聲聲慢 – 李清照

尋尋覓覓，冷冷清清，淒淒慘慘戚戚。

乍暖還寒時候，最難將息。

三盃兩盞淡酒，怎敵他晚來風急！

雁過也，正傷心，卻是舊時相識。

滿地黃花堆積。憔悴損，如今有誰堪摘？

守著窗兒，獨自怎生得黑。

梧桐更兼細雨，到黃昏，點點滴滴。

這次第，怎一個愁字了得！

 

Searching aimlessly all alone, in sorrow and melancholy,

Finding it hard to rest while it’s warm and yet chilly.

A few cups of light wine cannot rival such evening gust,

Heartbreaking to see the wild geese hurry by, but find these are friends of the past.

Withered yellow flowers gathered on the ground, and now what else are left to cull?

Watching through the window, waiting endlessly in solitude till the sky turns dull.

The rain keeps drizzling on the parasol tree, it pitter-patters all along till evening,

At this very moment, the word sadness is inadequate to express my deep-down feelings!

念奴嬌

 

中秋對月 – 明  文徵明

 

桂花浮玉，正月滿天街，夜涼如洗。

風泛鬚眉並骨寒，人在水晶宮裡。

蛟龍偃蹇，觀闕嵯峨，縹緲笙歌沸。

霜華滿地，欲跨彩雲飛起。

記得去年今夕，釃酒溪亭，淡月雲來去。　

千里江山昨夢非，轉眼秋光如許。

青雀西來，嫦娥報我，道佳期近矣。

寄言儔侶，莫負廣寒沉醉。

 

Translation attempt (11 October, 2006)

 

Osmanthus blossoms look as white as jade,

As the full moon illuminates the celestial zone;

The night is cool as if with water sprayed.

The wind stirs my beard and eyebrows sending chills to my bone,

And it seems as though in a crystal palace I’ve stayed.

The dragon whirling, the lunar palace so solemn and lofty,

I can dimly hear the pounding music and songs like distant thunder.

The moon paints the land frosty,

 Riding the lurid clouds, I wish I would fly yonder.

Still recall the same evening last year,

Sipping wine at a pavilion the brook near,

Watching the clouds afloat under the obscure moonlight.

The country is no more the same as in my dream last night,

At the blink of eye it is already deep in fall.

A blackbird from the west carrying Chang E fairy’s call,

That the festival is near, and let all

Friends come get drunk at the lunar Guang Han hall.

 

烏衣巷

報上有作者介紹黃宏發在他的blog發表中詩西譯，其中舉烏衣巷為例。猛然想起年前曾譯過此詩，遂在舊文件堆中搜出來獻丑。

 

烏衣巷        劉禹錫

朱雀橋邊野草花，

烏衣巷口夕陽斜。

舊時王謝堂前燕，

飛入尋常百姓家

 

Beside the Red Bird Bridge weeds and wild flowers grow

At the Black Gown Lane the sun cast its evening glow

Swallows once the nobles’ lofty halls nesting by

Into the commoner homes they now fly

雪泥鴻爪

蘇軾 － 七絕

人生到處知何似？

應似飛鴻踏雪泥。

泥上偶然留指爪，

鴻飛那復計東西。

 

What is the path of life like do you know?

Just like wild geese step on the mud and snow.

Occasionally leave claw marks on the soggy land,

Then take flight in all directions unplanned.

臨江仙

臨江仙    楊慎       

滾滾長江東逝水，浪花淘盡英雄。

是非成敗轉頭空，青山依舊在，幾度夕陽紅。

白髮魚樵江渚上，慣看秋月春風。

一壺濁酒喜相逢，古今多少事，都付笑談中。

 

Towards east the roaring Yangzi River does rush,

Off the innumerable heroes its pounding waves flush.

The good, the bad, winners and losers in history have all vanished,

Only the eternal green mountains still stand,

Time and again by the twilight sun crimsonly garnished.

 The seasoned fisherman and woodsman on the river islet get together, 

They are used to watch the time and tide running away fast.

Drinking a pot of turbid wine to celebrate their merry encounter,

Many intriguing events, current and those of the past,

Are all reminisced in their cynical remarks and laughter.

 

七夕詩

 

迢迢牽牛星，   The twinkling cowboy star is afar,

皎皎河漢女。   By the Milky Way is the glistening weavergirl star.
纖纖擢素手，   Her hands are so delicate and pretty,

札札弄機杼。   The weaving machine clatters in unity.

