Lost in Translation ( Poetry Translation) by Chung Wai Yee. Minnie

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening (1923) 
－－Robert Frost 
  This is one of my favorite English poems ever, composed by celebrated American author, Robert Frost , written  in plain, everyday language, tells a simple, short episode of life, yet it explores deep philosophical themes  in life. Here are the different Chinese translations  I can find of it, let's  compare them with each other.

Whose woods these are I think I know. 
His house is in the village though; 
He will not see me stopping here 
To watch his woods fill up with snow. 




My little horse must think it queer 
To stop without a farmhouse near 
Between the woods and frozen lake 
The darkest evening of the year. 

He gives his harness bells a shake 
To ask if there is some mistake. 
The only other sound’s the sweep 
Of easy wind and downy flake. 




The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, 
But I have promises to keep, 
And miles to go before I sleep, 
And miles to go before I sleep. 

谁家的林，我想我知道。

虽然他家要在村里找；

他不会见我在此驻足

看他的林子白雪浩浩。

身旁小马定狐疑满腹

附近看不见什么农户

停在树林和冰湖之间

驻于一年最黑的夜幕。

马儿摇动头颈铃儿喧

探问停在这里为哪般。

别无声响只有风习习

轻轻地吹落雪花片片。

树林可爱，幽暗又深密。

但诺言须守怎能儿戏，

想要歇息还需行万里，

想要歇息还需行万里。

雪夜林畔小驻（译）余光中

 想来我认识这座森林，

 林主的庄宅就在邻村，

 却不会见我在此驻马，

 看他林中积雪的美景。

 我的小马一定颇惊讶：

 四望不见有什么农家，

 偏是一年最暗的黄昏，

 寒林和冰湖之间停下。

 它摇一摇身上的串铃，

 问我这地方该不该停。

 此外只有轻风拂雪片，

 再也听不见其他声音。

 森林又暗又深真可羡，

 但我还要守一些诺言，

 还要赶多少路才安眠，

 还要赶多少路才安眠。

暗夜飘雪似飞花，林木繁茂知谁家；

    村中林主君未见，停马赏景尚有暇。

    良驹想必应称奇，农家远离驻足地。

    独是一年昏暗夜，密林冰湖相偎依。

    宝马奋铃心茫然，欲问何故滞林间；

    轻风拂面万籁静，唯有雪花漫天旋。

    美林深幽天色昏，履约还须赴前程。

    路途遥遥难入梦，愁煞风雪夜归人！

雪夜过寒林-四联绝句体译

我心知是哪家林, 远有人居傍小村

擅自停车意难止, 原来披雪最销魂

四下无人我自知, 暂停归路马迟迟

银湖玉树谁欲静, 夜色一年唯此时

空林寂寂响鸾铃, 似问缘何在此停

除却轻风无天籁, 枝间尽是雪来声

林深林暗惹心开, 一诺千金兀自来

此去求眠路多少, 归程多少计难哉

Which translation do you like best ? Which version is the closest to the original? Which version is more like a rewrite of the original, following the same theme? Which one best preserves the essence of the original?  How much liberty should a translator be allowed to take ?