Author: Thomas

中文原文﹕

折戟沈沙鐵未銷，
自將磨洗認前朝。
東風不與周郎便，
銅雀春深鎖二喬。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Buried deep in the sand are broken lances, have yet rust are their spearheads,
I wash them up and recognise they are from a historic period.
Had the easterlies not blown in General Zhou's favour,
Cao's Tower of Bronze Peacocks would have held hostage the nubile Qiao sisters.

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中文原文﹕

清時有味是無能，
閒愛孤雲靜愛僧。
欲把一麾江海去，
樂遊原上望昭陵。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Only the incompetent would laze away peaceful times,
I'd stare at a lone cloud when idle, and seek a monk's company for peace and quiet.
Now I'm about to trudge over rivers and seas to a corner administer,
Here on Leyou Tombs my tribute goes to Emperor Taizong.

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中文原文﹕

洞房昨夜停紅燭，
待曉堂前拜舅姑。
妝罷低聲問夫婿：
畫眉深淺入時無？

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Out went wedding candles in the bedchamber last night,
Out in the front hall she shall curtsy to her parents-in-law after sunrise.
On finishing her make-up she asked her husband shyly:
Were her brows drawn in her favour, well shaped and refined?

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中文原文﹕

寂寂花時閉院門，
美人相並立瓊軒。
含情欲說宮中事，
鸚鵡前頭不敢言。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

In the time of full bloom, kept tightly shut were palatial court gates,
Two lovely faces within the court gathered by the resplendent hallway.
Though eager to complain of palace life, on second thought from it they refrained,
In case there was a parrot that might catch what they say.

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中文原文﹕

金陵津渡小山樓，
一宿行人自可愁。
潮落夜江斜月裡，
兩三星火是瓜州。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Here at the inn on a hill overlooking the Jinling Ferry,
Overnight travellers inevitably feel their nostalgia for home swell.
The river tide ebbs away as the moon inclines,
In the distance glimmer a few twinkles that I take for Guazhou's presence.

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中文原文﹕

虢國夫人承主恩，
平明騎馬入宮門。
卻嫌脂粉污顏色，
淡掃蛾眉朝至尊。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Lady Yang's married sister was summoned by the Emperor to the palace hall,
She crossed the Palace Gateway on horseback at dawn.
With a dislike for powders that could her natural colour stain,
She had merely touched up her brows lightly to the Emperor come before.

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中文原文﹕

日光斜照集靈臺，
紅樹花迎曉露開。
昨夜上皇新授籙，
太真含笑入簾來。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

The sun cast inclined rays on the Terrace of Spirits in view,
The redwoods greeted with flowering red dabbled in morning dews.
Last night here the Emperor a Toaist priestess conferred,
A smiling Lady Yang Reverend True Faith became only to her veil remove.

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中文原文﹕

禁門宮樹月痕過，
媚眼惟看宿鷺窠。
斜拔玉釵燈影畔，
剔開紅焰救飛蛾。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Behind the Palace's guarded gate the moon trailed behind a thicket of trees,
There she was with her enchanting eyes admiring herons nestled among leaves.
By the lamp there was light and shade, she tilted her head to a hairpin remove
To pick at the flame hoping to a moth relieve.

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中文原文﹕

淚濕羅巾夢不成，
夜深前殿按歌聲。
紅顏未老恩先斷，
斜倚薰籠坐到明。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

On a night when dreams didn't come true, drenched in tears was her silk kerchief,
The night deepened yet singing continued in the forecourt.
Her beauty had not left her yet her love had,
Up she sat and leaned on the incense burner till dawn.

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中文原文﹕

新粧宜面下朱樓，
深鎖春光一院愁。
行到中庭數花朵，
蜻蜓飛上玉搔頭。

英文翻譯 / English Translation﹕

Down from a tower of crimson red came a freshly powdered pretty face,
Being confined to a court saddened spring and its grace.
To the garden centre she strolled and flowers counted,
A dragonfly the scent of a woman followed and rested on her hairpin made of jade.

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