Tang poems

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…...

Han Yu "On Teachers" is an argumentative essay written by Han Yu, a literary figure of the Tang Dynasty. The article expounds on the truth of seeking knowledge from teachers, satirizes the social attitude of being ashamed to learn from others, educates the youth, and plays a role in transforming social customs. 双语散文 师说 古之学者必有师。师者，所以传道受业解惑也。人非生而知之者，孰能无惑？惑而不从师，其为惑也，终不解矣。生乎吾前，其闻道也，固先乎吾，吾从而师之；生乎吾后，其闻道也，亦先乎吾，吾从而师之。吾师道也，夫庸知其年之先后生于吾乎？是故无贵无贱，无长无少，道之所存，师之所存也。 嗟乎！师道之不传也久矣，欲人之无惑也难矣。古之圣人，其出人也远矣，犹且从师而问焉；今之众人，其下圣人也亦远矣，而耻学于师。是故圣益圣，愚益愚。圣人之所以为圣，愚人之所以为愚，其皆出于此乎？爱其子，择师而教之；于其身也，则耻师焉，惑矣。彼童子之师，授之书而习其句读者，非吾所谓传其道解其惑者也。句读之不知，惑之不解，或师焉，或不焉，小学而大遗，吾未见其明也。巫医、乐师、百工之人，不耻相师。士大夫之族，曰师曰弟子云者，则群聚而笑之。问之，则曰：“彼与彼年相若也，道相似也，位卑则足羞，官盛则近谀。”呜呼！师道之不复，可知矣。巫医、乐师、百工之人，君子不齿。今其智乃反不能及，其可怪也欤！ 圣人无常师。孔子师郯子、苌弘、师襄、老聃。郯子之徒，其贤不及孔子。孔子曰：“三人行，则必有我师。”是故弟子不必不如师，师不必贤于弟子。闻道有先后，术业有专攻，如是而已。 李氏子蟠，年十七，好古文，六艺经传皆通习之，不拘于时，学于余。余嘉其能行古道，作《师说》以贻之。 On the Teacher Han Yu In ancient times scholars always had teachers. It takes a teacher to transmit the Way, impart knowledge and resolve doubts. Since man is not born with knowledge, who can be without doubt? But doubt will never be resolved without a teacher. He who was born before me learned the Way before me, and I take him as my teacher. But if he who was born after me learned the Way before me, I also take him as my teacher. I take the Way as my teacher. Why should I care whether a man was born before or after me? Irrespective therefore of the distinction between the high-born and the lowly, and between age and youth, where the Way is, there is my teacher. Alas, it has been a long time since the Way of the teacher was…...

《二十四诗品》 唐·司空图 玉壶买春，赏雨茅屋。 坐中佳士，左右修竹。 白云初晴，幽鸟相逐。 眠琴绿阴，上有飞瀑。 落花无言，人淡如菊。 书之岁华，其曰可读。 Refinement A jade kettle with a purchase of spring1, A shower on the thatched hut Wherein sits a gentle scholar, With tall bamboos growing right and left, And white clouds in the newly-clear sky, And birds flitting in the depths of trees. Then pillowed on his lute in the green shade, A waterfall tumbling overhead, Leaves dropping, not a word spoken, The man placid, like a chrysanthemum, Noting down the flower-glory of the season,-- A book well worthy to be read. 1. Wine which makes man see spring at all seasons. （Herbert A. Giles 译）...

浣溪沙 李珣 其一 入夏偏宜澹薄妆，越罗衣褪郁金黄，翠钿檀注助容光。 相见无言还有恨，几回判却又思量，月窗香径梦悠飏。 “Sand of Silk-Washing Stream” (Huan-ch’i sha) Li Hsün 1 The daintiness of her attire is especially nice in summer. Her Yüeh silk gown is lightly yellow, the color of turmeric. Azure patches and crimson lips enhance her beautiful face. She says nothing of her bitterness when they are together. But every time they part, she thinks of him over and over. By a moonlit window, the path smells sweet, she dreams on. （Lois Fusek 译）...

从萧叔子听弹琴，赋得三峡流泉歌 李冶 妾家本住巫山云，巫山流泉常自闻。 玉琴弹出转寥夐，直是当时梦里听。 三峡迢迢几千里，一时流入幽闺里。 巨石崩崖指下生，飞泉走浪弦中起。 初疑愤怒含雷风，又似呜咽流不通。 回湍曲濑势将尽，时复滴沥平沙中。 忆昔阮公为此曲，能令仲容听不足。 一弹既罢复一弹，愿作流泉镇相续。 A Song Written on the Topic “Streams Flowing down in the Three Gorges”  Li Ye My home used to be up there in Wu Mountain’s clouds, Where streams flowing from the mountain always can be heard. As the jade zither plays these sounds, they grow more sharp and clear, Just as they were in days of yore when heard within a dream. The Three Gorges are far away, many thousands of miles, But all at once they come flowing into my secluded chambers. Huge boulders crash down cliffs, audible under his fingers, Waterfalls and rushing waves rise from in the strings. It seems at first some bursting rage, thundering gales within, Then as if choked with sobbing sounds some current can’t get through. When force of winding rapids and whirlpools runs its course, The liquid notes fall drop by drop upon the level sand. I recall how long ago Ruan Xian composed this tune This could make even him ever hear his fill. You’ve played it once and finished, now play it once again, I want those flowing streams to continue forever. （Stephen Owen 译）...

相思怨 李冶 人道海水深，不抵相思半。 海水尚有涯，相思渺无畔。 携琴上高楼，楼虚月华满。 弹著相思曲，弦肠一时断。 Reproach in Love  Li Ye People say the sea is deep it’s not as deep by half as love. The sea at least still has its coasts, love’s farthest reaches have no shore. Take your harp and climb the tower, where moonlight fills the empty rooms. Then play the song of longing love heart and strings will break together. （Stephen Owen 译） The Bitterness of Longing Li Ye Deep is the ocean of human life, but the ocean has a shore; twice as deep is my longing for you, and longing is ever more. Lute in hand, I go upstairs, but there is no one here; moonlight fills the empty room, shining from way out there. Plucking my lute, I play a tune, Song of Pining for You; a string snaps as it rends my heart, breaking it in two. （Bannie Chow and Thomas Cleary 译）...

八至 李冶 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 Extremes  Li Ye What is closest and farthest apart? east and west, What is deepest and most shallow? the clear brook. What is highest and brightest? the sun and moon, Most intimate and most estranged? a man and wife. （Stephen Owen 译） Eight Superlatives Li Ye Furthest and nearest are east and west; deepest and most shallow are pure clear valley streams. Highest and brightest are the sun and moon; closest and most distant are husband and wife. （Bannie Chow and Thomas Cleary 译）...

雪 罗隐 尽道丰年瑞，丰年事若何？ 长安有贫者，为瑞不宜多。 Snow Luo Yin A bumper snow, a bumper harvest; It is universally said. But Some people are ill-fed and ill-clad In the capital, and they are cold. （张智中 译）...