翻譯
TRANSLATIONS
All translations © James Lenman 2021, 2022
春怨
打起黃鶯兒
莫教枝上啼
啼時驚妾夢
不得到遼西
金昌緒
Spring Complaint
Don’t let that oriole
Warble away like that. Kill it!
Its song shatters my dream
I cannot get to Liao Xi.
Jin Changxu
***
打起黃鶯兒
莫教枝上啼
啼時驚妾夢
不得到遼西
金昌緒
Spring Complaint
Don’t let that oriole
Warble away like that. Kill it!
Its song shatters my dream
I cannot get to Liao Xi.
Jin Changxu
***
梅花
墙角数枝梅，
凌寒独自开。，
遥知不是雪，
为有暗香来。
王安石
Plum blossom
The branches of the plum tree in the corner of a wall
Blossom alone in the freezing cold.
You can tell from a distance it’s not snow
When its fragrance surprises you.
Wang An Shi
***
墙角数枝梅，
凌寒独自开。，
遥知不是雪，
为有暗香来。
王安石
Plum blossom
The branches of the plum tree in the corner of a wall
Blossom alone in the freezing cold.
You can tell from a distance it’s not snow
When its fragrance surprises you.
Wang An Shi
***
江雪
千山鳥飛絕，
萬徑人蹤滅。
孤舟簑笠翁，
獨釣寒江雪。
柳宗元
On the River in Snow
A thousand mountains, forsaken by birds.
Ten thousand paths, no human footprint.
An old man, alone on his boat in bamboo coat and hat,
Fishes alone in the cold on the river in the snow.
Liu Zongyuan
***
千山鳥飛絕，
萬徑人蹤滅。
孤舟簑笠翁，
獨釣寒江雪。
柳宗元
On the River in Snow
A thousand mountains, forsaken by birds.
Ten thousand paths, no human footprint.
An old man, alone on his boat in bamboo coat and hat,
Fishes alone in the cold on the river in the snow.
Liu Zongyuan
***
元日
爆竹聲中一歲除，
春風送暖入屠蘇。
千門萬戶曈曈日，
總把新桃換舊符
王安石
New Year
Firecrackers explode as a year ends.
Spring breezes impart warmth to the herb-infused wine.
The rays of the sun fall on a thousand gateways, ten thousand doors.
Where new peachwood charms are hung in place of the old.
Wang An Shi
•••
爆竹聲中一歲除，
春風送暖入屠蘇。
千門萬戶曈曈日，
總把新桃換舊符
王安石
New Year
Firecrackers explode as a year ends.
Spring breezes impart warmth to the herb-infused wine.
The rays of the sun fall on a thousand gateways, ten thousand doors.
Where new peachwood charms are hung in place of the old.
Wang An Shi
•••
生查字
去年元夜时
花市灯如昼.
月上柳梢头.
人约黄昏后.
今年元夜时
月与灯依旧.
不见去年人.
泪湿春衫袖.
朱淑真
Song of Spring
Last year on the night of watching lanterns
The flower market was lit up like the daytime.
The branches of the willow tree framed in the moonlight.
She and I met as we had promised, after sunset.
This year on the night of watching lanterns
The moonlight is as bright as a year ago.
There is no sign of her.
I cry, wetting the sleeves of my spring clothes.
Zhu Shuzhen
***
去年元夜时
花市灯如昼.
月上柳梢头.
人约黄昏后.
今年元夜时
月与灯依旧.
不见去年人.
泪湿春衫袖.
朱淑真
Song of Spring
Last year on the night of watching lanterns
The flower market was lit up like the daytime.
The branches of the willow tree framed in the moonlight.
She and I met as we had promised, after sunset.
This year on the night of watching lanterns
The moonlight is as bright as a year ago.
There is no sign of her.
I cry, wetting the sleeves of my spring clothes.
Zhu Shuzhen
***
絕 句
兩 個 黃 鸝 鳴 翠 柳
一 行 白 鷺 上 青 天。
窗 含 西 嶺 千 秋 雪
門 泊 東 吳 萬 裡 船。
杜唐
Poem
Two yellow orioles call from the dark blue of willow branches.
