Author: Thomas

中文原文﹕

夕陽度西嶺，
群壑倏已暝，
松月生夜涼，
風泉滿清聽。

樵人歸欲盡，
煙鳥棲初定，
之子期宿來，
孤琴候蘿徑。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

The sun sets over the western hills,
Suddenly darkness comes over valleys and runs deep,
Moonlight through pine trees brings an evening chill,
Sounds of the wind and springs have my ears attentively take heed.

Loggers have all but gone home,
In the twilight haze, birds have just their nests reach,
You were supposed to be here for a reunion,
Alone with my cittern I wait, on a path where old man's beard decorated trees.

.

中文原文﹕

山光忽西落，
池月漸東上。
散髮乘夜涼，
開軒臥閒敞。

荷風送香氣，
竹露滴清響。
欲取鳴琴彈，
恨無知音賞。

感此懷故人，
中宵勞夢想。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

In the mountains the sun set abruptly in the west,
The moon emerged from the pond in the east.
I let my hair loose enjoying the coolness of the night,
I lay in the chamber with windows wide open to indulge in air so carefree.

A light breeze wafted in the fragrance of lotus,
Off bamboo leaves dew drops dripped in trickling beats.
I thought of taking out my cittern to play,
Yet regretfully there was no kindred spirit around for my music to please.

Thus I thought of you, wishing you were here,
On this thought I dwelled and in vain I dreamed.

.

中文原文﹕

北山白雲裡，
隱者自怡悅。
相望始登高，
心隨雁飛滅。

愁因薄暮起，
興是清秋發。
時見歸村人，
沙行渡頭歇。

天邊樹若薺，
江畔洲如月。
何當載酒來？
共醉重陽節。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Up in the Northern Mountains among white clouds,
Being a recluse I easily in my environs took delight.
Imagining that I might see you I started to climb,
No sight of you saw my hope dashing away with the wild geese that flew by.

Melancholy rose as the veil of twilight fell,
Early autumn seemed the time when sentiments run spry.
Every now and then I could see returning villagers,
On the sands they trod and by the dock they waited for ferry rides.

In the distance trees towered into the sky in the shape of shepherd's purse,
By the river the sand bar appeared small and moon-like.
I wondered if we could have a vat of wine carted up here?
And we shall on the Double Ninth drink to the good old times.

.

中文原文﹕

艷色天下重，
西施寧久微？
朝為越溪女，
暮作吳宮妃。

賤日豈殊眾？
貴來方悟稀。
邀人傅脂粉，
不自著羅衣。
君寵益嬌態，
君憐無是非。

當時浣紗伴，
莫得同車歸。
持謝鄰家子，
效顰安可希？

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Beauty was held dear by the world,
How could Xishi servile remain?
One morning she was a silk washer in a Yue creek,
By evening into Wu's palace she was received and a concubine became.

In her lowly days how was she different from her peers?
Now Her Highness for her rare beauty came to fame.
To powder her face she called on maids,
To put on robes she never had to a finger raise.
Lord Wu's affection for her added to her charm,
Around her he saw no reason why he would ever fail.

Women who once waded with her in the creek
Could not ride with her in her carriage of the State.
Let this be a note to girls of her neighbourhood,
They might her angina fake but how could they ever her beauty imitate?

.

中文原文﹕

斜光照墟落，
窮巷牛羊歸。
野老念牧童，
倚杖候荊扉。

雉雊麥苗秀，
蠶眠桑葉稀。
田夫荷鋤立，
相見語依依。

即此羡閒逸，
悵然吟式微。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

The setting sun fell on the countryside,
Time for cattle and sheep to return to shabby alleyways.
The old in anticipation of shepherd boys' return
Leaned against gates of twined twigs supported by their canes.

Pheasants crowed and wheat fields flourished,
Silkworms into slumbers fell as mulberry trees thin on leaves became.
There came farmers carrying hoes on their shoulders,
Reluctant to home retire just yet, they leisurely chatted away.

In admiration of farm life's peacefulness that I had seen,
Disillusioned about office, I recited from the Book of Songs to Nature embrace.

.

中文原文﹕

言入黃花川，
每逐青谿水；
隨山將萬轉，
趣途無百里。

聲喧亂石中，
色靜深松里；
漾漾泛菱荇，
澄澄映葭葦。

我心素已閒，
清川澹如此。
請留盤石上，
垂釣將已矣。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

They say the way to the Yellow Flower River
Is by way of the waters of the Green Creek anywise;
This waterway meanders the mountains taking thousands and thousands of turns,
Though such winding in length is not quite a hundred miles.

When on board boats you hear uproar of waters against gravels and pebbles,
In contrast is the stillness of pine woods alongside.
Waters ripple revealing water chestnuts and water verdure,
The reflection of reeds is clear in the water so bright.

These days my mind is at leisure,
Here in the Green Creek I take generous delight.
Why don't I on this boulder repose,
And enjoy angling for the rest of my life.

.

