CHINESE CHINESE

        Selected Translations
                   Of
       Chinese Lyric Verses
                   Of
   Tang to Song Dynasties
          唐宋詞二十五首選譯
         TRANSLATED  by YK Kwan
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             Contents

Tang Dynasty 唐
01        Li Bai                李 白(701-762)
憶 秦 娥        (秋 思)
In Memory of a Maiden of Qin (Autumn Thoughts)
02        Wei Zhuang        韋  莊 (836-910)
思 帝 鄉
Heavenly Home
03        Wei Zhuang        韋  莊        
菩  薩  蠻
Tune of Foreign Beauty
04        Zhang Jie        張  籍 (c. 837)                
節 婦 吟                                                                                        
Chants Of A Faithful Wife

Five Dynasties 五代
05        Feng Yan-yi        馮 延 巳 (903-960)                
長 命 女
Longevity Girl                                
06        Li Yu                李  煜  (937-978)               
浪 淘 沙
Waves Washing On Sand
07        Li Yu                李  煜                          
浪 淘 沙 令                                                                                        
Tune of Waves Washing On Sand
08        Li Yu                李  煜                          
虞 美 人                                
Lady Yu
09        Li Yu                李  煜                          
烏 夜 啼        
Crows Cawing at Night

Song Dynasty 宋
10        Liu Yong        柳   永 (987-1053)               
雨 霖 鈴 (秋 別)
Tune of Falling Rain (Parting in Autumn)
11        Ouyang Xiu        歐 陽 修 (1007-1072)        
生查子     
The Tune of Hawthorn        
12        Su Shi                蘇  軾  (1037-1101)                
赤 壁 懷 古        
Reminiscence of Red Cliff
13        Su Shi                蘇  軾                         
江 城 子                                                                                        
Dreaming of My Wife
14        Su Shi                蘇  軾                          
江 城 子                         
Hunting in Mizhou        
15        Su Shi                蘇  軾                         
江 西 月        
The Tune of Moon Over Jiangsi
16        Su Shi                蘇  軾                          
水 調 歌 頭        
Mid-autumn Moon        
17        Su Shi                蘇  軾                         
滿 庭 芳         
Tune of Flowers in the Courtyard
18        Qin Guan        秦  觀 (1049-1101)               
鵲 橋 仙  (七 夕)        
Fairy Of The Magpie Bridge ( Eve on the 7th )
19        Qin Guan        秦  觀                         
滿 庭 芳         
Tune of Flowers in the Courtyard
20        He Zhu         賀  鑄  (1052-1125)                
六 州 歌 頭
Tune of Six Counties                         
21        Li Qing-zhao        李 清 照 (1081- c.1141)        
如 夢 令        
Like A Dream        
22        Li Qing-zhao        李 清 照                        
鳳 凰 臺 上 憶 吹 簫                                                                        
Flute On Phoenix Tower        
23        Li Qing-zhao        李 清 照                        
漁 家 傲        
Tune of Fisherman’s Pride
24        Yu Guo-bao 俞 國 寶 (c.1130)                
風 入 松        
Pines in the wind
25        Jiang Kui        姜  夔(1155-1221)                
揚 州 慢        
Yangzhou Adagio




     
 01
憶 秦 娥        (秋 思)                                        李 白 (701-762)
In Memory of A Maiden of Qin                         Li Bai
(Autumn Thoughts)

簫 聲 咽  ,
秦 娥  夢 斷 秦 樓  月。
秦 樓 月 ,
年 年 栁 色 , 灞 陵  傷 別 。
樂 游 原  上 清 秋 節 ,
咸 陽  古 道 音 塵  絕 。
音 塵 絕 ,
西 風 殘 照 , 漢 家 陵 闕  。

From the flute came a wailing tune.
Dreams chattered, a maiden of Qin,
Was up her chamber under the moon.
Her chamber and the same moon,
Look upon the willows,
Year-in, year-out,
Over Ba Bridge,
Reminiscent of her parting wound.
On Leisure Plateau,
It’s again Autumn Festival.
Yet from Xianyang, the ancient passage,
There comes no message.
No message.
Only a sun setting low,
And the west wind blowing cold,
On the Han tombs and citadel.

02
思 帝 鄉                                                        韋   莊 (836-910)
Tune of Heavenly Home                               Wei  Zhuang

春 曰 游,
杏 花 吹 滿 頭。
陌 上 誰 家 年 少,
足  風 流。
妾  擬 將 身 嫁 與 ,
一 生 休。
縱 被 無 情 棄 ,
不 能 羞 。

Outing in spring,
Almond flower petals in the air.
The wind lent them wing,
To adorn my hair.
Whose youth is that over there?
Perfectly handsome and fair!
I intend to condescend
Myself, offering him my hand
For life, and then,
Even if I be cast aside in the end,
There’s no cause for me to repent.

03
菩  薩  蠻                                                         韋   莊  (836-910)
Tune of Foreign Beauty                                  Wei Zhuang

人 人 盡 說 江 南 好 ,
遊 人 只 合 江 南 老。
春 水 碧 於 天 ,
畫 船 聽 雨 眠。
壚 邊 人  似 月 ,
皓 腕 凝 霜 雪。
未 老 莫 還 鄉 ,

Jiangnan, all people say, is the place to go,
Here, it is befitting for travelers to grow old.
Spring water as blue as the sky,
In a boat, you listen to the rain as you lie.