A column of white egrets climb the clear sky.
In my window the Eastern Mountain holds the snows of a thousand autumns.
Ships from Wu, far to the east, ten thousand li from here, moored by my door.
Du Fu
***
兩 個 黃 鸝 鳴 翠 柳
一 行 白 鷺 上 青 天。
窗 含 西 嶺 千 秋 雪
門 泊 東 吳 萬 裡 船。
杜唐
Poem
Two yellow orioles call from the dark blue of willow branches.
A column of white egrets climb the clear sky.
In my window the Eastern Mountain holds the snows of a thousand autumns.
Ships from Wu, far to the east, ten thousand li from here, moored by my door.
Du Fu
***
日暮
牛羊下來久
各已閉柴門
風月自清夜
江山非故園
石泉流暗壁
草露滴秋根
頭白燈明裏
何須花燼繁。
杜甫
**
Dusk
They have brought the cows and the sheep down from the hill.
They have closed the brushwood gates.
The night will be clear, moonlit. There is a breeze.
These rivers, these mountains are not my home.
Water issues out of rocks, cascades over dark cliffs.
The dew sinks deep in the grass of autumn.
My hair is white in the lamplight.
What are these blossoms that bloom among the embers?
Du Fu
***
牛羊下來久
各已閉柴門
風月自清夜
江山非故園
石泉流暗壁
草露滴秋根
頭白燈明裏
何須花燼繁。
杜甫
**
Dusk
They have brought the cows and the sheep down from the hill.
They have closed the brushwood gates.
The night will be clear, moonlit. There is a breeze.
These rivers, these mountains are not my home.
Water issues out of rocks, cascades over dark cliffs.
The dew sinks deep in the grass of autumn.
My hair is white in the lamplight.
What are these blossoms that bloom among the embers?
Du Fu
***
春望
國破山河在
城春草木深
感時花濺淚
恨別鳥驚心
烽火連三月
家書抵萬金
白頭搔更短
渾欲不勝簪
杜甫
Spring View
The nation is broken. The mountains and rivers endure.
Spring comes to the city, green with grasses and trees.
The times move flowers to tears, splashing to ground.
Birds, hurting at separation, gripped by fear.
The beacon fires have burned for three months.
I would give 10,000 gold coins for a letter from home.
I scratch my white hair. It grows thin.
It will barely hold a hairpin now.
Du Fu
***
國破山河在
城春草木深
感時花濺淚
恨別鳥驚心
烽火連三月
家書抵萬金
白頭搔更短
渾欲不勝簪
杜甫
Spring View
The nation is broken. The mountains and rivers endure.
Spring comes to the city, green with grasses and trees.
The times move flowers to tears, splashing to ground.
Birds, hurting at separation, gripped by fear.
The beacon fires have burned for three months.
I would give 10,000 gold coins for a letter from home.
I scratch my white hair. It grows thin.
It will barely hold a hairpin now.
Du Fu
***
清明
清明时节雨纷纷，
路上行人欲断魂。
借问酒家何处有？
牧童遥指杏花村。
杜牧
On the Day for the Sweeping of Graves
On the Day for the Sweeping of Graves
It rains steadily.
On the highway the travellers
Are broken with grief.
Please, is there a tavern
Where we can stop to drink wine?
The shepherd-boy points to the far distant
Village of Apricot Flowers.
Du Mu
***
清明时节雨纷纷，
路上行人欲断魂。
借问酒家何处有？
牧童遥指杏花村。
杜牧
On the Day for the Sweeping of Graves
On the Day for the Sweeping of Graves
It rains steadily.
On the highway the travellers
Are broken with grief.
Please, is there a tavern
Where we can stop to drink wine?
The shepherd-boy points to the far distant
Village of Apricot Flowers.
Du Mu
***
靜夜思
床前明月光
疑是地上霜
举头望明月
低头思故乡。、
李白
Thoughts on a Quiet Night
In front of my bed the bright moonlight
Is not to be mistaken for frost on the ground.
