Chinese Poems

《菜根谭》（看得圆满、放得宽平） 此心常看得圆满，天下自无缺陷之世界；此心常放得宽平，天下自无险侧之人情。 If every person made a habit of looking upon everything as flawless, then everything in the world would naturally become perfect. If every person made a habit of making his heart expansive and tranquil, then men’s evil and harmful feelings would naturally disappear. （保罗·怀特 译） Make a habit of regarding the world as perfect, and the world in the heart will naturally become flawless. Make a habit of regarding the world as open and fair, and the world in the heart will naturally become free of evil and craft. （周文标 译） When one always has a contented mind, there will be a perfect world; when one always has a tolerant mind, there will be no treacherous human world. （蒋坚松 译） If there were a general view that everything is flawless, then all beings in the world would naturally lack defects. If there were a general attitude of generosity and being fair, then all beings of the world would naturally lack malicious feelings. （Robert Aitken & Daniel W. Y. Kwok 译）...

汾阴行 李峤 君不见昔日西京全盛时，汾阴后土亲祭祀。 斋宫宿寝设储供，撞钟鸣鼓树羽旂。 汉家五叶才且雄，宾延万灵朝九戎。 柏梁赋诗高宴罢，诏书法驾幸河东。 河东太守亲扫除，奉迎至尊导鸾舆。 五营夹道列容卫，三河纵观空里闾。 回旌驻跸降灵场，焚香奠醑邀百祥。 金鼎发色正焜煌，灵祗炜烨摅景光。 埋玉陈牲礼神毕，举麾上马乘舆出。 彼汾之曲嘉可游，木兰为楫桂为舟。 櫂歌微吟彩鹢浮，箫鼓哀鸣白云秋。 欢娱宴洽赐群后，家家复除户牛酒。 声明动天乐无有，千秋万岁南山寿。 自从天子向秦关，玉辇金车不复还。 珠帘羽扇长寂寞，鼎湖龙髯安可攀。 千龄人事一朝空，四海为家此路穷。 豪雄意气今何在，坛场宫馆尽蒿蓬。 路逢故老长叹息，世事回环不可测。 昔时青楼对歌舞，今日黄埃聚荆棘。 山川满目泪沾衣，富贵荣华能几时？ 不见只今汾水上，唯有年年秋雁飞。 Ballad of Fen-yin Li Chiao Haven’t you seen in olden days when the western Capital was in full glory, His Majesty himself made sacrifice to the Earth at Fen-yin. In the fasting room he spent the night, set out the offering, Then they rang bells, beat the drums, planted the feathered banners. The House of Han’s fifth generation, brilliant and bold, Who banqueted the hosts of spirits, who brought the barbarians to court. And when the great feast and poem session at Po-liang was over An edict was made and the Royal Coach went on tour to Ho-tung. The Governor of Ho-tung himself swept the region clean, Humbly welcomed the Most High, led the belled palanquin. Set out as guards, Imperial Armies lined all the roads, The three River Provinces permitted to watch, their villages emptied. Banners circled, His Majesty halted on the field where the spirits come down, Incense was burned, libations offered, to invite a hundred blessings. The golden tripod’s beauty shone forth its aureate sheen, The spirits and Earth God shimmered, unfurling their radiance.…...

诗二首 马自然 昔日曾随魏伯阳，无端醉卧紫金床。 东君谓我多情懒，罚向人间作酒狂。 何用烧丹学驻颜，闹非城市静非山。 时人若觅长生药，对景无心是大还。 Ut Melius Ma Tsu-Jan In youth I went to study Tao at its living fountain-head, And then lay tipsy half the day upon a gilded bed. “What oaf is this,” the Master cried, “content with human lot?” And bade me to the world get back and call myself a Sot. But wherefore seek immortal life by means of wondrous pills? Noise is not in the market-place, nor quiet on the hills. The secret of perpetual youth is already known to me: Accept with philosophic calm whatever fate may be. （H. A. Giles 译）...

