Author: Thomas

中文原文﹕

客從東方來，
衣上灞陵雨。
問客何為來？
采山因買斧。

冥冥花正開，
颺颺燕新乳。
昨別今已春，
鬢絲生幾縷？

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

You arrived in Changan from the east,
You had on you still Baling's spring rain.
I asked, “what brings you here today?”
You said you came to buy an axe so as to a clearing make.

Under a moist and darkened sky it is time for flowers to bloom,
And for fledgling young swallows to take to the sky and plane.
It seems only yesterday when we parted, now spring is around,
How time has passed, how many more strands of hair on your temples have turned grey?

.

中文原文﹕

今朝郡齋冷，
忽念山中客；
澗底束荊薪，
歸來煮白石。

欲持一瓢酒，
遠慰風雨夕。
落葉滿空山，
何處尋行迹？

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

It is now morning in the residence study where the cold has set in,
I am suddenly reminded of the outsider who in the mountains resides;
He is probably tying up some twigs and firewood by the creek
To return and a decoction make, to stony doctrines follow for a spiritual life.

I would like to bring him a ladle of wine,
And offer him some comfort from afar in the storm of night.
Yet amid piles of fallen leaves in the uninhabited mountains,
Where would I his whereabouts find?

.

中文原文﹕

悽悽去親愛，
泛泛入煙霧；
歸棹洛陽人，
殘鐘廣陵樹。

今朝為此別，
何處還相遇？
世事波上舟，
沿洄安得住？

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Parting with beloved kins and confidants is saddening and sorrowful,
There sail ferry boats venturing in a heavy haze.
Your boat sails forth carrying those Luoyang bound,
Faint evening toll that I hear must be from the bells in the woods of the Guangling Plains.

Today we bid each other farewell,
Where and when would we reunite again?
Life is much like boats in waves,
How could anyone in steams and whirls steer and hold a level plane?

.

中文原文﹕

兵衛森畫戟，
宴寢凝清香。
海上風雨至，
逍遙池閣涼。

煩疴近消散，
嘉賓復滿堂。
自慚居處崇，
未睹斯民康。
理會是非遣，
性達形迹忘。

鮮肥屬時禁，
蔬果幸見嘗。
俯飲一杯酒，
仰聆金玉章。
神歡體自輕，
意欲淩風翔。

吳中盛文史，
群彥今汪洋。
方知大藩地，
豈曰財賦強？

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Armed guards solemnly stand watch outside,
In the private chamber incense burns and its refreshing fragrance intensifies.
Winds and rain drift in from the sea
Cooling the pond, the pavilion and the mind.

The sultry and irritating weather has all but vanished,
Distinguished and respectable guests a full house gather to dine.
Shame on me for although I have achieved high office,
I have become too far removed from commoners' everyday life.
Yet so long such disparity is brought to the fore, dealt with it shall be,
Formality restricts not knowledgeable and generous minds.

Though seafood and meats of red and white are limited on rations,
Fortunately vegetables and fruits remain available delights.
I bow to take a sip of wine,
And look up to attend to compositions of poems and idylls so fine.
A cheerful and satisfied soul can also the body lighten,
As if to make it capable of riding the wind and flying in the sky.

The Wu region has always claimed fame for cultural heritage,
At this moment we have gathered here noteworthy scholars so diversified.
Bearing testimony to the cultural affluence and accomplishment of this province,
Says who abundance of wealth and levies is the region's only might?

.

癸卯歲，西原賊入道州，焚燒殺掠，幾盡而去。明年，賊又攻永州，破邵，不犯此州邊鄙而退，豈力能制敵歟？蓋蒙其傷憐而已！ 諸史何為忍苦徵斂！故作詩一篇以示官吏。

In the year of Kui Mao, bandits from Xiyuan targeted the State of Dao, they set fire, raided, looted and killed until there was little left. The following year the bandits returned, attacking the neighbouring state of Yong, but did not cross into Dao. Was it because the state of Dao had the strength to put up defence? No, but rather, it was because the bandits took pity on the State of Dao! How could the Tax Office bear to extra taxes impose! I have thus written a poem to appeal to people of office.

中文原文﹕

昔歲逢太平，
山林二十年。
泉源在庭戶，
洞壑當門前。
井稅有常期，
日晏猶得眠。

忽然遭時變，
數歲親戎旃。
今來典斯郡，
山夷又紛然。
城小賊不屠，
人貧傷可憐？
是以陷鄰境，
此州獨見全。

使臣將王命，
豈不如賊焉？
令彼徵斂者，
迫之如火煎。
誰能絕人命？
以作時世賢。

思欲委符節，
引竿自剌船，
將家就魚麥，
歸老江湖邊。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

In the days of peace,
For twenty years I lived among mountain woods.
With a fresh water source close by,
Across from my door were caves and valley nooks.
The tax season was regular in those days,
I could sleep unruffled even when the sun had made a fair approach towards noon.

Till a sudden change of times,
Many years have passed by with me in armour fighting the gloom.
Now I have come to guard this state,
And gangs of bandits have once more made their move.
Are townships of Dao too small for the wicked to make a killing,
So they take pity on the poor?
While bandits raided neighbouring states,
They leave the state of Dao undisturbed.