I lift my head to stare at the moonlight.
I lower it. I think of my village.
Li Bai
***
床前明月光
疑是地上霜
举头望明月
低头思故乡。、
李白
Thoughts on a Quiet Night
In front of my bed the bright moonlight
Is not to be mistaken for frost on the ground.
I lift my head to stare at the moonlight.
I lower it. I think of my village.
Li Bai
***
勞勞亭
天下傷心處，
勞勞送客亭。
春風知別苦，
不遣柳條青
李白
Laolao Ting
There is a place that hurts our heart.
It is the pavilion where we see off visitors.
The spring wind knows parting is hard.
The green willow will not come again.
Li Bai
***
天下傷心處，
勞勞送客亭。
春風知別苦，
不遣柳條青
李白
Laolao Ting
There is a place that hurts our heart.
It is the pavilion where we see off visitors.
The spring wind knows parting is hard.
The green willow will not come again.
Li Bai
***
山中問答
問余何意棲碧山?
笑而不答心自閒.
桃花流水窅然去.
別有天地非人間.
李白
In the hills: Q and A
Why do I live in these blue hills?
Serene, I smile and say nothing.
The peach blossom is carried downstream, far away.
There is another world.
Li Bai
***
問余何意棲碧山?
笑而不答心自閒.
桃花流水窅然去.
別有天地非人間.
李白
In the hills: Q and A
Why do I live in these blue hills?
Serene, I smile and say nothing.
The peach blossom is carried downstream, far away.
There is another world.
Li Bai
***
獨坐敬亭山
眾鳥高飛盡，
孤雲獨去閒。
相看兩不厭，
唯有敬亭山。
李白
Sitting alone, Jingting Mountain
The birds have flown off and are gone.
A solitary cloud goes its lazy way.
Just you and me, Jingting Mountain,
We look at one another, by no means fed up.
Li Bai
***
眾鳥高飛盡，
孤雲獨去閒。
相看兩不厭，
唯有敬亭山。
李白
Sitting alone, Jingting Mountain
The birds have flown off and are gone.
A solitary cloud goes its lazy way.
Just you and me, Jingting Mountain,
We look at one another, by no means fed up.
Li Bai
***
怨情
美人卷珠簾,
深坐顰蛾眉。
但見淚痕濕,
不知心恨誰.
李白
Rancour
Beautiful, she folds her pearl screen. Beautiful
Moth eyebrows, deep furrowed, frown.
We can see the stains of her tears. We can’t
Know who has vexed her heart.
Li Bai
***
美人卷珠簾,
深坐顰蛾眉。
但見淚痕濕,
不知心恨誰.
李白
Rancour
Beautiful, she folds her pearl screen. Beautiful
Moth eyebrows, deep furrowed, frown.
We can see the stains of her tears. We can’t
Know who has vexed her heart.
Li Bai
***
下終南山過斛斯山人宿置酒
暮從碧山下，山月隨人歸。
卻顧所來徑，蒼蒼橫翠微。
相攜及田家，童稚開荊扉。
綠竹入幽徑，青蘿拂行衣。
歡言得所憩，美酒聊共揮。
長歌吟松風，曲盡河星稀。
我醉君復樂，陶然共忘機。
李白
Going Down Zhongnan Mountain to Lodging and Wine with Husi the Hill Dweller-
Coming down the green mountain in the evening
The mountain moon follows me home.
Looking back the way I came
Fading strips of dark green over green.
Reaching a farmhouse two of us fall in together.
A small child holds open the wooden door.
On the still path through the green bamboo wood
The branches snag on your clothes.
What a joy to have a place to rest
Where good wine flows and our talk.
The wind in the pine trees to accompany our songs
Till our singing is at an end and the stars swept away.
My host happy seeing me so drunk
Both glad to forget that poor contrivance, the world.
