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《水浒传》从明代成书之后便受到广泛欢迎，加之明清两代不断在刻印，因此《水浒传》版本繁多，可分为简本与繁本两个系统。顾名思义，简本文字简略，繁本描绘细致生动，强调细节，文学性强。简本内容包括大聚义、受招安、破辽、平田虎、平王庆、征方腊直至宋江被害等事；繁本则无平田虎、平王庆故事。以小说回目区分，《水浒传》的版本包括七十回本、百回本、百二十回本、百零四回本、百一十回本、百一十五回本、百二十四回本等多种类型。其中七十回本、百回本、百二十回本流传较广，是《水浒传》的重要版本。
七十回本，通常题为《水浒》，是明末清初金圣叹腰斩的版本，俗称“金本”保留《水浒传》前七十一回故事，并将第一回改为楔子，以卢俊义所做噩梦为结尾；“金本”以水浒英雄被“逼上梁山”、聚众起义的故事为核心，保留原书的精华，因此受到广泛欢迎。
百回本水浒故事通常题为《水浒传》。目前所知的最早的百回本是“郭勋刻本”，流传于明嘉靖年间，现已无存本；“容与堂本”则出现于明万历三十年前后，至今仍可见，且最能体现古本面目，是研究水浒的一个善本。
水浒故事最完整的一个本子是百二十回本，通常题为《水浒全传》，描写了梁山好汉轰轰烈烈地反抗封建王朝，招安以后破辽、征方腊、平田虎、王庆的全部故事。胡适在《百二十回本忠义水浒传序》中所言：“到了明嘉靖武定侯郭勋家里传出一部定本水浒传来”，“明朝晚年有杨定见、袁无涯编刻的百十二回本忠义水浒全书出现”。
需要说明的是，为保持前后一致性，本研究将汉语版本均称《水浒传》，不做区分。
鉴于《水浒传》的版本十分繁杂，搞清楚上述五位译者究竟依照的是什么样的原本就显得十分必要。
赛译在译者序中称其选金本为底本。
这亦可以从Edwin H.Lowe在2010杰译
Water Margin
前言中得以证明，他称赛译的底本是金本，杰译底本也是金本。
沙博理的译本参照了七十回和一百回本《水浒传》，前七十回是金圣叹的评定本（金本），后三十回是容与堂的一百回本，这在沙译的译者前言中有所说明。且石昌渝先生在《大中华文库》之沙译《水浒传》序言写道：“前七十回即选用了金圣叹本，后三十回则选自容与堂百回本（人民文学出版社1975年版）。”
登译本的参照版本情况较为复杂，他们在译者前言中说得比较清楚：在原文版本上参照了1969和1987年香港商务印书馆出版的一百二十回本，也参照了其他各类的版本，如1958年香港Chung Hwa Book Co.出版的《水浒全传》；在译文版本上参照了沙博理的英译本和雅克斯·达尔斯的法译本。
从以上信息可以作出归纳，赛译、杰译和沙译的前七十一回都是以“金本”为原本的，至于登译，虽然译者在前言中称其原本参照较多，但在实际与“金本”的比照过程中发现登译前七十一回亦是以“金本”为原文进行翻译的，只不过是个别地方微调了原文的顺序。综上所述，基本上可以厘清：赛译、杰译及沙译和登译的前七十一回基本上是以“金本”为原文进行翻译的。但问题是“金本”目前有许多版本，据唐艳芳（2010:17）考证，赛译水浒依据的原文是金圣叹评点的贯华堂七十回本《水浒传》，经其仔细对比并求教于方家后认为中华书局本（中华本）为赛译的主要依据。至于另外三个译本，笔者在比照几个原文版本后发现沙译和登译基本上是以容与堂版的前七十回相一致，因而选择人民文学出版社于1975年出版的《水浒传》的前七十一回作原本；而杰译与几个原本比对后发现译文删节较多，但基本上也是以容与堂版为基础的，故可将杰译及沙译和登译的原本统一起来。
具体操作方面，从回目来分析，共有如下几处出现差异：
1．母夜叉孟州道卖人肉（赛译、杰译第26回目，沙译、登译第27回目）
赛译：THE SHE-MONSTER OF THE SEA SELLS HUMAN FLESH ON THE ROAD TO MENG CHOU.
