候館梅殘    溪橋柳細    草薰風暖搖征轡

離愁漸遠漸無窮    迢迢不斷如春水

寸寸柔腸    盈盈粉淚    樓高莫近危闌倚

平蕪盡處是春山    行人更在春山外

Tune: Treading On Grass       Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072)  江紹倫譯

Mume blossoms by the roadside are fading
Willow trees near the small bridge greening
Amid warm air and fragrant grass a rider is set to go

The farther he roams the heavier his parting grief grows
On and on like torrents in the spring river flow

Tender guts hurt inch by inch
On her teary face longing eyes are locked in
Against the railing up high she must not lean

To the end of the plain lies the spring hills
Her rider husband is already beyond her view

輕舟短棹西湖好
綠水逶迤
芳草長堤
隐隐笙歌處處随

無風水面琉璃滑
不覺船移
微動漣漪
驚起沙禽掠岸飛

Tune: Picking Mulberries                  Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072)       江紹倫譯

On a light boat pedaled by short oars the West Lake is fair
Crystal water white and clear
Beyond the blue grass appears the long dike
Light music echoes hitter and thither delight

Smooth as a mirror is the lake when no breeze blowing
One feels the boat not moving
Ripples their shimmering flare
Frightened water birds skim over the winding shore

群芳過後西湖好
狼籍殘紅
飛絮蒙蒙
垂柳欄幹盡日風

笙歌散盡遊人去
始覺春空
垂下簾右櫳
雙燕歸來細雨中

Tune: Picking Mulberries                  Ouyang Xiu (1007-1072) 江紹倫譯

Rid of colourful flowers the West Lake stays fair
Scattered red petals everywhere
Catkins fill the air like a mist veil
Wavy willows along rails invite breezes all day

Music and singers gone with visitors
Feeling spring empty
I lower the blinds in vain
A pair of swallows appear returning in drizzling rain

寶髻鬆鬆挽就
鉛華淡淡妝成
青姻翠霧罩輕盈
飛絮游絲無定

相見不如不見
有情還似無情
笙歌散後酒微醒
深院月明人靜

Tune: Moon on West River                Sima Guang (1019-1086)  江紹倫譯

She has her hair done up in a bun fluffy
Wearing simple makeup she appears happy
Delightful as engulfed in a purple mist
Her graceful steps light as willow downs I shall miss

Before we part we already wish to meet
Our love appears casual it is by no means weak
Tipsiness overcomes there are no more songs
Nobody around in the deep courtyard the moon shines on

望海潮     柳永 (987-1053)
Tune: Watching the Tides      Liu Yong (987-1053)   江紹倫譯

東南形勝    江吳都會    錢塘自古繁華
Southeast scenic splendor
Capital of ancient Kingdom Wu
Qiantang thrives today as ever

煙柳畫橋    風簾翠幕    參差十萬人家
Misty willows along painted bridges
Breezy windows their curtains green
To adorn a hundred thousand dwellings

雲樹繞堤沙  怒濤卷霜雪  天塹無涯    市列珠璣    戶盈羅绮競豪奢
Cloud-crowned tees surround the sandy banks
Roaring waves roll up a sky of snowy sands
This river extends to land’s end
Mounts of pearly jewels on display at the daily fair
Homes filled with splendid silk and satin array
Folks here compete in magnificent opulence

… 

重湖疊瓛清嘉      有三秋桂子  十裏荷花
Layers of lakes reflect the peaks and serene towers
Autumn fragrances linger with osmanthus flowers
Ten thousand li of blooming lotus

羌管弄晴    菱歌泛夜    嬉嬉釣叟蓮娃
Northern pipes play with sunshine
Water chestnut songs sung on starry nights
Old fishermen and native maidens beam with delight

千騎擁高牙  乘醉聽簫鼓  吟賞煙霞
A thousand stallions hoisting flags to bid your arrival
Tipsy you may best appreciate melodies of flutes and drums
Chanting praises for this wonderful land beneath the sun

異日圖將好景      歸去鳳池誇
On a future date you might render this grand scene in flowery narrations
And boast your experience to the court with warm affection

憶帝京 柳永 (987-1053)
Tune: Recalling the Imperial Capital       Liu Yong (987-1053)  江紹倫譯

薄衾小枕天氣         乍覺别離滋味
展轉數寒更        起了還重睡
畢竟不成眠        一夜長如歲

In meager quilt and small pillow when weather is cold
I begin to suffer the parting sorrow
Tossing in bed I count the chilly hours
Getting up only to return to bed however
Can’t sleep
The night feels lonely as year

也擬待      卻回征轡
又争奈      已成行計
萬種思量    多方開解    隻恁寂寞厭厭地

How I wish to return to you for perpetual stay
But I’m already far away
A thousand deliberations entertained
Mounts of excuses said in vain
They only accentuate my loneliness as much as I hate

系我一身心  負你千行淚

My heart is tied to you my remaining years
Not enough to compensate for all your tears