Li Bai
***
暮從碧山下，山月隨人歸。
卻顧所來徑，蒼蒼橫翠微。
相攜及田家，童稚開荊扉。
綠竹入幽徑，青蘿拂行衣。
歡言得所憩，美酒聊共揮。
長歌吟松風，曲盡河星稀。
我醉君復樂，陶然共忘機。
李白
Going Down Zhongnan Mountain to Lodging and Wine with Husi the Hill Dweller-
Coming down the green mountain in the evening
The mountain moon follows me home.
Looking back the way I came
Fading strips of dark green over green.
Reaching a farmhouse two of us fall in together.
A small child holds open the wooden door.
On the still path through the green bamboo wood
The branches snag on your clothes.
What a joy to have a place to rest
Where good wine flows and our talk.
The wind in the pine trees to accompany our songs
Till our singing is at an end and the stars swept away.
My host happy seeing me so drunk
Both glad to forget that poor contrivance, the world.
Li Bai
***
訪戴天山道士不遇
犬吠水聲中，
桃花帶露濃。
樹深時見鹿，
溪午不聞鐘。
野竹分青靄，
飛泉掛碧峰。
無人知所去，
愁倚兩三松。
李白
Failing to Meet a Daoist Adept on an Excursion to Dai Tian Mountain
A dog’s bark breaks the noise of water.
Dew makes the peach blossom heavy.
Deep in the wood I observe occasional deer.
I hear no bells by the midday stream.
Wild bamboo criss-crosses green mist.
The green hills are draped with waterfalls.
Nobody can say where he went.
I slouch, disconsolate, against various pines.
.
Li Bai
犬吠水聲中，
桃花帶露濃。
樹深時見鹿，
溪午不聞鐘。
野竹分青靄，
飛泉掛碧峰。
無人知所去，
愁倚兩三松。
李白
Failing to Meet a Daoist Adept on an Excursion to Dai Tian Mountain
A dog’s bark breaks the noise of water.
Dew makes the peach blossom heavy.
Deep in the wood I observe occasional deer.
I hear no bells by the midday stream.
Wild bamboo criss-crosses green mist.
The green hills are draped with waterfalls.
Nobody can say where he went.
I slouch, disconsolate, against various pines.
.
Li Bai
秋风词
秋 风 清
秋 月 明
落 叶 聚 还 散
寒 鸦 栖 复 惊
相 思 相 见 知 何 日
此 时 此 夜 难 为 情
入我相思门
知我相思苦
长相思兮长相忆
短相思兮无尽极
早知如此绊人心
何如当初莫相识
李白
Autumn Breeze
There is a freshness in the air.
How bright the moon is!
Fallen leaves accumulate, then disperse.
Something startles a roosting jackdaw.
We long for each other.
It is not an easy night.
Come across the threshold of our love:
You will see what it is.
Our love is long in our memory.
A brief business that now can never end.
Had we but known this was a snare for our hearts
We should never have stumbled into it.
Li Bai
秋 风 清
秋 月 明
落 叶 聚 还 散
寒 鸦 栖 复 惊
相 思 相 见 知 何 日
此 时 此 夜 难 为 情
入我相思门
知我相思苦
长相思兮长相忆
短相思兮无尽极
早知如此绊人心
何如当初莫相识
李白
Autumn Breeze
There is a freshness in the air.
How bright the moon is!
Fallen leaves accumulate, then disperse.
Something startles a roosting jackdaw.
We long for each other.
It is not an easy night.
Come across the threshold of our love:
You will see what it is.
Our love is long in our memory.
A brief business that now can never end.
Had we but known this was a snare for our hearts
We should never have stumbled into it.
Li Bai
自遣
对酒不觉暝，
落花盈我衣。
醉起步溪月，
鸟还人亦稀。
李白
Release
Face in my cup I didn’t notice it got dark.
Fallen flowers cover my clothes.
Drunk, I get up and walk to the stream and, hey, the moon.
No birds now. And few people.
Li Bai
***
对酒不觉暝，
落花盈我衣。
醉起步溪月，
鸟还人亦稀。
李白
Release
Face in my cup I didn’t notice it got dark.
Fallen flowers cover my clothes.
Drunk, I get up and walk to the stream and, hey, the moon.
No birds now. And few people.
Li Bai
***