Girl by the bar, fair as the moon,
Her hands whiter than snow.
Don’t return home too soon,
You’ll regret it, if you return ere you’re old.

04
節 婦 吟                                                        張  籍 (c. 837)
Chants Of A Faithful Wife                             Zhang Jie

君 知 妾 有 夫 ,
贈 妾 雙 明 珠 ;
感 君 纏 綿 意 ,
系 在 紅 羅 襦。
妾 家 高 樓 連 苑 起 ,
良 人 執 戟 明 光 裡。
知 君 用 心 如 日 月 ,
事 夫 誓 擬 同 生 死。
還 君 明 珠 雙 淚 垂 ,
恨 不 相 逢 未 嫁 時。

You know I have a husband abiding,
Yet you sent me a pair of pearls shining.
Knowing your sentiments would ne’er rest,
I wore them hanging from my silk under-vest.
My home, in a high chamber overlooking palms,
My husband serving the king, bearing arms.
I know bright as the sun and moon, is your heart,
But I’ve sworn to serve my husband, never to part.
I return not only your pearls but with my tears too,
Only lament marrying before meeting you.

05
長 命 女                                                         馮 延 巳 (903-960)
Longevity Girl                                                 Feng Yan-yi  

春 日 宴 。
綠 酒 一 杯 歌 一 遍 。
再 拜 陳 三 願 。
一 願 郎 君 千 歲  ,
二 願 妾 身 長 健 。
三 願 如 同 粱 上 燕 。
歲 歲 長 相 見 。

Dinner in spring.
After a toast of green wine,
Once I sing.
Once more I bow,
With three wishes to bring.
First I wish my lord live long.
Second, I wish my health can carry on.
Third, I wish we’re like swallows in the house,
Staying together year-in, year-out.

06
浪 淘 沙                                                        李    煜  (937-978)
Waves Washing On Sand                                Li Yu

往 事 只 堪 哀 ,  對 景 難 排 ,
秋 風 庭 院 蘚 侵 階。
一 任 珠 簾 閑 不 卷 ,
終 日 誰 來？
金 瑣  巳 沈 埋 , 壯 氣 嵩 萊 ！
晚 涼 天 淨 月 華 開。
想 得 玉 樓 瑤 殿 影 ,
空 照 秦 淮 。

Sorrows on the past wouldn’t subside.
With the landscape in front of me,
I tried in vain to set them aside.
The courtyard is swept by an autumn wind,
Moss up the steps are creeping in.
The screen is left unrolled all day,
Who would come here anyway?

My golden armour has been sunk,
Any noble spirits are defunct.
In the chilling night, under a clear sky,
A full moon is shining.
I imagine the palaces are still standing
To no avail, beside
Casting shadows over River Wei.

07
浪 淘 沙 令                                                        李  煜  (937-978)
Tune of Waves Washing On Sand                    Li Yu

簾 外 雨 潺 潺 ,
春 意 闌 珊 ,  
羅 衾 不 耐 五 更 寒。
夢 裡 不 知 身 是 客 ,
一 餉 貪 歡。
獨 自 莫 憑 闌！
無 限 關 山 ,
別 時 容 易 見 時 難。
流 水 落 花 春 去 也 ,
天 上 人 間。

Outside the blind, rain is dripping dense,
It is about time that spring ends.
Yet my thin beddings cannot withhold,
The early morning cold.
It didn’t occur in my dreams,
That I was no longer my own host.
But continue seeking pleasure,
For my body and soul.

I should refrain from standing alone,
Against the balustrade to scan
Over the mountains for my home.
Once I said goodbye to it, I was doomed,
Never to see it again.
It’s like water under the bridge would flow,
And as spring flowers would come and go.
In different worlds we are,
As far as Earth and the stars.

08
虞 美 人                                                        李 煜  (937-978)
Lady Yu                                                        Li Yu

春 花 秋 葉 何 時 了。
往 事 知 多 少？
小 樓 昨 夜 又 東 風。
故 國 不 堪 回 首 月 明 中。
雕 欄 玉 砌 應 猶 在。
只 是 朱 顏 改。
問 君 能 有 幾 多 愁？
恰 似 一 江 春 水 向 東 流。

Spring flowers and autumn leaves,
How long will they last?
So many things have gone by,
It happened so fast.
In my tiny chamber,
East wind blew again last night.
My home country in moonlight
Is too much a sight for me to bear.

Carved banisters and jade podium are still there,
Only complexion of the girls are not as fair.
How much repentance can one hold?
It’s as much as all the water in the river,
To the east that flows.

09
烏 夜 啼                                                         李 煜 (937-978)
Crows Cawing at Night                                  Li Yu

林 花 謝 了 春 紅,
太 匆 匆！
無 奈 朝 來 寒 雨 晚 來 風。
臙 脂 淚, 留 人 醉,
幾 時 重?
自 是 人 生 長 恨 水 長 東！

From the splendour of spring,
The flowers are now gone.
What a hurry!
Why, the chilling rain comes at dawn,  
Followed by evening gale flurry.

