Tang poems

Li He 金铜仙人辞汉歌并序 李贺 魏明帝青龙元年八月，诏宫官牵车，西取汉孝武捧露盘仙人，欲立致前殿。宫官既拆盘，仙人临载，乃潸然泪下。唐诸王孙李长吉遂作《金铜仙人辞汉歌》。 茂陵刘郎秋风客，夜闻马嘶晓无迹。 画栏桂树悬秋香，三十六宫土花碧。 魏官舝车指千里，东关酸风射眸子。 空将汉月出宫门，忆君清泪如铅水。 衰兰送客咸阳道，天若有情天亦老。 携盘独出月荒凉，渭城已远波声小。 Song of the Bronze Statue Li He In the eighth month of the first year of the Qinglong era, during the reign of Emperor Ming of Wei, the court ordered a palace officer to ride west and bring back the gilded bronze figure of an immortal holding a disc to catch dew made during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, in order to set it up in the front court. When the palace officer removed the disc and took the statue to his carriage, the bronze figure shed tears. So Li Changji, descended from a prince of the House of Tang, wrote this song. Gone that emperor of Maoling, Rider through the autumn wind, Whose horse neighs at night And has passed without trace by dawn. The fragrance of autumn lingers still On those cassia trees by painted galleries, But on every palace hall the green moss grows. As Wei’s envoy sets out to drive a thousand li The keen wind at the East Gate stings the statue’s eyes… From the ruined palace he brings nothing forth But the moon-shaped disc of Han, True to his lord, he sheds…...

Bai Juyi-白居易 读庄子 白居易 去国辞家谪异方，中心自怪少忧伤。 为寻庄子知归处，认得无何是本乡。 Reading Chuang Tzu Po Chü-I Leaving home and homeland, banished to some far-off place, I wonder how it is I’m nearly free of grief and pain. Puzzled and searching Chuang Tzu for insight on returning to dwell, I realize it’s a place beyond questions: that’s our native land. （David Hinton 译）...

Bai Juyi-白居易 琴 白居易 置琴曲几上，慵坐但含情。 何烦故挥弄，风弦自有声。 Ch’in Po Chü-I Letting my ch’in stay on its little table, I sit idly, letting what I feel stay deep. Why bother to play it? In this breeze, strings sing perfectly well themselves. （David Hinton 译）...

Meng Jiao 游子吟 孟郊 慈母手中线，游子身上衣。 临行密密缝，意恐迟迟归。 谁言寸草心，报得三春晖。 For Her Son Who’ll Be Away for a While Meng Jiao Needle and thread in doting mother’s hand Turn out garments for her son out to roam the land. She puts in more stitches e’en as he leaves And frets that his homecoming may be moved back. Who says the tiny inch-tall blade of grass Can e’er repay the warm sunshine of spring? （龚景浩 译） The Wandering Son’s Song The thread from my dear mother’s hand Was sewn in the clothes of her wandering son. For fear of my belated return, Before my leave they were closely woven. Who says mine heart like a blade of grass Could repay her love’s gentle beams of spring sun? （孙大雨 译） Chant of a Roaming Son The thread in the mother’s hand, The clothes worn by the wanderlust son. The nearer the departure, The closer the stitches sown, Lest his return be further postponed. Who said the grass blade of a heart Could repay the glory of the late spring sun? （任治稷、余正 译） A Journeyer’s Song Through a kind mother’s hands passed the thread That made the clothes I journeying wear. Tightly tightly she wove them then, Dreading year…...

Wei Yingwu 昙智禅师院 韦应物 高年不复出，门径众草生。 时夏方新雨，果药发馀荣。 疏澹下林景，流暮幽禽情。 身名两俱遣，独此野寺行。 At Cloud-Wisdom Monastery, in the Ch’an Master’s Courtyard Wei Ying-wu Exalted with age, you never leave here: the gate-path is overgrown with grass. But summer rains have come, bringing fruits and herbs into such bright beauty, so we stroll down into forest of shadow, sharing what recluse birds feel at dusk, freed even of our names. And this much alone, we wander the countryside back. （David Hinton 译）...

项羽庙 李山甫 为虏为王尽偶然，有何羞见汉江船？ 停分天下犹嫌少，可要行人赠纸钱？ The Temple of Hsiang Yü1 Li Shan-fu Captive or king, it’s all a matter of chance. Why ashamed to see Han boats on the river? Contesting for the empire, the world wasn’t big enough; Would you now care for offerings of paper money from a traveler? 1. Hsiang Yü (232-202 B.C), the defeated king of Ch’u. （Irving Y. Lo 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）...

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）...

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）...

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）...

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）...

libai 长相思 李白 日色欲尽花含烟，月明如素愁不眠。 赵瑟初停凤凰柱，蜀琴欲奏鸳鸯弦。 此曲有意无人传，愿随春风寄燕然。 忆君迢迢隔青天，昔日横波目，今为流泪泉。 不信妾肠断，归来看取明镜前。 Longing Li Po Sunlight beings to fade, mist fills the flowers, The moon as white as silk weeps and cannot sleep, Chao zither’s Phoenix frets no more shall I touch, Shu lute’s Mandarin Duck strings I’ll sound instead: This song has a meaning that no one can tell, It follows the Spring wind as far as Yen-jan To you far, far away beyond the blue sky— Whom once I gave A sideways glance With eyes that now Are wells of tears— If you do not believe that my heart breaks, Come back and look with me into this glass! （Arthur Cooper 译）...

libai 宴陶家亭子 李白 曲巷幽人宅，高门大士家。 池开照胆镜，林吐破颜花。 绿水藏春日，青轩秘晚霞。 若闻弦管妙，金谷不能夸。 Evening in the Pavilion of My Friend Tao Li Pai A twisted lane and then we came to the home of this retired one, big gates welcoming us into the larger house of his great family; in front of it water with a beauty that penetrated one’s inmost being, trees and flowers that seemed to smile back at you; green translucent waters as if holding the warm sun of spring, and the house seemed to take in bits of the loveliness of clouds and hold it in its rooms; should one be here and then listen to music from a temple, surely the Golden Valley gardens1 could not compare with it. 1. In the Western Tsin Dynasty (265-316 AD) there were famous gardens called “Golden Valley.” （Rewi Alley 译）...

