春江潮水連海平        海上明月共潮生
灩灩隨波千萬裏        何處春江無月明

A Moonlit Night by the River in Spring    by Zhang Ruo Xu             江紹倫譯

In spring the river rises to level with the sea
The moon rises together with sea tides as should be
Following the waves she travels a thousand li
Where’er the river flows there she is

江畔何人初見月        江月何年初照人
人生代代無窮已        江月年年望相似

Who first saw the moon rise by riverside
Which year was man first graced by moonshine
Generation after generation man change and thrive
Year in year out the moon looks but alike

不知江月待何人        但見長江送流水
白雲一片去悠悠        青楓浦上不勝愁

To whom the moon specially bestows her light we do not know
We see ever so clearly the Yangtze River’s incessant flow
Up in sky patches of white clouds leisurely float
Down on earth green maples cling to their sadness untold

昨夜閑潭夢落花        可憐春半不還家
江水流春去欲盡        江潭落月複西斜

I dreamed last night to see flowers falling on water at ease
And pity myself this late spring hour still away from thee
The river carrying all feelings of spring will not reverse its flow
But our reclining moon even dwelling in water will maintain her grow

斜月沉沉藏海霧        碣石瀟湘無限路
不知乘月幾人歸        落月搖情滿江樹

A partial moon striving to shine on can brighten a misty sea
Her luster on crimson boulders will beautify the surroundings for all to see
I know not how many of my loved ones will be home the next moon
I know for sure all trees here will boast her love very soon

此日長昏飲    非關養性靈
眼看人盡醉    何忍獨為醒

Passing the Tavern     Wang Ji                                   江紹倫譯

This day I drink drunk all day
‘Tis not for keeping my body and soul in good state
As most people are drunk everyday
Why should I alone be sober any day

東皋薄暮望    徙倚欲何依
樹樹皆秋色    山山唯落暉
牧人驅犢返    獵馬帶禽歸
相顧無相識    長歌懷采薇

Wilderness View                    Wang Ji                      江紹倫譯

On the eastern landing at dusk I come to see
Loitering I know not wither I should be
Trees after trees all dressed in autumn hue
Hill on hill the setting sun paints a beautiful view
Shepherds lead their herds home delightful
Hunters and steed carry prey so plentiful
Here I have no one to call my company
I sing hermit songs from memory

Cao Cao Tomb

神龜雖壽    猶有竟時
騰蛇乘霧    終為土灰
老驥伏櫪    志在千里
烈士暮年    壯心不已

Tortoise Longevity    (selected part) Cao Cao                      江紹倫譯

Sacred tortoise live their lives long
They will not go against nature but die along
Free spirit dragons rise above the clouds to glide
In death they will disintegrate and return to earth to hide

An old horse takes its respite in its stall
Its determination remains to gallop speedily and tall
A brave man knows his years in decline
His aspirations are still bold and high

The Indomitable Soul         tr. by Father John Turner, S.J. (1909-1971)

Though old be the wise tortoise, yet
Die in the end he must:
And the mist-scaling dragonet,
He too shall come to dust.

Yet ancient steeds in stall that lie
Dream of the leagues they ran:
And heroes, though their doom is nigh
As ever play the man.

結髮為夫妻  恩愛兩不疑
歡娛在今夕  燕婉及良時
征夫懷往路  起視應何其
參長皆已沒  去去從此辭
行役在戰場  相見未有期
握手一長嘆  淚為生別滋
努力愛春華  莫忘歡樂時
生當復來歸  死當長相思

Adieu Dear Wife                    Su Wu ( Han Dynasty) 江紹倫譯

We vowed to be husband and wife for life
Our loving relationship is true without guess
Let’s love one another even more tonight
Let’s make the best use of time for ecstasy

To embark on the far off journey I have no fancy
I get up from bed to check the hour of night frequently
Stars in the dark night are giving way for dawn to be
And I must leave home now and part with thee

From this moment on my life will be in battle ground
We must believe firmly our reunion will come around
Holding your hand I could but sigh and again sigh
Letting go I pledge to keep our love in mind

Let’s do our best to keep alive our love for spring
Let’s remember the happy times our togetherness brings
Whence alive and sound I’ll be with you certainly
Even in death our soul be one eternally

東臨碣石    以觀滄海
水何澹澹    山島竦峙
樹木叢生    百草豐茂
秋風蕭瑟    洪波涌起
日月之行    若出其中
星漢燦爛    若出其裏
幸甚至哉    歌以詠志

The Sea                      Cao Cao (155-220)                             江紹倫譯

From the Rocky Hill on eastern shore
I stand to watch the sea in awe
How the waves rock the beaches boisterous
How island mountains stand bold and marvellous

Trees of varying sizes grow competing to reach the sun
A hundred species of grass thrive green as one
Whence the autumn wind blows bleak
Billows surge to show thunderous feats

The sun and moon revolve in good time daily
They rise and fall as if from the deep
Stars from the Milky Way twinkle ever so gaily
They always return to sea to sleep

How grateful I feel to be here
I sing this song for memory to adhere