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

細草微風岸
危檣獨夜舟
星捶平野闊
月湧大江流

名豈文章著
官因老病休
飄飄何所似
天地一沙鷗

Reflections In An Inn          Du Fu (712-770)         江紹倫譯

Short grass thrive on riverbanks cooled by breezes
Alone a tall mass stands on a boat in darkness
A sky decorated by low stars sets the plain wide
The moon bright heaves up the river’s rolling tide

My fame is not built by my writings at will
Retirement from public office is natural when old and ill
How free it feels doing little I wonder
Like a water bird between sky and land hovers

主人有酒歡今夕
請奏鳴琴廣陵客
月照城頭烏半飛
霜淒萬樹風入衣
銅鑪華燭燭增輝
初彈淥水後楚妃
一聲已動物皆靜
四座無言星欲稀
清淮奉使千餘里
敢告雲山從此始

Zither Music      Li Qi (690-751) 江紹倫譯

 
My host serves plenty of wine at this delightful night
For the Master of Gangling to show his musical might
As the moon strikes the city walls crows take flight
A penetrating wind turns all plants frosty white
The fuelled candelabra renders this spacious room bright
He first plays The Green Water then The Concubine
Everything becomes still the minute he plays the beginning bars
The audience hold their breath even stars become sparse
My thoughts hark back to the beautiful Huai Region far far away
To the clouds and hills the wonders are beginning here I must say

寂寂東坡一病翁
白鬚蕭散滿霜風
小兒誤喜朱顏在
一笑那知是酒紅

Impromptu Writing       Su Shi (1037-1101) 江紹倫譯

The Master of Eastern Rise lies sick and lonely in bed
Grey beard disheveled like windblown frost spread
My little boy is comforted seeing me red faced so fine
I laugh his misperception thanks to wine