杰译：The Night Witch Sells a Man's Flesh at Mengzhou；
沙译：The Witch of Mengzhou Road Sells Drugged Wine；
登译：On the Mengzhou road the Ogress sells meat pies；
沙译的回目标题应为：母夜叉孟州道卖药酒
2．戴宗二取公孙胜（赛译、杰译第52回目，沙译、登译第53回目）
赛译：TAI CHUNG FOR THE SECOND TIME SEEKS KUNG SUN SHENG.
杰译：Dai Zong Fetches Gongsun Sheng；
沙译：Dai Zong Seeks Gongsun Sheng a Second Time；
登译：Magic Messenger wins the argument by using his wits；
登译的回目标题应为：戴宗智取公孙胜
3．宋江兵打大名府（赛译、杰译第62回目，沙译、登译第63回目）
赛译：SUNG CHIANG AND HIS FIGHTING MEN ATTACK TA MING FU.
杰译：Song Jiang's Men Attack Daming Prefecture；
沙译：Song Jiang Attacks the Northern Capital with Troops；
登译：Song Jiang attacks the Northern Capital；
沙译、登译的回目标题应为：宋江兵打北京城
4．梁山泊英雄排座次（赛译、杰译第70回目，沙译、登译第71回目）
赛译：THE HEROES OF THE ROBBERS'LAIR ARE FEARFUL BECAUSE OF AN EVIL DREAM.
杰译：（没有译）
沙译：The Heroes of Liangshan Marsh Take Seats in Order of Rank.
登译：The order of the heroes established once and for all！
赛译的回目标题应为：梁山泊英雄惊恶梦。
从内容上考察，除杰译删节较多外，最大的区别出现在赛译、杰译第70回，沙译、登译第71回中，其中，赛译删节了从“看官听说：这里方才是梁山泊大聚义处。起头分拨已定，话不重言。”起到结束的一节，约有800字的内容，也就是“梁山泊英雄惊恶梦”部分被删除了；杰译也删节了很多，在这一回中甚至连回目标题也只译出了“忠义堂石碣受天文”而“梁山泊英雄惊恶梦”或“梁山泊英雄排座次”未译；沙译和登译在这一回中相似，他们均译了“忠义堂石碣受天文，梁山泊英雄排座次”。显然这一回四个译本差异较大。
差异比较明显的地方还有赛译、杰译的第63回（对应沙译和登译第64回）的下面一段：
赛译：Let it be told now of Ling Ch'ung and Hua Yung.Each led forth a company of fighting men and they encircled The Ugly Warrior and there under the light of the great moon the three horses charged together.When they had fought somewhat less than twenty or thirty times The Ugly Warrior felt his strength gone and he turned his horse and went away.Suddenly from behind him there dashed out a female warrior and she cast a net made of ropes of the five colors and she caught The Ugly Warrior in it and dragged him from his horse.The foot soldiers dashed forward but they were taken captive every one and they were led to the great camp where Sung Chiang was.
Now does the story divide into two again.On this side Ch'ing Ming and Sheng Li led out a company of horsemen to seize Hao Ssu Wen and they came upon him face to face by the way.And Hao Ssu Wen beat his horse and loudly he cursed，“You robbers—you low thieves，he who stands in my way I will kill！He who runs away I will let live！” Then was Ch'ing Ming filled with anger and he whipped up his horse and brandished his wolf-toothed spear and he went at Hao Ssu Wen.The two horses came together and when they had fought countless rounds，Sheng Li came from the side.Then Hao Ssu Wen grew afraid and he ceased using his sword in any ordered fashion and with one push of his weapon Ch'ing Ming thrust him from his horse，and the fighting men shouted out and ran forward to seize him.
杰译：Lin Chong and Hua Rong led another attacking party，to cut off Guan Sheng's reserve forces in charge of Lieutenant-General Xuan Zan who fought for about twenty bouts in the bright moonlight.At the end Xuan Zan was almost exhausted，and turning his horse tried to escape.But the“Ten Feet of Green，” Hu San Niang had been watching this at one side，and she now threw her red silk lasso，caught Xuan Zan，and brought him off his horse.He was seized by the men around，and was also taken to the brigand's camp as a prisoner.