春游曲二首（录一） 王涯 万树江边杏，新开一夜风。 满园深浅色，照在绿波中。 “Song of Spring Journeying” Wang Ya Ten thousand almond trees by the riverbank Burst freely into bloom after one night’s wind. All over the park, colors dark and light Are reflected there in the green waves. (No. 1 from A Series of 2) （Irving Y. Lo 译）...

宫词三十首（存二十七首，录一） 王涯 白雪猧儿拂地行，惯眠红毯不曾惊。 深宫更有何人到，只晓金阶吠晚萤。 “Palace Poem” Wang Ya A snow-white terrier brushes the ground as it walks; Used to sleeping on red carpet, it has no sense of fright. Who could have come the palace’s innermost quarter? It barks only at evening fireflies by the gold-inlaid steps. (No. 13 from A Series of 27) （Irving Y. Lo 译）...

秋思赠远二首（其二） 王涯 厌攀杨柳临清阁，闲采芙蕖傍碧潭。 走马台边人不见，拂云堆畔战初酣。 Autumn Thoughts for My Wife Wang Ya II When tied of breaking willow branch before my bower, I pluck at leisure by poolside the lotus flower. I cannot find your face when I ride on my horse, But hear the cloud echo war cries of combat force. （许渊冲 译）...

秋思赠远二首（其一） 王涯 当年只自守空帷，梦里关山觉别离。 不见乡书传雁足，唯看新月吐蛾眉。 Autumn Thoughts for My Wife Wang Ya I In bygone years alone in empty room did I stay To dream of the mountains of homeland far away. Seeing no wild geese bringing me your letter now, I only find the new moon like your arching brow. （许渊冲 译）...

秋夜曲 王涯 桂魄初生秋露微，轻罗已薄未更衣。 银筝夜久殷勤弄，心怯空房不忍归。 “Song of Autumn Night” Wang Ya A new moon has come up and the autumn dew is light, Her dress of soft gauze is too thin before she has time to change. All night long she plays tenderly on the silver flute; With a timid heart, she can’t bear returning to an empty room. （Irving Y. Lo 译）...

观于舍人壁画山水 王季友 野人宿在人家少，朝见此山谓山晓。 半壁仍栖岭上云，开帘欲放湖中鸟。 独坐长松是阿谁，再三招手起来迟。 于公大笑向予说，小弟丹青能尔为。 Viewing Mr. Yü’s Landscape Painting on the Wall Wang Chi-yu A rustic person like me seldom spends a night in a mountain home. I wake and watch the dawn come to these hills: On the wall the clouds still hover above the peaks; And I open the window to set free the birds in the lake. Who is this man sitting alone under the tall pine?— To my repeated greetings he is slow in response. Mr. Yü lets loose a hearty laugh and says, “It is my painting that deceives you so.” （Joseph J. Lee 译）...

Han Yu 蓝田县丞厅壁记 韩愈 丞之职所以贰令，于一邑无所不当问。其下主薄、尉，主薄、尉乃有分职。丞位高而逼，例以嫌不可否事。文书行，吏抱成案诣丞，卷其前，钳以左手，右手摘纸尾，雁鹜行以进，平立睨丞曰：“当署。”丞涉笔占位，署惟谨，目吏，问：“可不可？”吏曰：“得”，则退，不敢略省，漫不知何事。官虽尊，力势反出主薄、尉下。谚数慢，必曰“丞”，至以相訾謷。丞之设，岂端使然哉？ 博陵崔斯立，种学绩文，以蓄其有，泓涵演迤，日大以肆。贞元初，挟其能战艺于京师，再进再屈千人。元和初，以前大理评事言得失黜官，再转而为丞兹邑。始至，喟曰：“官无卑，顾材不足塞职。”既噤不得施用，又喟曰：“丞哉，丞哉！余不负丞，而丞负余。”则尽枿去牙角，一蹑故迹，破崖岸而为之。 丞厅故有记，坏漏污不可读。斯立易桷与瓦，墁治壁，悉书前任人名氏。庭有老槐四行，南墙巨竹千梃，俨立若相持，水虢虢循除鸣。斯立痛扫溉，对树二松，日吟哦其间。有问者，辄对曰：“余方有公事，子姑去。” [考功郎中、知制诰韩愈记。] Written on the Wall of the Assistant Magistrate’s Han Yu The assistant magistrate’s task is to help the magistrate and look into everything that goes on in his county. Under him are secretaries with various functions. But though his status is high, he is too cribbed and encumbered to take any action. When a document has to be issued, the clerk brings it to him—made out. Holding the forepart of the scroll tightly rolled in his left hand, he pulls out its end with his right, swoops down on the assistant magistrate and looks at his askance. “Your signature, please!” he says. The assistant magistrate picks up his brush and signs with care in the allotted place, glancing at the clerk for reassurance. “All in order,” says the clerk, and withdraws. The assistant magistrate dares not look into the matter and has no idea what is at issue. Though his position is high, he has less authority than the secretaries. But he is usually the first to be criticized, and is sometimes roundly abused for negligence. Is this why they created such a post? Tsui Szu-li of Poling cultivated the arts and…...