Rouge cheeks smeared,
By intoxicating tears.
Shall we ever meet again dear?
Life is an everlasting loss,
As the river running east would never pause.

10
雨 霖 鈴         (秋 別)                                        柳   永 (987-1053)
Tune of Falling Rain                                        Liu Yong
(Parting In Autumn)

寒 蟬 淒 切 , 對 長 亭 晚 ,  驟 雨 初 歇。
都 門 帳 飲  無 緒 , 方 留 戀 處 , 蘭 舟 催 發。
執 手 相 看 淚  眼 , 竟 無 語 凝 噎。
念 去 去 千 里 烟 波 , 暮 靄 沈 沈 楚 天 寬。
多 情 自 古 傷 離 別 , 更 那 堪 , 冷 落 清 秋 節。
今 宵 酒 醒 何 處 ？ 楊 柳 岸 , 曉 風 殘 月 ！
此 去 經 年  , 應 是 良 辰 好 景 虛 設。
便 縱 有 千 種 風 情 , 更 與 何 人 說！

While cicadas were making a thrilling rattle,
We’re at the pavilion in late evening hour.
During a break in the sudden shower,
We improvised with a drink in the portal.
But my mind was all blank.
As I indulged to linger on,
The boatman said it was time to be gone.
We held each other’s hands,
And gazed with our eyes as tears ran.
Silent and tongue-tied,
All words failed us then.        
I figured out what ahead lies:
It’s going to be evening haze,
Over a thousand miles of waves,
Under a southern sky,
Overcast; and stretching wide.

Sorrow in losing a friend,
Is what a romantic heart will bring.
Especially with Autumn Festival at hand.
After tonight’s drink,
When I’m sober again,
Where shall I be?
Willows lining the riverbank,
Shall see me,
Under a twilight moon, in the morning breeze.
As for the years to come, any festive day,
Shall be worthless to celebrate.
Even there’re loads of feelings in my mind,
But to whom can I confide!

11
生查子                                                        歐 陽 修 (1007-1072)
The Tune of Hawthorn                               Ouyang Xiu

去 年 元 夜  時 ,
花 市 燈 如 晝。
月 上 柳 梢 頭 ,
人 約 黃 昏 後。
今 年 元 夜 時 ,
月 與 燈 依 舊。
不 見 去 年 人 ,
淚 濕 春 衫 袖。

In the Lantern Festival  last year,
Lit bright as day was the flower fair.
Atop the willow tree hang the moon,
My date came in the evening soon.
It’s the same Festival this year,
The moon and the lanterns are still there.
But this year my love was gone,
With tears soaking my sleeves, I’m forlorn.

12
念 奴 嬌                                                        蘇  軾  (1037-1101)
(赤 壁  懷 古)
Reminiscence of Red Cliff

大 江 東 去 , 浪 淘 盡 ,千 古 風 流 人 物。
故 壘 西 邊 , 人 道 是 ,三 國 周 郎  赤 壁。
亂 石 崩 雲  , 驚 濤 裂 岸  ,捲 起 千 堆 雪。
江 山 如 畫 , 一 時 多 少 豪 傑。
遙 想 公 瑾 當 年,小 喬  初 嫁 了,雄 姿 英 發。
羽 扇 綸 巾  ,談 笑 間 ,强 虜 灰 飛 煙 滅。
故 國 神 遊 ,多 情 應 笑 我 ,早 生 華 髮 。
人 生 如 夢 ,一 樽 還 酹  江 月。

The great River forever flowing east.
Under its currents,
Historical figures no longer exist.
It was said,
On the west bank, the ruined fort,
Was where Marshall Zhou had
His Battle of Red Cliff fought.
The rocks tower sky-high,
Over the shoreline
Where stunning waves break,
Rowing into tons of snowy spumes and flakes.
Landscape so memorable,
Reminiscent of our ancient heroes.

Casting my mind back now:
The younger sister of Chao,
Was a new bride to Marshall Zhou,
Who owned imposing poise and heroic fame.
Dressed in casual attire,
Amongst relaxed chats and laughter,
He dismissed his enemies in smoking flames.
In this ancient country,
My mind turns nostalgic.
Ridicule me if you wish,
But it’s my nature to be romantic.
Though middle-aged I’m grey-haired,
Life is all but a dream, whether we care.
My bottle of wine, I offer,
To the moon and the river.

13
江 城 子                                                        蘇  軾 (1037-1101)
(正月二十曰夜記夢)
Dreaming of My Wife                                    Su Shi

十 年 生 死 两 茫 茫,
不 思 量, 自 難 忘。
千 里 孤 墳 , 無 處 話 淒 涼。
縱 使 相 逢 應 不 識:
塵 滿 面, 鬢 如 霜。  
夜 來 幽 夢 忽 還 鄉。
小 軒 窗, 正 梳 妝。
相 顧 無 言, 唯 有 淚 千 行。
料 得 年 年 腸 斷 處:
明 月 夜, 短 松 岡。

For ten years you have died,
And we lost each other.
I cannot put it aside,
Nor forget about it either.
A solitary grave so far away,
Sorrow beyond what words can say.
If we meet, can we know each other’s face?
Covered with dust,
My hair all grey.