羞燕 朱淑真 停针无语泪盈眸，不但伤春夏亦愁。 花外飞来双燕子，一番飞过一番羞。 Abashed before the Swallows Zhu Shuzhen As my needle pauses, tears wordlessly fill my eyes, Not only in spring do I grieve; summer has its sadnesses as well. A pair of swallows fly over the flowers; Each time they pass, I feel shame. （Sophie Volpp 译）...

牡丹 朱淑真 娇娆万态逞殊芳，花品名中占得王。 莫把倾城比颜色，从来家国为伊亡。 Peonies Zhu Shuzhen With thousands of fetching poses they display their exquisite scents, Royally among flowers. Don’t compare them to those beauties for whom cities are lost, For whole kingdoms have fallen for them. （Sophie Volpp 译）...

家书 张英 千里家书只为墙，再让三尺又何妨？ 万里长城今犹在，不见当年秦始皇。 Reply a Letter from Home Zhang Ying 1 The letter was 1000-li far away from my home, I suggested yielding thee inches instead of quarrel. Today the Great Wall’s standing still firm, Who met the First Emperor 2 of Chin Kingdom? 1. Zhang Ying (1637-1708) was a prime minister in the Qing Dynasty. 2. The First Emperor here refers to Ying Zheng (259BC-210BC)—the founder of Chin Dynasty. （朱曼华 译）...

笑府·凳脚 冯梦龙 乡间坐凳，多以现成树丫叉为脚者。一脚偶坏，主人命仆往山中觅取。仆持斧出，竟日空回。主人责之，答曰：“丫叉尽有，都是向上生，更无向下的。” Most stools in the countryside used ready-made branches as legs. One stool leg happened to be broken. The master asked his servant to search for one in the woods. The servant went out with an axe. He didn’t come back until quite late at night. His master asked what took him so long. He replied: “Though there are plenty of branches, they all grow upwards. I didn’t find a single one that goes downwards.” （陈沅恺 译）...

芦花 雍裕之 夹岸复连沙，枝枝摇浪花。 月明浑似雪，无处认渔家。 Reed Catkins Yong Yuzhi Lining both banks and nighing the sands on drift, The sprays all sway on the spindrift. Illumined by refulgent Luna, to snow they bear a close resemblance And, thus, obstruct the view to identify the whereabouts of fisherman’s residence. （黄龙 译）...

突厥三台 盛小丛 雁门山上雁初飞，马邑阑中马正肥。 日旰山西逢驿使，殷勤南北送征衣。 A Turkic Santai Song In the Wild-goose Range, above the pass, wild geese begin to fly. Warhorses in Horse-town’s stables grow sleek and strong. Day fades in the West-Ridge borderlands: you meet army couriers, Come up from the south, taking pains with winter uniforms sent to the north. （Jeanne Larsen 译）...

Xu Wei-徐渭 桃叶渡三首 徐渭 一 书中见桃叶，相忆如不死。 今过桃叶渡，但见一条水。 二 忆渡桃叶时，绿杨娇粉面。 丈水五石泥，好影照不见。 三 忆渡桃叶时，徘徊影自顾。 丈水五石泥，钗落在何处？ Peach Leaf Ferry Hsu Wei I In a book seeing peach leaves I thought of you sadly as if you hadn’t died. Crossing now at Peach Leaf Ferry I see only the river. II Sad at Peach Leaf Ferry for the green willows graceful, delicate. Ten feet of water, five gallons of mud, and their lovely reflections can’t be seen. III Sad at Peach Leaf Ferry confused reflections of her face. Ten feet of water five gallons of mud and her hairpin’s fallen where? （James Cryer 译）...

Xu Wei-徐渭 鱼蟹 徐渭 夜窗宾主话，秋辅鳙鱼肥。 配饮无钱买，思将换画归。 Crabs Hsu Wei Night at the window talking. Fall River crabs So plump they deserve a little drink. Think I’ll go swap a painting. （James Cryer 译）...

