copy of the same. You might find something in it.

So much for business. You are doing very well with your publishing undertakings. I do envy your energy. Remember me to Richards and Wood. By the way, why don’t you wretched bachelors try to perform some matrimonial experiments one way or the other? The Chinese are ever contemptuous of male singles and cant bear to think of an old maid. I am going to write a long letter to Frank about myself. I shall ask him to let you read it if you are not to busy to listen to my insubstantial chats.

徐志摩

奥格登兄：

罢了！ 罢了！ 恐怕你跟谁通信都没有比跟我更惨了，对不对？ 还会有哪个朋友比我更令人失望呢？ 一封信拖延了半年才回复！ 但中国人的方式的确就是这样。 我们是一个超级懒散的民族，难道你没听说过吗？ 有一种平和友善的比赛叫围棋，它能一连下上十四天还多，还有一封信几年以后才回复说收到了这样的事。 难道你不明白吗？ 守时之类的事情从来不是我们的习惯。 此外，我们从来不觉得有赶着做事情的必要。 这样，你可以责备我是一个中国人，假如你接受了我是个中国人这个事实，那么，你就不能怪我自己懒惰了，是不是？

现在我们谈正事。 有三件事亟盼答复： 第一，关于梁先生论中国思想的书。 这完全是我的错。 这本书（中文本）不仅已经写就，而且两个月前已经出版。 书名没有完全遵照你的建议，而是叫《中国政治思想史》。 但这和思想通史大致是一码事。 梁先生非常高兴知道你有这样的计划和建议，他想要我把它翻译成英文，我也答应了。 但到目前为止，我只翻译了导言。 书的篇幅极长，翻译成英文，我想起码有350页。 如果我下决心干，估计一夏天可以干出不少活。 不管怎样，我个人认为这是东方极有价值的著作，我不会在意花几个月时间翻译它。 我给你的铺子寄去一本，你收到后，可以拿给翟理斯或韦利，或给他们俩一人一份，听听他们的意见。 请回信告诉我他们怎么说。

第二，供书问题。以前的读书会已经销声匿迹了，它的全部图书现在成了我借宿的这座图书馆的财产，地址见此信。 图书馆的创建是为了纪念中国第三次共和革命中的一个英雄，并以他的名字命名。 现在看来似乎前途似锦，如果诸事顺利，每年有大约500镑用来买书。 我要去面见梁先生，呈请他再寄一些钱给你，以便你再为我们添购一些图书。 同时，你也可以给我们送一些你认为我们需要的书。 我尤其期待着读到你关于意义的新著。

第三，我在两份大报上发表了你给我的信。 我遇到不少学者表示对这一问题有兴趣，但未能发现他们的意见有任何中肯之处，也难契合你的观点。 我想我在圣诞节前后曾经给你寄过一本胡适先生论逻辑的小书。 如果它邮丢了，我可以另给你寄一本。 你可以从此书中看到一些重要的东西。

正事就谈到这里。 你的出版事业做得真棒！ 我嫉妒你的能量。 代我向理查兹和伍德问好。 顺带提一句： 你们这些郁郁寡欢的光棍汉们干吗不去以某种方式进行一些婚姻的试验呢？ 中国人始终瞧不起光棍，想到让一个女的终生不嫁就受不了。 我要给弗兰克写一封长信谈谈我自己的情况。 如果你不太忙，愿意听我闲扯，我会叫他让你也读读那封信。

徐志摩上

1923年5月10日

北京石虎胡同7号松坡图书馆

5

1923年11月15日

7 Shi-Huh Hutung,

Peking (West City)

Nov 15, 1923

Dear Ogden,

At last the Celestial makes reply!

Business.

①Four packers of books (two to Mr. Tsang and two to myself) received. Direct later sendings to Sung-Po Library, 7 Shi-Huh Hutung, instead of Mr. Tsang’s old address which is no longer of use.

②About a month ago I sent you from Shanghai a cable gram asking you to secure Rivers’books about 50 pound. Not for the library. Send the books to this address if they are not yet sent to Mr. Caisun Chang, 37 Moulmin Road, Shanghai. Mr. Chang whom you met in Cambridge is now founding a College in the neighborhood of Shanghai, and he needs books on politics, sociology and philosophy.

Dr Hu-shih is coming to Peking in a few days. I have little doubt that he will be glad to have his book printed in England. I will write again after seeing him.

As to Mr. Liang’s book, I am dreadfully ashamed to you on the one hand and Mr. Liang himself on the other. I am not unwilling to undertake the translation but this means three months undivided attention, which I can’t well afford. Meanwhile I am contemplating another trip to Europe now that Siberia is restored to order. I shall write again soon.

Wishes to all my friends.