In the middle of night,
My dream took flight;
And brought me to my village home.
I saw you in our little room,
By the window,
Making up your hair.
In silence, on each other we just stared,
Then our tears started to flow.
Each day of the year,
I know where my sorrow would go.
In a moon-lit night,
Among the pines on a knoll.

14
江 城 子                                                        蘇 軾 (1037-1101)
(密 州 出 獵)
Hunting in Mizhou                                         Su Shi

老 夫 聊 發 少 年 狂:
左 牽 黃 , 右 擎 蒼 。
錦 帽 貂 裘, 千 騎 卷 平 岡。
為 報 傾 城 隨 太 守,
親 射 虎, 看 孫 郎 。
酒 酣 胸 膽 尚 開 張。
鬢 微 霜 , 又 何 妨 !
持 節 雲 中 , 何 日 遣 馮 唐 ？
會 挽 彫 弓, 如 滿 月,
西 北 望, 射 天 狼 。

I suddenly find a rekindled zeal,
To make my young fantasy real.
On my left, leashed a hound,
A falcon on my right arm.
In silk hat and mink cloak,
With a thousand riders mopping the down.
Following me, the governor, is the whole town,
Watching a tiger hunt,
By a warrior renowned.

Fueled by wine,
Courage knows no bound.
Grey-haired though,
It does no harm.
When shall I receive my command,
To fight foreign partisan?
I can’t wait to behold,
Myself drawing a bow,
In an arc like full moon.
North-westward, lo,
Aiming at my foe.

15
江 西 月                                                        蘇 軾 (1037-1101)
The Tune of Moon Over Jiangsi                  Su Shi

頃在黄州, 春夜行蘄水中, 過酒家飲; 酒醉, 乘月至一溪橋上, 解鞍曲肱 ,
醉卧少休; 及覺,巳曉, 亂山攢擁, 流水鏘然, 疑非塵世也。書此詞橋柱上。

野 照 瀰 瀰 淺 浪,
橫 空 隱 隱 層 霄。
障 泥 未 解 玉 驄 驕,
我 欲 醉 眠 芳 草。
可 惜 一 溪 風 月,
莫 教 踏 碎 瓊 瑤 。
解 鞍 敧 枕 綠  楊 橋,
杜 宇 一 声 春 曉。

Ripples of the rivulet wash in wave after wave,
A meadow lies ahead, in moonlight bathed.
With hidden clouds at different heights,
The sky stretches wide in the night.
With saddle and pad on,
My horse is still going strong.
But I’d rather lie on the turf, feeling merry,
Before carrying on my journey.

I have a heart for this scene,
The breeze, the moon and the stream.
To ride roughshod to intrude
Upon the moon in the water seems so rude.
Unsaddling my horse, I put a pillow
Against the bridge and sleep under a willow.
By the cuckoos’ call I am awakened,
Only then I realize twilight has broken.

16
水 調 歌 頭                                                蘇 軾  (1037-1101)
丙辰中秋,歡飲達旦,大醉作此篇,兼懷子由 。
Mid-autumn Moon                                     Su Shi

明 月 幾 時 有 ? 把 酒 問 青 天。
不 知 天 上 宮 闕, 今 夕 是 何 年？
我 欲 乘 風 歸 去, 又 恐 瓊 樓 玉 宇,
高 處 不 勝 寒。
起 舞 弄 清 影, 何 似 在 人 間？
轉 朱 閣  , 低 綺 户, 照 無 眠。
不 應 有 恨, 何 事 長 向 別 時 圓？
人 有 悲 歡 離 合, 月 有 陰 睛 圓 缺,
此 事 古 難 全。
但 願 人 長 久, 千 里 共 嬋 娟 。

O bright moon!
Why don’t I see you more often?
With raised wine cup,
I put this question to Heaven.
I know little about palaces there,
Much less, what year is their year?
I long for a ride on the wind heading home,
But fear the jade celestial towers
Might be too chilly for me to roam.
With my own shadow I playfully dance,
Isn’t this better than heaven, by any chance?

Turning with the moon,
Is the shadow of my chamber in red.
Shining over my low window sill, is the moon,
Seeing me tossing in bed.
Why should it always shine when I’m away?
I shouldn’t really presume, I’m afraid.
In our life, we’ve joy mixed with tragedy,
Separation with unity.
Whereas the moon,
Has its orb and obscurity.
From the past we can see,
Perfection just cannot be.
I only wish we can last long, if we may,
Sharing the same moon a thousand miles away.

17
滿 庭 芳                                                         蘇  軾 (1037-1101)
元豐七年四月一日, 余將去黄移汝 , 留別雪堂 鄰里二三君子,
會李仲賢自江東來別, 遂書以遺之。
Tune of Flowers in the Courtyard                  Su Shi

歸 去 來 兮！ 吾 歸 何 處？  
萬 里 家 在 岷 峨。
百 年 强 半  , 來 日 苦 無 多！
坐 見 黄 州 再 閏 , 兒 童 盡 楚 語 吳 歌。
山 中 友,  雞 豚 社 酒 ,  相 勸 老 東 坡 。
云 何！ 當 此 去 , 人 生 底 事 , 來 往 如 梭。
待 閒 看 秋 風 , 洛 水 清 波。
好 在  堂 前 細 柳 , 應 念 我 , 莫 剪 柔 柯 。
仍 傳 語 : 江 南 父 老 , 時 與 曬 漁 蓑。

Let’s go home, O!
But where do I go?
My home’s far off,
O’er mountains, a thousand-fold.
I’m over half of a centenary old,
Not very much the future will hold!
Staying in Huangzhou,
Two intercalary months went past.
Among the children in the household,
Only local tongue and songs last.
Friends in the mountain, near Dongbo,
Offer me village wine, pig and fowl,
Asking me, “stay here to grow old.”

