有生必有死  早終非命促
昨暮同爲人  今旦在鬼錄
魂氣散何之  枯形寄空木
嬌兒索父啼  良友撫我哭
得失不複知  是非安能覺
千秋萬歲後  誰知榮與辱
但恨在世時  飲酒不得足

《Elegy》Tao Qian (365-427)      江紹倫譯

To live is to accept death in peace
The day will come when I last breath
Last night we are together as man
This morn we are in Ghost Registrar’s hand
Whither I wonder will go my soul
In a decaying box my body is a load
My children seek their father in grief
Friends see my corps cry and heave
Loss or gain I no longer care
Rights and wrongs not my affair
After ten thousand years have passed away
Who will know my glory or disgrace
I regret while living still
Mellow brews I fail to drink my fill

問訊湖邊春色
重來又是三年
東風吹我過湖船
楊柳絲絲拂面

世路如今已慣
此心到處悠然
寒光亭下水連天
飛起沙鷗一片

Tune: Moon Over the West River                  Zhang Xiao Xiang (1132-1169) 江紹倫譯

Is the lakeside spring scenery still the same
It’s been three years now I’ve come again
Thanks to east wind my boat crossed the lake at ease
Strands and strands of willow caress my face like breeze

I am used to life as it floats high or low
My heart is at peace where’er I go
Water merges sky beneath the Pavilion Cold Light
Where a flock of water birds take flight

春雨樓頭尺八簫
何時歸看浙江潮
芒鞋破缽無人識
踏過櫻花第幾橋

Spring Drizzles                       Su Man Shu (1884-1918)

I stand on the terrace playing my long flute in spring drizzles
Whence could I return home to watch the Qiantong tides in loud whistles
In straw shoes and holding a begging bowl my identity here is a nullity
Amid flourishing cherry blossoms how many bridges need I cross before eternity

山抹微雲    天粘衰草    畫角聲斷譙門

暫停征棹    聊共引離尊

多少蓬萊舊事      空回首      煙靄紛紛

斜陽外      寒鴉萬點    流水繞孤村

銷魂  當此際      香囊暗解    羅帶輕分

謾赢得青樓  薄倖名存

此去何時見也      襟袖上      空惹啼痕

傷情處      高樓望斷    燈火已黃昏

Tune: Fragrant Courtyard      Qin Guan (1049-1100)           江紹倫譯

Laced clouds touch the mountains high
Widely spread bristle grass reach the end of sky
The sound of a painted bugle fades from inquisitive sight

Halt the venturous boat
Let’s drink together before parting sadness take hold

How many past events come to mind
‘Tis no use to remind
Let them vanish with passing mists and sighs

As the setting sun beyond hides
Crows appear dotting the dimming sky
Girding the lonely village the rippling river quietly glides

My soul stirs
As I loosen your fragrant pouch with a frisk search
And untie your silk girdle on urge

My actions helped me to earn a name of fame
A fickle lover of brothel lane

Now a rover I know not whence we’ll meet again
On your sleeves tears leave wasted stains

Where sorrow remains
Beyond your high bower
City lights quietly mark the looming dusk

移有雖帶郭
野徑入桑麻
近種籬邊菊
秋來未著花
扣門無犬吠
欲去問西家
報道山中去
歸來每日斜

Visiting Master Lu Failing to See Him Home          (Tang dynasty) Jiao Ran        江紹倫譯

I visit your dwelling in solitude away from town
Through mulberries the wild path leads me down
Your fence displays new chrysanthemums waiting to grow
They are not yet in bloom although autumn will follow
I knock at your door the dog is quiet wagging its tail
West of your cabin I ask neighbours about your trail
They say you go deep into the mountain everyday
On your return you bring the retiring sun in dim ray

東城漸覺風光好
彀皺波紋迎客棹
綠楊煙外曉寒輕
紅杏枝頭春意鬧

浮生長恨歡娛少
肯愛千金輕一笑
爲君持酒勸斜陽
且向花間留晚照

Tune: Magnolia          Song Qi (998-1061)    江紹倫譯

Approaching town east the scenery is renowned
Rippling waters greet visiting boats up and down
In the morning chill green willows dance delight
On apricot branches pink spring riots high
In our floating life we regret having few pleasures
But we value gold more than hearty laughter
With this wine let me on your behalf ask the setting sun to stay
To leave among the awaiting flowers its most warming ray

風急天高猿嘯哀
渚清沙白鳥飛回
無邊落木簫簫下
不盡長江滾滾来
萬里悲秋常作客
百年多病獨登台
艱難苦恨繁霜鬢
潦倒新停濁酒杯

Up the Mountain                    Du Fu (712-770)         江紹倫譯

High sky and swift winds send gibbons wearily cry
O’er white sand in the clear river birds recurrently fly
In the boundless wood trees shed their leaves like showers
From the long river torrents roll forgetful of the hour
Ten thousand li from home I grieve this autumn my plight
Surviving lengthy illness I alone climb up this platform high
Through hard times my hair is turning white
Battling poverty I now must give up wine

道由白雲盡
春與青溪長
時有落花至
遠隨流水香

閑門向山路
深柳讀書堂
幽映每白日
清輝照衣裳。

Title Missing              (Tang Dynasty) Liu Shen Xu               江紹倫譯

The road ends vanishing with white clouds
Spring with the long stream lingers proud
Fallen flowers float with the river this way
Their fragrance in the flowing water stay

Toward a lone mountain path my door looks on
Nestling amid green willows readings in my study prolong
The sun drops in through the branches on clear days
It leaves a sheen on my clothes with brilliant rays