Xu Wei-徐渭 云门寺题画梅 徐渭 浮桥流水雪潺潺，客子来游二月阑。 蓓蕾已青酸满树，梅花只就画中看。 Cloud Gate Temple/Painting Plum Trees Hsu Wei Floating bridge water flowing the snow spits as I wander late in March the buds now green in trees awash with coldness, but the only plum blossoms to be seen are in my painting. （James Cryer 译）...

画竹 徐渭 东吴药绢白濛濛，况值胶矾盏内空。 烂颖扫来孤凤影，江湘细雨淡烟中。 Painting Bamboo Hsu Wei Cheap silk from Eastern Wu dull and damp, and too the pot is bare of sizing but when my brush sweeps through the shadow of a solitary phoenix here’s silken rain on the Hsiang Chiang River and pale mists. （James Cryer 译）...

谐噱·长年术 范正敏 蒲傅正知杭州，有术士请谒，盖年逾九十，而犹有婴儿之色。傅正接之甚欢，因访以长年之术。答曰：“某术甚简而易行，它无所忌，唯当绝色欲耳。”傅正俛思良久，曰：“若然，则寿虽千岁何益！” Longevity While Pu Zhuanzheng was serving as county magistrate in Hangzhou, a sorcerer begged for an audience. Though over 90 years of age, the sorcerer had the complexion of a baby. Zhuang Zheng was very glad to see the old man and inquired of him the secret of long life. “Well,” said the sorcerer, “my method is simple and easy to follow. There’s no taboo whatsoever. Just keep away from women, that’s all.” At this the magistrate mediated for some time and said: “In that case, what’s the use of living to be one thousand years old?” Fan Zhengmin: Xie Xue (Humoourous Stories) （卢允中 译）...

春思·其一 贾至 草色青青柳色黄，桃花历乱李花香。 东风不为吹愁去，春日偏能惹恨长。 Spring Thoughts Jia Zhi Under the light yellow willow twigs are grasses verdant, Peach blossoms flourish and plum flowers are fragrant. Why can’t you the east wind blow the worries over me? The sight of spring just causes my untold melancholy. （刘军平 译）...

初至巴陵与李十二白裴九同泛洞庭湖 贾至 江畔枫叶初带霜，渚边菊花亦已黄。 轻舟落日兴不尽，三湘五湖意何长。 A Boat Trip on the Dongting Lake with Li Bai and Pei Jiu Jia Zhi Maple leaves on the bank are thick and fast falling The evening waves of the autumn lake surge forward rolling. Merry and happy we set a free unreigned sail, White clouds and bright moon see us think of Xiang Goddess with wail. （刘军平 译）...

虞姬 朱静庵 力尽重瞳霸气消，楚歌声里恨迢迢。 贞魂化作原头草，不逐东风入汉郊。 The Consort Yu1 Zhu Jing’an Strength exhausted, Xiang Yu lost the hegemonic light in his double-pupiled eyes. Surrounded by the singing of Southern songs, he felt endless regret. A faithful soul, she turned into grass on the battleground, Refusing to follow the east wind into Han territory. 1. Yu was the favorite consort of Xiang Yu (232-202 B.C.E.), hegemon of Chu and the arch rival of Liu Bang in the struggle for control of the empire that preceded Liu’s founding of the Han dynasty. When Xiang (who was said to have double pupils) was cornered in Gaixia, Liu had his soldiers sing Southern songs at night, leading Xiang to believe that his home territory, Chu, had joined Liu’s forces. Consort Yu committed suicide before Xiang’s defeat in the final battle the next day. （Michelle Yeh 译）...

懊侬歌·其一 绿珠 丝布涩难缝，令侬十指穿。 黄牛细犊车，游戏出孟津。 Song of Worries I The satin is so difficult to sew, That the needle pierces my fingertip. In a carriage drawn by oxen you go, Wandering to Mengjin on a trip. （汪榕培 译）...