What could I say!
I ‘d rather not stay.
Why should I meddle with worldly affairs,
Shuttling here and there?
I’d rather leisurely watch in the autumn wind,
The clear waves of the Le River scene.
How’s the forecourt willow tree?
By which people should remember me,
Treating it, as a young plant, tenderly.
For my Jiangnan elderlies,
A few words I wish to say:
Don’t forget to dry your fishing gears,
Whenever there’s a sunny day.

18
鵲 橋 仙  (七 夕)                                                秦 觀  (1049-1100)
Fairy Of The Magpie Bridge                              Qin Guan
( Eve On The 7th )

纖 雲 弄 巧,  飛 星 傳 恨,
銀 漢  迢 迢 暗 度。
金 風 玉 露 一 相 逢,
便 勝 卻 人 間 無 數。
柔 情 似 水,  佳 期 如 夢,
忍 顧 鵲 橋 歸 路?
兩 情 若 是 久 長 時,
又 豈 在 朝 朝 暮 暮。

The wispy cirrus is floating high;
A shooting comet carries my yearning to the other side,
Crossing the Milky Way in silvery hue,
In the autumn wind and dew.
Though we meet once yearly in the sky,
It surpasses countless earthly ties.

Tender like water, your passion,
Shall fill my dreams, our only liaison.
Retracing steps on the Bridge is a sorrow,
I don’t want to count each day and morrow.
If we join our hearts in this hour of gold,
To the end of time our affection will hold.

19        
滿 庭 芳                                                        秦 觀 (1049-1100)
Tune of Flowers In The Courtyard               Qin Guan

曉色雲開 , 春随 人意,  驟雨才過還晴。
古台芳榭  ,  飛燕蹴紅英。
舞困榆錢 自落 , 鞦韆外 , 綠水橋平。
東風裡 , 朱門映柳 , 低按小秦箏 。
多情,  行樂處 , 珠鈿 翠蓋 , 玉轡 紅纓。
漸酒空金榼  , 花困 蓬瀛 。
豆蔻梢頭 舊恨, 十年夢, 屈指堪驚。
凭闌久, 疏煙 淡日, 寂寞下蕪城 。

Twilight had broken with clouds clearing
Nature of spring was really mind-reading.
A sudden drizzle stopped before long,
Showing a clear sky of dawn.
Historic pergola and pavilion,
Were overlooking water in the pond.
Swallows shuttled among the flowers
Causing petals to scatter.
Elm-nuts in the wind fluttered;
Became tired and drifted down.
Beyond the garden swing, I found,
The river had swollen to bridge level.
One could catch a glimpse, in the east wind,
Of the scarlet doorway shaded by willow.
The faint melody of a Qin qin .
Came from the house within.

Lost in frivolity we indulged in,
I played the part of a romantic lover.
She, wearing strings of pearls to her hairpin,
In a carriage with an emerald-feathered cover.
I put on a jade bridle,
Riding my horse with red tassels.
Then wine in the gold goblets ran low,
And my lover’s passion turned cold.
Much sorrow remained,
When I parted with my dame.
For ten years I lived in a dream of fog,
Counting the years passed, I’m shocked.
Against the balustrade I linger to find
Only a sun in a hazy smog,
Settling below the city skyline.

20
六 州 歌 頭                                                   賀  鑄  (1052-1125)
Tune of Six Counties                                    He Zhu

少 年 俠 氣  , 交 結 五 都 雄。
肝 膽 洞。毛 髮 聳。
立 談 中。生 死 同。
一 諾 千 金 重。
推 翹 勇。矜 豪 縱。
輕 蓋  擁。聯 飛 鞚  。斗 城  東。
轟 飲 酒 壚 , 春 色 浮 寒 甕。
吸 海 垂 虹 。
間 呼 鷹 嗾 犬 , 白 羽 摘 雕 弓。
狡 穴  俄  空。
樂 匆 匆 !

A youngster with a chivalrous quest,
Befriending heroic warriors, my zest.
Conscience clear;
Hair and bear reared.
In a standing chat,
Set a death pact.
A promise given,
Is good as done.
Courage dare,
Care-free air.
Chariots surging,
Calvary charging.
Join the list,
Citadel East.
Shock the wine bar,
Empty floating jars.
Drink as a rainbow free
Direct from the sea.
Bring the falcon
And hounds to hunt.
Pick fine bows and arrows,
Clear out the rabbit burrows.
What fun!

