《子夜歌》《Midnight Song》 Li Yu
人生愁恨何能免 Who could avoid rancor and grief in life
銷魂獨我情何限 Limited is happiness of a singular kind
故國夢重歸 I dreamed returning to my old country
覺來雙淚垂 Waking up I find wet tears plenty
高樓誰與上 Who was with me up the high tower
長記秋晴望 I recall looking far out in autumn
往事已成空 Past events now empty
還如一夢中 They live still in dreams Continue reading
《Tune: Yu the Beautiful. Wind returns to my small courtyard deplete of green》Li Yu
風回小院庭蕪綠 Wind returns to my small courtyard deplete of green
柳眼春相續 The willows seem to thrive again this spring
憑欄半日獨無言 On the railings I lean for half a day without a word
依舊竹聲新月似當年 The new moon and bamboo murmur like yore
笙歌未散尊前在 Music and songs remain with dinning and wine
池面冰初解 Ice on pool tops melts as the weather turns mild
燭明香暗畫堂深 Candle light and subdue fragrance keep the ornate hall alive
滿鬢清霜殘雪思難 任This graying in my temple must I abide
林花谢了春红，
太匆匆，
无奈朝来寒雨晚来风。
胭脂泪，
留人醉，
几时重，
自是人生长恨水长东。
In the tune of “Crow Calling at Night”*
Li Yu (937-978)
Translation by YK Chan 陈耀国译:
Flowers in the grove falling: gone is spring’s brilliance,
Too hastily and soon;
Chilling rain at morn and evening breeze bring helpless gloom.
Blood-rouge tears–
Bewildering but endeared,
When could there be recurrence?
Life-long regrets forever flow like a river thence.
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*又名《相见欢》、《秋夜月》、《上西楼》。This tune title is also known as
“Rendezvous Joy”, “Moonlit Fall Evening”, or “Ascending Western Block”.
南唐李后主
In the Tune of “Waves Sifting Sand” Li Yu (937-978)
Tr. YK Chan 陈耀国译
Outside the curtain rain sprinkles: Spring is wearing off.
Silk bedding cannot fend off the fifth-watch chill.
Lost in dreamland I know not myself as a guest—indulging in pleasure for the moment.
I ought not to be alone looking out by the railings: boundless kingdom,
Parting is easy but returning is hard.
Water flowing, flowers dropping—spring’s gone, to homeland in heaven!
別來春半 觸目柔腸斷 砌下落梅如雪亂 拂了一身還滿
雁來音信無憑 路遙歸夢難成 離恨恰如春草 更行更遠還生
Tune: Serene Music Li Yu(937-978) 江紹倫譯
Spring is half gone since we parted
My heart breaks where’er it tries to park
Mume blossoms fall like scattering snow
They cling on me though I brushed them off minutes ago
The geese came bringing no message from you
Home is too far even in a dream
Parting griefs are like grass in spring
They thrive however far I walk trying to leave them behind
昨夜風兼雨 帘幃颯颯秋聲 燭殘漏斷頻倚枕 起坐不能平
世事漫隨流水 算來一夢浮生 醉鄉路穩宜頻到 此外不堪行
Tune: Crow Cries By Night Li Yu (937-978) 江紹倫譯
Raining wind soughed all night long
My door screen rustled like an autumn song
Water clock drips kept me from sleep after candlelight died
I got up from bed with a disquiet mind
All things drift gone like water in a perishing stream
Life floats but like a dream
Let’s frequent the road to beautiful drunkland
Nothing else is worth raising a hand
花明月黯籠輕霧
今霄好向郎邊去
衩襪步香階
手提金縷鞋
畫堂南畔見
一向偎人顫
奴為出來難
教君恣意憐
《Tune: Buddhist Dancer》 Li Yu (937-978) 江紹倫譯
Bright flowers veiled in thin mist under dim moonlight
‘Tis an opportune time to venture your way my love
With torn stockings in fragrant steps I tread
Holding my slippers sown with golden thread
We meet south of the painted hall
In your firm embrace trembling I fall
‘Tis not easy for me to meet you often
So do caress me every way as you please
春花秋月何時了 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
Original Chinese Poem was composed by the last Emperor of South Tong Dynasty, Lee Yuk, ( a soliloquy the defeated emperor composed when he was imprisoned ) translated by Philip Lee (1960)
Spring flowers and autumn moon came and went in a repetitious span;
How much of the past do we really understand;
The breeze of spring has arrived again to my tiny abode where I am an imprisoned wizen;
Under the shining moon, it was a melancholy moment to reminisce my former empire in the south of far horizons;
My jade palace and the chattel of beauties should still be present and within range;
Except that my youthful appearance and the color of my palace had gone through a holistic change;
When asked how much more worries should I still be feeling much unease;
It is like the unlimited mass of water of the Yang Tze River perpetuating its torrent to the east.
簾外雨潺潺 春意闌珊
羅衾不耐五更寒
夢里不知身是客 一晌貪歡
獨自莫憑欄 無限江山
别时容易見時難
流水落花春去也 天上人間
<Waves Refining Sands> 江紹倫譯
Drizzles patter outside my enclosing curtains
Spring feelings abound
Near dawn my quilt cannot warm my chills
I dreamed my captive life cast aside
For a moment of delight
Whence looking o’er these railings I should not solitarily stand
To reminisce about my lost empire its boundless land
‘Tis easier to part than yearning for re-union again
Gone are the happy days with withered flowers perishing flow
Same on high yonder as among man I know
花秋月何時了 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
《Tune: Yu the Beautiful: Happily Together 》 江紹倫譯
Whence in cycles of spring flowers and autumn moon will time stand still
Of past events how many should remain on my memory wheel
Vernal breeze showed pity again warming my humble chamber last night
Down memory lane I dare not trot reviewing my lost kingdom by moonlight
Jade palaces their carvings and mouldings delight must still be around
So many fair lasses there before now no longer around
Did you ask how many sad memories I keep my consciousness on
They flow like river torrents in spring on and on