寶劍千金買 平生未許人
懷君萬裡別 持贈結交親
孤松宜晚歲 眾木愛芳春
已矣將何道 無令白發新
Parting Gift Chen Zhi Ang (661-702) 江紹倫譯
I bought this sword with a thousand gold
Never had I allowed anyone to hold
You are now going ten thousand li away
I give it to you as companion on your way
Pines love to breathe the wintry air
Other trees thrive in spring air
What more is there to say
Waste no words so my hair will slowly grey
《Pining for a Friend in summer》 Meng Hao Ran (689-740) 江紹倫譯
山光忽西落 Daylight fades abruptly beyond the west hill
池月漸東上 Up from the eastern waters the moon climbing still
散發乘夕涼 I loosen my hair to enjoy the cool night
開軒臥閒敞 Leaving window open I lie in bed so nigh
荷風送香氣 From the lotus pond the breeze brings a wonderful fragrance
竹露滴清響 From bamboo tops dews drip their sound so softly clear
欲取鳴琴彈 How I like to play my lute merry here
恨無知音賞 But I know no music lover is around to share
感此懷故人 So I pine for you my friend dear
中宵勞夢想 In my dream tonight you will appear
宴梅道士山房 孟浩然 (689-740)
林臥愁春盡 搴帷覽物華 忽逢青鳥使 邀入赤松家
金灶初開火 仙桃正發花 童顏若可駐 何惜醉流霞
A Feast with Monk Mei up the Mountain Meng Hao Ran(689-740)
Awake in the forest I loath that spring will cease to be an entity
From the open curtain I marvel on nature’s splendid beauty
A legend bluebird arrives suddenly bringing a message
Invitation for me to visit the Immortal Red Pine Village
The burning furnace is set to freely flame
The Legendary Peach is showing its bursting bloom
If you wish childhood looks to last forever
Let’s be drunk with the immortal nectar
Thoughts on Early Cold Weather Meng Hao Ran
木落雁南度 Geese fly southbound as trees shed their leaves
北风江上寒 The north wind arrives rivers turn chilly
我家襄水曲 Where the Xian River turns is my native land
遥隔楚云端 Far into Chu country where clouds end
乡泪客中尽 Long I rove tears from homesickness cease to roll
归帆天际看 A lone sail seen in the horizon it aimlessly floats
迷津欲有问 If I should ask for my way home
平海夕漫漫 Night covers the sea on a pace of its own
《Leaving Wang Wei》 Meng Hao Ran (689-740)
寂寂竟何待 How forlornly will I wait
朝朝空自歸 With a grieving heart day after day
欲尋芳草去 How I wish to find my friend dear
惜與故人違 Only to regret missing you here
當路誰相假 People in high office will not apprehend
知音世所稀 Bosom friends are hard to find in this land
只應守寂寞 I should be content to lead a solitary life
還掩故園扉 And stay behind closed doors in my native land
《Bidding Han Shen Adieu at Yun Yang Inn》– Sikong Shu
故人江海別 We had said adieu many times on land and at sea
幾度隔山川 Separated by hills and rills our friendship firm and free
乍見翻疑夢 Meeting again we wonder if it is only in dreams
相悲各問年 Recounting our ages we console one another and beam
孤燈寒照雨 A dim lamp shines weak in the coolness of rain
濕竹暗浮煙 Deep in the bamboo grove heavy mist rises again
更有明朝恨 For the impending sorrow of parting again tomorrow
離杯惜共傳 Let us empty our cups going thorough
《Enjoy Passing a Night with Cousin Lu Lun》Sikong Shu
靜夜四無鄰 The night silent with no neighbour in sight
荒居舊業貧 An old desolate house in the wild
雨中黃葉樹 In the rain all trees have yellow leaves
燈下白頭人 Beside a lamp we compare our grey hairs and heave
以我獨沉久 You say your life has been on the downside for a long time
愧君相見頻 How delightful are my frequent visits you reminded
平生自有分 We are brought together by destiny
況是蔡家親 Closely related we share each other’s good company
遠送從此別 青山空复情
幾時杯重把 昨夜月同行
列郡謳歌惜 三朝出入榮
江村獨歸處 寂寞養殘生
《Seeing Lord Yan Wu off at Feng Ji Courier Station》Du Fu
We have gone a long way and here we will say adieu
The green mountains shall witness my admiration for you
We walked hand in hand last night under the moon
Whence shall we meet to drink together again soon
Many regions of our country praise your contributive deeds
Emperors in three dynasties have recognized your feats
I will return to my home at riverside
Alone I will live quietly for the rest of my life
观棋柯烂，伐木丁丁。云边谷口徐行，卖薪沽酒，狂笑自陶情。苍径秋高，对月枕松根，一觉天明。认旧林，登崖过岭，持斧断枯藤。收来成一担，行歌市上，易米三升。更无些子争竞，时价平平。不会机谋巧算，没荣辱，恬淡延生。相逢处，非仙即道，静坐讲《黄庭》。
Wu ChengEn (1501-1582) “Woodcutter’s Song”
Translated by William John Francis Jenner (b. 1940)*
Watching the chess game I cut through the rotten,
Felling trees, chop, chop.
Strolling at the edge of the cloud and the mouth of the valley,
I sell firewood to buy wine,
Cackling with laughter and perfectly happy.
By a green path in autumn,
I pillow myself on a pine root, looking up at the moon.
When I wake up it is light.
Recognizing the old forest
I scale cliffs and cross ridges,
Cutting down withered creepers with my axe.
When I’ve gathered enough to make a load
I walk down to the market with a song.
And trade it for three pints of rice.
Nobody else competes with me,
So prices are stable.
I don’t speculate or try sharp practice,
Couldn’t care less what people think of me,
Calmly lengthening my days.
The people I meet
Either Taoists or Immortals,
Quietly sitting to expound the Yellow Court.
——————–
* British sinologist/translator
《Remembering my younger brother at moonlit night》 Du Fu
戍鼓斷人行 Garrison drums stop all travellers at the Pass
秋邊一雁聲 A lone goose cries above the autumn frontier
露從今夜白 White dews begin to show in season this night
月是故鄉明 Nowhere as in my native land could the moon shine brighter
有弟皆分散 My younger brother is scattered without a fixed site
無家問死生 There is no way I could inquire whether he is dead or alive
寄書長不達 Letters sent to him are lost on the way
況乃未休兵 The war continues to rave its end we can only wait