21
如  夢  令                                                       李 清 照 (1081- c.1141)
Like A Dream                                                 Li Qing-zhao

常 記 溪 亭 日 暮。
沉 醉 不 知 歸 路。
興 盡 晚 回 舟,
誤 入 藕 花 深 處。
争 渡 ,  争 渡。
驚 起 一  灘  鷗 鷺。

By the rivulet, the sunset marquee,                
Had always been in my memory.
But I was lost anyway,
When I was too tipsy the other day.
After a drinking date,                                 
In good spirits I returned late.
Deep into the lilies my boat strayed,                
And I endeavoured to paddle away.
To paddle away,                                
Sending herons startled to fly in a hurry.   

22
鳳 凰 臺 上 憶 吹 簫                                        李 清 照 (1084-1151)
The Flute On Phoenix Tower                          Li Qing-zhao

香 冷 金 猊  , 被 翻 紅 浪  ,
起 來 慵 自 梳 頭。
任 寶 奩 塵 滿 , 日 上 簾 釣。
生 怕 離 懷 別 苦 , 多 少 事,  欲 說 還 休。
新 來 瘦 , 非 干 病 酒   , 不 是 悲 秋。
休 休 , 者 回 去 也 ,
千 萬 遍 陽 關  ,也 則 難 留。
念 武 陵  人 遠 , 煙 鎖 秦 樓 。
惟 有 樓 前 流 水 , 應 念 我 終 日 凝 眸。
凝 眸 處 , 從 今 又 添 一 段 新 愁。

The lion figurine of my incense pot
Has now turned cold.
My duvet left carelessly in red folds.
Getting up, I’m too lazy to comb my hair,
The mirror casket turned dusty, I don’t care.
On my blind, the sun is already hanging there.
Parting with my beloved, is the only thing I fear.
Too many things I wanted to say,
But yet refrained anyway.
Recently I lost weight,
Not because of wine,
Nor due to melancholy autumn time.

I‘ve to be resigned.
Resigned,
That he’s really leaving this time.
Even ten thousand goodbye verses combined,
Wouldn’t make him stay behind.
I imagine he’ll travel afar, lost in a maze,
When my chamber shall be locked by haze.
Only in front of my window,
The river that’s flowing,
Will testify my daylong gazing.
Such gazing
Shan’t help me, I ‘d say,
Feeling crestfallen day after day.

23
漁 家 傲                                                        李 清 照 (1084-1151)
Tune of Fisherman’s Pride                           Li Qing-zhao

天 接 雲 濤 連 海 霧,
星 河  欲 轉 千 帆 舞。
彷 彿 夢 魂 歸 帝 所,
聞 天 語,
殷 勤 問 我 歸 何 處？
我 報 路 長 嗟 日 暮,
學 詩 謾  有 驚 人 句。
九 千 里 風 鵬 正 舉,
風 休 住,
蓬 舟 吹 我 三 山  去。

A sky with an ocean of clouds,
Merging with the ocean haze.
A thousand sails raving,
Under the wheeling Milky Way.
My dream vaguely takes me to heaven.
I heard heaven clearly,
Asking me dearly:
“Where do you want to stay?”

I reply: “ It’s a place far away,
And the hour is getting late.”
From poetry I learnt of many a stunning phrase.
But can find none to say.
To travel at celestial speed,
Pegasus , would be what I need.
Don’t stop, O gale,
Blow me to the isles of fairy tales,
In my small boat with a sail.

24
風 入 松                                                        俞 國 寶 (c. 1130)
Pines in the Wind                                         Yu Guo-Bao

一 春 長 費 買 花 錢 ,
日 日 醉 湖 邊。
玉 驄  慣 識 西 湖 路 ,
驕 嘶 過 , 沽 酒 樓 前。
紅 杏 香 中 簫 鼓 ,
綠 楊 影 裡 鞦 韆。
暖 風 十 里 麗 人 天 ,
花 壓 鬢 雲 偏。
畫 船 載 取 春 歸 去 ,
餘 情 付 湖 水 湖 煙。        
明 日 重 扶 殘 醉 ,
來 尋 陌 上 花 鈿 。

Spring comes and I spend lavishly on flowers;
And by the lakeside everyday,
I get myself drunk most of the hours.
To and fro West Lake, my horse knows its way,
Neighing, when passing the shop selling liquor.
In the aroma of the red almond flowers,
Musicians are playing drums, flutes and strings.
Under the shade of the green willow trees,
People are enjoying the swings.

In a warm breeze, a ten-mile walk by the lakeside,
Filled with beauties under a blue sky.
You see flowers everywhere,
Even up the side of the ladies’ hair.
Let’s bring home the air of spring
In a dream-boat, leaving
Behind, for the misty lake,
Our hidden feelings.
Tomorrow, I can return with a left hangover,
And retrieve on the path any lost hairpin flowers.

25
揚 州 慢                                                        姜 夔  (1155-1221)       
Yangzhou Adagio                                         Jiang Kui

淳熙丙申至日,余過維揚。夜雪初霽,薺麥彌望。入其城,則四顧蕭條,寒水自碧。
纂色漸起,戌角悲吟。余懷愴然,感慨今昔,因自度此曲。千巖老人以為 有黍離之悲也。

淮左 名都, 竹西 佳處, 解鞍少駐初程。
過春風十里 , 盡薺麥青青。
自胡馬 窺江去後, 廢池喬木,猶厭言兵。
漸黄昏,清角吹寒,都在空城。
杜郎 俊賞,算而今,重到須驚。
縱豆蔻詞 工,青樓夢 好,難賦深情。
二十四橋 仍在,波心蕩,冷月無聲。
念橋邊紅藥 ,年年知為誰生！


East of River Wei
A famous city by the riverside.
Jusi was a well-known spot,
As a leisure resort.
I unsaddle my horse,
And break my journey there.
Throughout a ten-mile course,
Spring is in the air.
In a gentle wind,
The wheat is all green.
Since the last Hu  incursion,
Gardens and ponds that we saw
Were left in desolation.
People are scary to think of war.
When dusk is setting in,
A bugle sends a chilling note,
Resounding in an empty city.

