薄霧濃雲愁永晝 瑞腦消金獸 佳節又重陽 玉枕紗廚 半夜涼初透
東籬把酒黃昏後 有暗香盈袖 莫道不消魂 簾卷西風 人似黃花瘦
Tune: Drunk Under Flower Shade Li Qing Zhao (1084-1151) 江紹倫譯
Amid thin mist or thick clouds my sorrows linger night and day
The inlaid animals on my censer play with the incense smoke so gay
‘Tis Double Nine Fest season again
Behind the translucent drapes my jade pillow lay
By midnight chills mercilessly invade
In the evening I drink by the eastern flower hedge
My sleeves filled with fragrance
Who could say this life is not bright and easy
Whence wind from the west uprolls my curtains
Behold my face pale and I am thinner than yellow flowers
hi,
nice piece of translation (though i’m not too sure if your interpretation of li’s second verse is appropriate).
may i submit my rendition — from another angle — below, please.
【醉花陰】 李清照
薄霧濃雲愁永晝。瑞腦消金獸。佳節又重陽，玉枕紗廚，半夜涼初透。
東籬把酒黃昏後。有暗香盈袖。莫道不消魂，簾捲西風，人似黃花瘦。
Tune: “Drunk” in the Flowery Shade Li Qingzhao
Covered by thin mists and thick clouds, it is so gloomy all day!
From the gold-like animal censer, strong fragrance soon fades away.
The fine Double Ninth Festival is, again, within sight.
My jade pillow and mosquito net tight,
The chill first comes a-visiting at midnight.
Amid yellow flow’rs at east fence after dusk I drink with restraint;
There comes a-filling my sleeves fragrance faint.
O What unspeakable pleasures are these?
Curtains a-flapping, because of the restless breeze —
Chrysanthemums, O I am as thin as these!