Are Officers of Taxation not envoys of the Emperor,
How could they in comparison to bandits be not as good?
There are those pursuing taxes of various kinds who
Powerless people push and on helpless people punitive pressure put.
Who is there to these people save?
And be a model to the world, a man of virtue.

Right now I contemplate handing over my army seal,
To my own boat pole and moor.
I shall take my family to where we could fish and grow grains,
And take my retirement by a lake or a river soon.

.

中文原文﹕

塔勢湧如出，
孤高聳天宮。
登臨出世界，
磴道盤虛空。

突兀壓神州，
崢嶸如鬼工；
四角礙白日，
七層摩蒼穹。

下窺指高鳥，
俯聽聞驚風。

連山若波濤，
奔湊如朝東。
青槐夾馳道，
宮館何玲瓏！
秋色從西來，
蒼然滿關中。
五陵北原上，
萬古青濛濛。

淨理了可悟，
勝因夙所宗。
誓將挂冠去，
覺道資無窮。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

The pagoda rises above the earth sublimely,
Its isolated height into heaven ascends supremely.
We climb atop and feel out of this world,
As we mount the stone stairs, suspended in the air is the feel.

Over the entire China it seems to tower over,
As if built by uncanny craftsmanship to such elevation achieve;
The four corners of the pagoda rise tall to the white-hot sun obstruct,
Soaring to reach the vault of heaven are its seven storeys.

The pagoda’s top offers a bird’s eye view that could even high flying birds guide,
Leaning over we hear gusts of wind roar and scream.

Mountains undulate like the surging sea,
Waters rush and gather as if paying homage to the east.
Lining the capital’s main avenue are pagoda trees,
How the palace and buildings delicate miniatures seem!
Twilight in the colour of fall casts over the city from the west,
The remains of the day diffuse within the capital keeps.
To the north lie five mausoleums on the plateau,
Through history and dynastic changes those fields remain evergreen.

I’ve come to understand the Buddhist true essence,
I’ve always endeavoured to my integrity maintain and virtues seek.
I hereby vow to resign from office,
Buddhist principles are of eternal value to the mortal life indeed.

.

中文原文﹕

清溪深不測，
隱處惟孤雲。
松際露微月，
清光猶為君。
茅亭宿花影，
藥院滋苔紋。

余亦謝時去，
西山鸞鶴群。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

The creek here is clear but its depth unmeasured,
Where resides a hermit clouds drift isolated.
Over pine trees moonlight gleams,
Pure and unblemished perchance for a hermit's sake.
Low-lying shadows of flowers in the thatched pavilion overnight stay,
In the herb garden mosses grow ingrained.

Here I am about to leave behind the worldly,
To the Western Mountains retire and abide with rare birds and wild cranes.

.

中文原文﹕

幽意無斷絕，
此去隨所偶。
晚風吹行舟，
花路入溪口。

際夜轉西壑，
隔山望南斗。
潭煙飛溶溶，
林月低向後。

生事且彌漫，
願為持竿叟。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Here secluded tranquillity has no bounds,
Along the creek on a boat I am hoping to row as I please.
The evening breeze helps launch my boat,
At the end of this flower-decorated path I slide my boat into the creek.

Night falls and a turn to the west takes me into a ravine,
Over the mountains in the south the Little Dipper beams.
Over a deep pond hovers a haze thick and dense,
The moon sets low behind the woods in the gleam.

I reflect on how unpredictable life is on earth,
I'd rather be an angling old man who is at peace and at ease.

.

中文原文﹕

絕頂一茅茨，
直上三十里。
扣關無僮僕，
窺室惟案几。

若非巾柴車，
應是釣秋水。
差池不相見，
黽勉空仰止。

草色新雨中，
松聲晚窗里。
及茲契幽絕，
自足蕩心耳。

雖無賓主意，
頗得清淨理。
興盡方下山，
何必待之子？

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Hoping to visit you at your mountain-top hermitage,
It must have been tens of miles of climb upward.
I knocked at the entry but no servant nor pupil came to the door answer,
I looked through the window but saw only furniture.

I took it that you were out riding on your cart,
Or out fishing in autumn waters.
Regretfully I missed out on an encounter,
In vain was my attempt to admire you in person.

Then I saw rain had given grass a new green,
Then I heard pine trees rustling in the evening and the sound windows traversed.
Appealed to my senses this secluded place did,
And cleansed me of troubling sight and sound of the world.

Although I had not the benefit of your presence,
This experience had been calming and serene.
Satisfied with what I came here for,
Why indeed must I wait for your return?

.

中文原文﹕

高臥南齋時，
開帷月初吐；
清輝澹水木，
演漾在窗戶。
苒苒幾盈虛？
澄澄變今古。

美人清江畔，
是夜越吟苦。
千里其如何？
微風吹蘭杜。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Leisurely reclining in the South Study with my cousin,
I had the curtains lifted and saw the moon that had just over the horizon climb.
Moonlight so clear and pure quietly on woods and waters fell,
Reflections on windows and curtains sprightly shined.
Yet I wondered how many rounds had the moon waxed and waned?
How different times have evolved into history under its shine.

For an eloquent man like you residing next to clear waters,
Bemoaning in local melodies you would been on such a night.
What could we do about the thousands of miles between you and me?
I only hope that breezes could fragrances of orchid and azalea diffuse far and wide.

.