Poet Du  was much impressed then;
If today he were to visit again,
He would surely be taken aback.
His poetic feat, though not in lack;  
And despite his romantic gadding,
He wouldn’t be able to express his feeling.
The Twenty-four Bridges are still intact;
With ripples rolling,
A cold moon is mutely floating.
The peony by the riverbank, I fear,
For whom do they bloom each year?

                  
                                          
1. 咽: 指悲凉.
2. 秦娥: 相 傳 秦 穆 公 女 弄 玉 善 吹 簫 , 嫁 給 仙 人 簫 史 , 教 她
在 樓 上 吹 簫           作 鸞 鳳 鳴 , 把 鳳 凰 引 了 來 . 這 裡 秦 娥 泛
指 秦 地 女 子。
3. 秦樓: 穆公為女弄玉作鳳臺, 吹簫引鳳, 今古相傳,以為秦樓.
4.灞陵: 在 陝 西 長 安 東, 附 近 有 灞 橋,唐 人 送 客 , 至 此 折 柳
而 別 。
5.樂 游 原: 在 長 安 南 的 高 地 , 漢 代 京 城 士 女 游 玩 的 地 方。
6.咸 陽: 長 安 西 北,秦 代 都 城 所 在 。
7.音 塵: 音 信. 指 古 道 沒 有 音 信 , 與 樂 游 原 上 士 女 嬉 游 相
對 照 。
8. 陵,是帝王的墳墓,闕,是宮門或宮牆
9.足夠, 十分的意思.
10.古代女子自謙之稱.
11.不在乎.
12. 楊憲益考證<菩薩蠻>是譯音, 為唐代緬甸音樂, 由李白引入中國.
又,唐時俗稱美女為菩薩, 菩薩蠻 猶稱女蠻。
13.  壚 邊 人, 暗借卓文君市中沽酒故事[史記, 司馬相如列傳], 指酒
家女.
14 .當時中原鼎沸, 而江南景色怡人, 故云.
15.  楊憲益考證<菩薩蠻>是譯音, 為唐代緬甸音樂, 由李白引入中
國. 又,唐時俗稱美女為菩薩, 菩薩蠻            猶稱女蠻。
16.  壚 邊 人, 暗借卓文君市中沽酒故事 [史記, 司馬相如列傳], 指酒
家女。
17.  當時藩鎮割據, 黄巢之亂,中原鼎沸, 而江南景色怡人, 故云。
23. 春 花 秋 葉>, 解成一年的時節, 比 <春 花 秋
月>更恰當. 李煜在976 年降宋, 至977 年正月寫
此詞時剛好一年.
24. This poem was written in 977, the
second year after the author (the last king of
Southern Tang) became a captive of the
Song Dynasty.
25. 漢官道上,十里一長亭,五里一短亭,供行人休
息,餞別。
26.  在亭外張帷帳, 設餞行酒。
27.  江南古為楚地, 楚天即南方天空。
一年復一年。
18. 作者為南唐李後主, 國為宋朝所滅, 被封為
侯, 實為俘虜, 三年後卒, 疑為宋所不容, 被毒
害。
19. 即金鎖, 指金鎖甲。
20. 两種荒地的植物, 意指荒癈, 消沉。
21. 南唐金陵的秦淮河, 今南京。

22. The author was the last king of the state
of Southern Tang, known as Li Hou Zhu
(from 962 to 975). The country’s capital was
at Jinling (now Nanjing). His state was
vanquished by Song Dynasty in 975 and he
was taken as captive though given the title of
marquis. He was an accomplished scholar
and poet. He died three years into captivity at
the age of 41; and it was commonly believed
that he was poisoned.
29.  正月十五日稱上元, 上元的晚上稱元宵或元
夜, 亦俗稱燈節。古代女子可破例夜遊觀看花
燈。
30. In the Lantern Festival  last year,
Lit bright as day was the flower fair.
Atop the willow tree hang the moon,
My date came in the evening soon.
It’s the same Festival this year,
The moon and the lanterns are still there.
But this year my love was gone,
With tears soaking my sleeves, I’m forlorn.
31. 湖北省, 長江南岸, 近武昌, 三國時代 (公元208年 ),
魏 與 蜀,吳 交戰的戰場, 史稱赤壁之戰 作者還著有<前
赤壁賦> 及<後赤壁賦>。
32. 周郎, 即周瑜, 字公瑾, 當時吳軍統領, 。
33. 崩雲或作<穿空>,
34. 裂岸或作<拍岸>, 各本不同。
35  三國志, 周瑜傳 : 時喬公兩女, 皆國色也, 策(孫策)納
大喬, 瑜納小喬
36.  綸 (音關)巾, 絲帛做的便帽。
37.  華髮,即花髮, 或白髮 。
38.  酹(音賴), 以酒澆地為祭。
39.  熙寧八年悼亡妻之作。
40.  蘇軾亡妻 王氏葬於故鄉四川眉山, 作者此時
在密州, 相距甚遠
41.  Written about 1077 after dreaming about
his wife Wang (王氏) and as a condolence.
42.  黄: 指黄狗。
43.  蒼: 指蒼鷹。
44.  傾城,指萬人空巷,觀眾之多。
45.  即孫權,曾乘馬射虎,作者自喻勇如孫權。郎,是古代對少
年的美稱。
46.  節, 兵符, 即領兵雲中, 今山西大同。
47.  馮唐, 漢文帝持使, 持節赦魏尚罪, 復職雲中太守。暗指
委以邊事, 抵禦羌戎。
48.  史記: 参東有大星曰狼, 狼角變色, 多盗賊。晉書: 狼星
在井(星)東南, 主侵掠。暗指西羌敵兵。

