曾經滄海難為水 除却巫山不是雲
取次花叢懶回顧 半缘修道半缘君
To My Lover 江紹倫譯
I’ve crossed many seas to devote myself to water
In my heart no cloud can compare with the cloud of Mt. Mu
Among flowers in profusion I’ve been tardy to pursue
Partly for my devotion to Dao partly because I love you
To My Departed Wife translated by Paul Lee (1962) 2009/12/22
Having crossed the Cang Sea makes it hard to call anything else water
Nothing qualifies as cloud once I have seen those at Wu Mountain
I walked passed a bevy of beauties and did not care to look back
Partly because I am cultivating discipline and partly because of you.
Pingback: 《離思》 (唐)元稹 (779~831) : WYKAAO Blog
Yet another try at this devotion to a lost wife:
tr. YK Chan (1965)
Thoughts on My Beloved Yuan Zhen (779-831)
No water can be real water after I’ve experienced the ocean;
No clouds are real clouds when they are away from Wu Shan.
Coming through a path o’ flowery shrubs I hardly desire to look back,
Partly for my focused devotion and partly for my love of you!
NOTE: In contrast to Su Shi’s dramatic dream of his long-dead wife in “Jiangcheng Zi”, Yuan Zhen simply used dramatic superlatives to describe his wife. Her uniqueness, therefore, deserves a single-minded devotion.
Thoughts of Separation Yuan Zhen (779-831)
Other waters won’t impress me for I’ve seen the vast seas;
Hav’ng seen majestic Witch Mountain, me other clouds can’t please.
I will ne’er glance again at other flowers (to you I vow) —
For my destined love is half for you and half for the Dao!
(tr. frank c w yue)