中文原文﹕

聖代無隱者，
英靈盡來歸，
遂令東山客，
不得顧採薇。

既至金門遠，
孰云吾道非？
江淮度寒食，
京洛縫春衣。

置酒長安道，
同心與我違；
行當浮桂棹，
未幾拂荊扉。
遠樹帶行客，
孤城當落暉。
吾謀適不用，
勿謂知音稀！

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

A capable reign gives no excuse for becoming a recluse,
The able in the capital assemble to allegiance submit.
Even noted hermits of the Eastern Mountains
Would set aside garden tilling to the government rejoin.

This time you've travelled far to the Golden Gate reach,
Who would hold contempt of your attempt so sincere?
Last spring, just north of the Yangtze was where you spent the Day of Cold Fare,
This spring, just south of the Yellow River you had your robes mended.

Today I set a farewell banquet along the State Avenue outside the capital,
Today we shall part though we share the same ideals;
Soon you shall set sail on board boats with laurel oars,
Before long knocking on family's brushwood-door you will be.
Along the way, trees and their reflection will line the path you take,
And there will be twilight reflecting off isolated townships.
Although you were unsuccessful this time round,
That is not a reason to assume a lack of respect from your peers!

.

中文原文﹕

下馬飲君酒，
問君何所之？
君言不得意，
歸臥南山陲。
但去莫復聞，
白雲無盡時。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

I invited you to dismount and have some wine,
"Where to from here?" I enquired.
You acknowledged you weren't having your moment,
To the foot of the Zhongnan Mountains you wished to retire.
Off you went and I asked no further,
I knew you'd find in observing white clouds everlasting delight.

.

中文原文﹕

浮雲終日行，
遊子久不至；
三夜頻夢君，
情親見君意。

告歸常局促，
苦道來不易。
江湖多風波，
舟楫恐失墜。
出門搔白首，
若負平生志。

冠蓋滿京華，
斯人獨憔悴。
孰云網恢恢？
將老身反累！
千秋萬歲名，
寂寞身後事。

.

英文翻譯 / English Translation (2018.07)﹕

Clouds float, all day long they roam,
Yet I have not seen your travelling soul for so long
In the past three nights I have dreamt of you,
Cordial and affectionate you were as before.

You showed unease when it was time to bid farewell,
And told of a perilous journey over the past nights.
The rivers and lakes en route were turbulent with billows
On board you feared of tumbling and loss of life.
Before you stepped away you scratched your silvered hair,
And looked as if you regretted having failed to achieve the kind of life you aspired.

The capital is full of powerful and glorious officers,
Only you were cast aside languishing and away you pine.
Says who the heavenly order is thorough and fair?
As it burdens an ageing fellow with more political strife!
Somewhere ages and ages hence honoured you will be,
Albeit after your lonesome death in time.

.

英文翻譯 / English Translation (2011)﹕

Clouds float, all day long they roam,
Yet I have not seen your travelling soul for a long while.
In the past three nights I have dreamt of you,
You were cordial and affectionate each time.

You showed unease when it was time to bid farewell,
And told of a perilous journey over the past nights.
The rivers and lakes en route were turbulent with billows
On board you feared of tumbling and loss of life.
Before you stepped away you scratched your silvered hair,
And looked as if you had failed to achieve the kind of life you aspired.

The capital is full of powerful and glorious officers,
Only you were cast aside languishing and away you pine.
Says who the heavenly order is thorough and fair?
As it burdens an ageing fellow with more political strife!
Somewhere ages and ages hence honoured you will be,
However, it will be after your lonesome death in time.

.

中文原文﹕

死別已吞聲，
生別常惻惻。
江南瘴癘地，
逐客無消息。

故人入我夢，
明我長相憶。
君今在羅網，
何以有羽翼？
恐非平生魂，
路遠不可測。

魂來楓葉青，
魂返關山黑；
落月滿屋梁，
猶疑照顏色。
水深波浪闊，
無使蛟龍得。

.

英文翻譯 / English Translation (2018.07)﹕

Seeing off the dead mourners lose their voice,
Seeing off the living is often just as saddening.
From south of the Yangtze, the malaria ridden land,
Came no news of my exiled friend.

At night I dreamt of this old friend of mine,
It must have been a reflection of my thoughts of him in daytime.
But he must be deep in toils,
For how could he have wings to hither fly?
What I saw may not be his living self,
The journey would take far too long and anything could arise.

In my dream he arrived amid maple green,
When he left, deep in blackness was the dividing range.
Moonlight shone all over roof raking and beams,
I wondered whether it could return colour to his face.
The water was deep and wild billows make,
I’d like to cautioned him to flood dragons guard against.

.

英文翻譯 / English Translation (2011)﹕

Seeing off the dead mourners lose their voice,
Seeing off the living is often just as saddening.
From south of the Yangtze, the malaria ridden land,
Came no news of my exiled friend.

At night I dream of this old friend of mine,
It must be a reflection of my thoughts of him in daytime.
But he must be deep in toils,
How could he have wings to hither fly?
What I saw may not be his living self,
The distance is far too great and anything could arise.

In my dream he arrived amid maple green,
When he left, deep in blackness was the dividing range.
Moonlight shone all over roof raking and beams,
I wondered whether it could return colour to his face.
The water is deep and wild billows make,
I’d like to cautioned him to flood dragons guard against.

.