49.  Written in the winter of 1077 .
50.  肱 (音轟), 臂膀。論語: 曲肱而枕之。
51.  障泥, 馬薦, 墊於馬鞍下, 两旁垂下以擋塵土。
52.  馬名, 這裡作馬的代稱。        
53.  瓊, 瑤, 指美玉, 借用作形容水光月色。
54.  杜鵑鳥。
55.  蘇轍, 作者之弟。
56.  指閣影随月亮轉移。
57.  指月亮。
58.  時作者奉調汝州ｏ
59.  雪堂, 作者在黄州所築之居業。
60.  強半, 大半。
61.  老, 作動詞, 東坡, 作者所居小地名, 亦用作自已的別
號。即老死在束坡之意。
62.  好在, 問候語。
63.  細枝。
64.  即銀河。

65.  The Altair 牛郎星 and the Vega 織女星 are two
stars on the opposite sides of the Milky Way 銀河 and
in Chinese legend, they were personalized as
Cowboy 牛郎 and Spinster 織女 who could only meet
each other once each year on the evening of the 7th
day of the 7th month  via a bridge formed by magpies
鵲橋.
66.  華麗水邊的樓台。
67.  榆錢, 榆樹的果實, 如錢狀。舞困, 舞得疲乏。
68.  箏, 似瑟的弦樂器, 傳為秦朝始造, 故稱秦箏。
69.  鑲 珍珠的女子髮釵
70.  華貴有蓋的車子。
71.  轡頭鑲玉的駿馬。
72.  飲酒金的器皿。
73.  美人厭倦了。
74.  蓬瀛仙境。
75.  杜牧詩: <贈別>: “娉娉裊裊十三餘, 豆蔻梢頭二
月初”。喻少女。
76.  蕪城即揚州城。

77.  String musical instrument similar to zither,
believed to be used since Qin Dynasty.
78. 有篷馬車。
79. 聯馬飛馳。
80. 汴京陳留縣。
81. 杜詩: “飲如長虹吸百川”, 喻豪飲。
82. 兔穴, 史記,孟嘗君列傳: 狡兔有三窟。
83. 頃刻。
84.  金屬形狀如狻猊 (獅子) 的香爐。
85.  描述沒有摺好的紅色被子。
86.  鏡匣。
87. 不關吃酒吃病了。
88.  陽關: 送行曲名, 即王維 <陽關曲>: “渭城朝雨浥輕塵”,
見唐詩選譯五十首。
89.  晉陶淵明<桃花源記>記武陵漁人偶入桃花林, 發現 “世
外桃源”, 這裡比喻作者丈夫遠行。
90.  秦樓: 見李白詞 01, 註3。
91.  銀河。
92.  空然, 徒然。
93.  傳說中海上有三座仙山,篷萊, 方丈, 瀛洲。

94.  Greek mythology: a winged-horse owned by Muses,
that could fly. Also, the name of a constellation  (飛馬座).
馬名,指馬。
95.  馬名,指馬。
96.  女子髮上的飾物。
97.    揚州在淮河東面, 故稱淮左。
98.    竹西亭, 在揚州城東。
99.    杜牧詩, <贈別>: “春風十里揚州路”, 作者借述昔日之揚州。
100.    指金人兵馬。
101.    杜牧(803-852), 唐朝詩人。
102.   見杜牧詩,<贈別>“娉娉裊裊十三餘, 豆蔻梢頭二月初”。
103.  見杜牧詩,<遣懷> “十年一覺揚州夢,嬴得青樓簿倖名”。
104.   揚州橋名。
105.  芍藥花。


106.  Hu 胡,generally a reference to tribes north of China. It
was in fact Jin 金 which conquered the part of China north of
Chang Jiang 長江 in 1127 and the Song Government moved
to Lin’an 臨安, historically known as Southern Song 南宋.This
poem was written in 1176, over forty years after the Jin
incursion into Yangzhou.
107.  Du Mu (803-852), poet in Tang Dynasty, who lived over
three centuries before the author.
Martial art fiction
Chinese beauties
Home cooking recipes
Legends
Female emperor
Threatening myths
A remarkable woman
A lustful woman
"Thunderstorm"
Chinese music
Panda in motion
Chinese opera