終日不成章，   But for a whole day her efforts are in vain,

泣涕零如雨。   She cannot restrain her tears that drizzle like rain.
河漢清且淺，   The Milky Way is clear and shallow,

相去復幾許？   And I wonder how wide can it go?
盈盈一水間，   Tho’ only separated by the water so narrow,

脈脈不得語。   They can but discourse with the eyes in sorrow.

 

 

 

古詩十九首之三

 

青青陵上柏，

磊磊澗中石。
人生天地間，

忽如遠行客。
斗酒相娛樂，

聊厚不為薄。
驅車策駑馬，

游戲宛與洛。
洛中何鬱鬱，

冠帶自相索。
長衢羅夾巷，

王侯多第宅。
兩宮遙相望，

雙闕百餘尺。
極宴娛心意，

戚戚何所迫？

 

The cypress on the mound is green,

There are piles of pebbles in the stream.

Between the sky and earth man exists,

As swift as the trips made by the tourists.

So do treat ourselves to plenty of wine,

The wine is plain but just pretend it’s fine.

Let’s ride a horsecart driven by a jade,

And unto the cities of Yuan and Luo we parade.

The city of Luo is extremely prosperous,

Crowded with the nobles, the rich and famous.

Along the broad main street and in the chic lanes,

There are many marvellous royal mansion.

Two palaces facing each other in a distance,

Adorned with hundred feet of magnificent decoration.

Just enjoy the pleasure of the extravagant banquet

What could’ve prompted thee to feel so upset?

古詩十九首之一

 

行行重行行，

與君生別離。

相去萬餘里，

各在天一涯。
道路阻且長，

會面安可知。
胡馬依北風，

越鳥巢南枝。
相去日已遠，

衣帶日已緩。
浮云蔽白日，

游子不顧返。
思君令人老，

歲月忽已晚。
棄捐勿復道，

努力加餐飯。

 

I’m walking on and on,

Having bidden thee good-bye.

Ten thousands miles or more I’ve gone,

To yonder side of the sky.

The road is long and quite obstructing,

Don’t know when is our next meeting.

Mongolian horses cling to the gales from north,

Yue birds build nests on the boughs facing south.

The longer  I’ve been away,

The looser garment belt hangs day by day.

As long as the clouds still block the sun,

For the wanderer to return there’s no reason.

Thinking of thee and thus older I look,

Suddenly realise time has stealthily past.

Mention no more about what we’ve forsook,

Just exert ourselves in having one more repast.

古詩十九首之二

 

 

青青河畔草，

鬱鬱園中柳。
盈盈樓上女，

皎皎當窗牖。
娥娥紅粉妝，

纖纖出素手。
昔為娼家女，

今為蕩子夫。
蕩子行不歸，

空床難獨守。

 

Green is the riverside grass,

Blue is the garden willow,

A slim lady is up in the mansion,

Leaning by the window.

Wearing a stylish hairdo and makeup,

She reveals her fair and shapely hand.

Before she was a singer girl,

Now married to a dissipated husband.

He wanders off and never returns,

Being alone in the bed she could hardly stand.

水調歌頭

 

 

水調歌頭 – 蘇軾

丙辰中秋，歡飲達旦，大醉，作此篇，兼懷子由。

 

明月幾時有？把酒問青天。

不知天上宮闕，今夕是何年。

我欲乘風歸去，又恐瓊樓玉宇，高處不勝寒。

起舞弄清影，何似在人間？

轉朱閣，低綺戶，照無眠。

不應有恨，何事長向別時圓？

人有悲歡離合，月有陰晴圓缺，此事古難全。

但願人長久，千里共嬋娟。

 

  

  

  

 

How often is the moon so full and bright?

Raising a cup of wine I query the heaven tonight.

Wonder what year is it in the celestial palace?

Wish I could fly yonder by the wind with grace.

The lunar jade mansion must be cold and miserable,

And to me the chill high above is dauntingly unbearable.

As I dance in the clear and unworldly moonlight shadow,

Unto the red chamber the moon beams at the sleepless through silk window.

I mustn’t complain, but why at parting the moon is always round? 

There are sad and joyful moments, one may be sick or sound.

The moon changes phase between new and full,

Such imperfections in life are regrettably true.

May thy life be long and never-ending,

Though thousand miles apart, the same moon we’ll be beholding.