Tsemon Hsu

奥格登兄：

我这个天朝人士终于给你答复了。

谈正事。

第一，四包书（两包给蒋先生，两包给我）收讫。 以后请直接寄往石虎胡同7号松坡图书馆，不要再寄蒋先生的老地址，那个地址现在已经不用了。

第二，大约在一个月以前，我从上海给你发了一封电报，要求你用50镑搞定瑞沃斯的书。 不是给图书馆。 如果这些书还没有邮寄给上海茂名路37号张君劢先生的话，就请改寄到上述地址。 你在剑桥见过的那位张先生现在正在上海附近兴建一所学院，他需要政治、社会学和哲学等方面的图书。

第三，胡适博士几天内就会来北京。 我可以有把握地说，他会很高兴把自己的书在英国出版。 我见到他后再写信给你。

至于梁先生的书，我真是惭愧极了，一方面对不起你，另一方面也对不起梁先生。 我不是不愿意承担这一翻译工作，但这意味着要花三个月时间全身心投入，而我挤不出这么多时间。 同时，西伯利亚的秩序已经恢复，我现在正计划再一次去欧洲旅行。 我不久还会给你写信。

谨祝朋友们安好

徐志摩

1923年11月15日

北京西城石虎胡同7号

徐志摩给胡适的信之信封

6

1924年2月11日

7 Shi-Huh Hutung,

Sung-Po Library,

Peking (West City)

Feb. 11, 1924

Dear Ogden,

O! I am such a horrid slug! No excuse, no ingenuity, nothing of polite mendacity can ever camouflage my extreme laziness at correspondence, I should be surprised if my friends in England do not curse me for that. In fact I seldom do letters of any kind. I have outgrown, for instance, the romantic period of my boyhood which spends a good portion of its energy and time in producing sentimental epistles. Neither do I share the genius of a hausfrau to take delight in the small incidents of daily existence, fond of chatting like young birds and eager to communicate to the others their own extreme tedium. The truth is, my career in China has been jejune of interest to anybody, least of all to myself. I travel a bit, write a bit, talk (on platform and otherwise) a bit, mourn a bit (my old granny died last summer), sigh a bit, and the rest is perfect blank. The Cupid’s Arrow has refused me, perhaps once for all, visitations, and that accounts for the paralysis of my mental and spiritual faculties. The current events as well as the society itself are a positive bore to me, neither I fancy, do they see any attraction in me. The result is solitude on my part. I am now staying in a kind of villa in the suburb of my own town, sighing with wafts of wind in the neighboring forest, which by the way is my grand orchestra, and listening and talking to birds which are found here in great multitudes, especially the noisiest kind. The folk here call me half insane, or by way of irony, poet. This, of course, further stirs my secret vanity and encourages, in fact, my eccentricity. I am growing more and more uncouth in manner, more and more cynical in spirit, more and more quaint in expression-almost ghostly. Indeed, looking at the windows in any side here, you see nothing so conspicuous as the abodes of the dead-mounds, graves, exposed coffins, cemeteries, ancestor halls, monuments, tablets and what not. And this very building is said to be haunted. Then no wonder I am waxing almost ghostly.

You are already bored, I know. Things either poetic or ghostly oughtn’t be addressed to men of the world, and you are evidently a man of the world smitten as it were with the modern disease Fact-mania, who prefers substantial reality to dreams empty and hollow. I don’t blame, I admire. I wish I myself had something of that, so that I might stand more favoured and less enigmatic in my parents’ and others’ eye. But I have little hope, being as I am a sincere worshiper of your ethereal Bard of the skylark. Well!

Mr. Hu is delighted that you intend to print his book in England. He will send his revised MSS (manuscripts) soon, I believe. Probably he has replied to your letter himself.

The Indian poet Tagore is coming to China in April and I am expected to be with him during his short stay here, which will necessitate my giving up the bliss of solitude and launching into the busy things once more. I suspect Tagore has not earned great favour in Cambridge, but probably you won’t be so harsh as to call him humbug or wretched and horrid — such epithets being so current amidst your intelligentsia. He is incredibly popular with our youngsters, the chief explanation being that his poems are the only poems written in English which they could read with what they themselves regard perfect intelligence. His visit will therefore prove a great dramatic episode, exceeding by far his predecessors in popularity and enthusiasm accorded to them. The memory of Russell still lingers, the influence of Dewey is all but too perfect, Dreisch alone was a very dark horse, although his being the countryman of the paper works did not on that account cost us any the less. Tagore will have no salary. We simply furnish his traveling fare. Wallas and Roger Fry have disappointed us with their declining, explicitly or implicitly, our cordial invitation. Who else in England could you think of as being suitable to be exported to China for a short time after Tagore, who will not stay longer than 3 months?