We will now see what had happened to the brigands led by Qin Ming and Sun Li against the reserve force of the Imperial troops under Lieutenant-General Hao Siwen.When they met on the road Hao Siwen reviled the brigands，“If you brigands obstruct my progress you will certainly die.If you wish to live then withdraw at once.”
Qin Ming was angry at this speech，lashed his horse，and dashed forward for single combat.They fought for a long time，and then Sun Li went forward to assist Qin Ming.When Hao Siwen saw he had two opponents he was undecided what to do and was off his usual guard.Qin Ming seized the opportunity，and knocked Hao Siwen off his horse，who was immediately seized by the brigands.
沙译：Lin Chong and Hua Rong and a troop of horsemen cut off Hao Siwen.Attacked by the two chieftains，Hao fought them twenty or thirty rounds.He felt his strength ebbing and turned to flee.From obliquely behind him the girl warrior Ten Feet of Steel hotly pursued.She snared him with a crimson noose and dragged him from his steed.Brigand infantry rushed forward，grabbed him，and hauled him to the main camp.
In the meanwhile，Qin Ming and Sun Li，out after Xuan Zan with a troop of cavalry，ran into him on the road.Xuan Zan rode forward.“Wretched bandits，”he fumed.“Who resists me dies，who avoids me lives！”Qin Ming was furious.He spurred his mount forward，brandishing his wolf-toothed cudgel，riding full tilt towards Xuan Zan.The chargers met and the contestants battled several rounds.Then Sun Li began closing in from the side.Xuan Zan grew flurried，he lost his old skill.He was knocked from his saddle by Qin Ming's cudgel.The three brigand contingents cheered.They rushed over and seized him.
登译：Meanwhile Leopard's Head and Colonel Hua with a squadron of cavalry had cut off Hound，whose valiant figure was clearly visible under the bright moonlight.Hound responded by furiously charging Leopard's Head.The two horses met and they fought many bouts，until Colonel Hua joined in and Hound finally found it too much for him and turned to flee.Then Steelbright，the woman warrior，came up from behind and with her red cotton lassoo dragged him from his horse.Footsoldiers rushed forward，made him prisoner and took him to the camp.Now our story divides in two.First Thunderclap and Colonel Sun led a force to capture the Ugly Son-in-Law.They blocked off the roads to stop him getting away.He slapped his horse and abused them roundly：“You bloody peasants，if you stand in my way you're dead men.Clear off，if you want to live！”
Thunderclap was furious.He galloped forward，whirling his wolf 's-tooth mace.The horses met and they fought several bouts.But when Colonel Sun joined in，the Ugly Son-in-Law lost his nerve.His technique with the sword began to desert him，and a blow from Thunderclap toppled him from his horse.All the troops roared their approval and rushed forward to apprehend him.
从上面四个对应的译文不难发现：在描写打斗过程中，赛译与杰译描述的是林冲、花荣、扈三娘擒的是宣赞，秦明、孙立擒的是郝思文；但在沙译与登译中却是林冲、花荣、扈三娘擒的是郝思文。秦明、孙立擒的是宣赞。
另外，四个译本在处理楔子和第一回时有所出入，其中赛译、杰译基本一致，沙译将楔子作为第一回翻译，因而在顺序上与前两个译本构成n＋1关系（n ≦ 70），即赛译、杰译的楔子，对应沙译的第一回，赛译、杰译的第一回对应沙译的第二回，依次类推；由于使用的是不同原本，登译则不同，其将楔子部分分成两个部分，在第一回中有一部分，在第二回中开始还占有一部分，但从对应的角度来考察，对应率很高，基本和沙译方式一样，亦遵照n＋1关系（n ≦ 70）。
此外，四个译本的个别回目顺序有所差别，但内容一致；个别章节，如赛译第四十一回“还道村受三卷天书”、“宋公明遇九天玄女”与另外三个版本有一定的差别。其余差别并不明显。
需要说明的是，本研究取四个译本的交集，即七十回本进行比较，为保证可比性，将登译本中的诗辞、打油诗、人物景物描写等部分（凡是另外三个译本没有的）忽略，建库也针对四译本的交集进行。