送人遊吴 杜荀鹤 君到姑苏见，人家尽枕河。 古宫闲地少，水巷小桥多。 夜市卖菱藕，春船载绮罗。 遥知未眠月，乡思在渔歌。 See a Friend Off to Wu Tu Hsun-ho I see you to Ku-su. Homes there, sleeping by the stream. Ancient palace, few abandoned spots. And by the harbor, many little bridges. In the night market, lotus, fruit and roots. On the spring barges, satins and gauze. Know, far off, the moon still watches. Think of me there, in the fisherman’s song. （J. P. Seaton 译）...

秋晚登楼望南江入始兴郡路 张九龄 潦收沙衍出，霜降天宇晶。 伏槛一长眺，津途多远情。 思来江山外，望尽烟云生。 滔滔不自辨，役役且何成。 我来飒衰鬓，孰云飘华缨。 枥马苦踡跼，笼禽念遐征。 岁阴向晼晚，日夕空屏营。 物生贵得性，身累由近名。 内顾觉今是，追叹何时平。 Climbing a Tall Building on an Autumn Evening: I Gaze to Where the South River Touches the Shih-hsing Road Chang Chiu-ling Streaming rivulets draw back, sandflats emerge, Frost comes down, the sky’s vault, crystalline. Hunched at the railing, I gaze long and far, Path and ford draw many emotions of distant places. Longing comes from beyond the rivers and mountains; Where my gaze breaks off, clouds and mists arise. A rolling flood where nothing is distinct— Oh, what is accomplished from all this constant toil? I came here, wind shaking my frail white locks, No one could say it shook ribbons of high office. A stabled horse suffering cramped restraints, A caged bird longing for faraway journeys. The year grows ever darker toward its close. At the end of day, a pointless restlessness. All living creatures value fulfilling their natures, The bonds upon my body grow from recent fame. I look back, find I’m truly right now— But when will ease come for sorrow at what is past? （Stephen Owen 译）...

西厢记·碧云天·正宫端正好 王实甫 碧云天，黄叶地， 西风紧，北雁南飞。 晓来谁染霜林醉？ 点点是离人泪。 Blue Sky with White Clouds Wang Shifu The blue sky fleeting with white clouds, The earth covered with yellow fallen leaves. A west wind blows, and wild geese fly southwards. In early morning, woods are dotted white with frost, Tears of lovers’ sad departure. （王宏印 译）...

八至 李治 至近至远东西，至深至浅清溪。 至高至明日月，至亲至疏夫妻。 Eight Most Li Ye nearest furthest, east west deep, a shallow, a clear creek highest brightest sun and moon so close so far—man wife （Christopher Kelen, Hilda Tam, Song Zijiang, Iris Fan and Carol Ting 译）...

Liu Zongyuan 秋晓行南谷经荒村 柳宗元 杪秋霜露重，晨起行幽谷。 黄叶覆溪桥，荒村唯古木。 寒花疏寂历，幽泉微断续。 机心久已忘，何事惊麋鹿？ Morning Walk in Autumn to South Valley Passing an Abandoned Village Liu Tsung-yuan Autumn’s end: frost and dew become heavy. Get up early. Walk in secluded ravine. Yellow leaves cover stream and bridge. Deserted village: only ancient trees. Cold flowers, sparse: quiet, alone. Secluded spring, a little: heard, unheard. Scheme of mind now lost a long time, What is it that startles a young deer? （Wai-lim Yip 译）...

客中即事 朱静庵 华屋沉沉乳燕飞，绿杨深处啭黄鹂。 疏帘不卷薰风静，坐看庭花日影移。 Impromptu on a Trip Zhu Jing’an The splendid mansion is quiet, young swallows fly. In the deep shade of green poplars, orioles sing. The breeze is gone, the light curtain still, I sit and watch flower shadows shift in the garden. （Michelle Yeh 译）...