February 2023

Wang Guowei: To Try to Find ~ 《欲觅》 王国维with English Translations

王国维在《红楼楚评论》中云:欲达解脱之域者,固不可不尝人世之忧患。而人世之忧患,又是与生俱来的,王国维饱尝忧患而无法解脱,故彷徨无着,难以心安。此诗亦光绪三十年秋初到苏州时作。 《欲觅》 王国维 欲觅吾心已自难,更从何处把心安? 诗缘病辍弥无赖,忧与生来讵有端。 起看月中霜万瓦,卧闻风里竹千竿。 沧浪亭北君迁树,何限栖鸦噪暮寒! To Try to Find To try to find my heart, it’s hard enough; How could I hold it in tranquility? Illness impedes poetry, and all I feel is useless; Sorrow comes from birth, not without cause. I rise to watch, in the moonlight, frost on ten thousand roof […]

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Zhang Yining: Begonia ~ 《秋海棠》 张以宁 with English Translations

张以宁,元末明初文学家。古田(今属福建宁德)人。有俊才,博学强记,擅名于时,人呼“小张学士”。泰定中,以春秋举进士。官至翰林侍读学士。明灭元,复授侍讲学士。奉使安南,还,卒于道。以宁工诗,著有《翠屏集》、《春王正月考》等。张以宁论诗主张复古,为明高棅复古理论开了先河。 《秋海棠》 张以宁 软渍红稣百媚生,嫣然一笑欲倾城。 不须更乞春阴护,绿叶低遮倍有情。 Begonia Zhang Yining With all charms lithe, rubicund and tender, She is unrivaled in pulchritude with a smile enchanting and winsome. It is dispensable to implore the god for vernal-shade shelter. Under the cover of green foliage she appears exceptionally sentimental and handsome.

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Qiao Shi: Musa Basjoo ~ 《芭蕉》 乔浞 with English Translations

夏天,芭蕉翻动绿叶,播撒清音;秋天,秋雨秋风,也不以为苦。它知道秋后是冬,是春,永不悲观,心胸豁达,这就是芭蕉的风骨。 《芭蕉》 乔浞 绿云当窗翻,清音满廊庑。 风雨送秋寒,中心不言苦。 Musa Basjoo Qiao Shi Afront the window the green clouds unfurl and turn over, Arousing a dulcet sound throughout the corridor and chamber. In chilly fall, she suffers from wind and rain. And, nevertheless, utters not even a single word of grievance or pain.

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Guo Zhen: Lotus ~ 《莲花》 郭震 with English Translations

这首莲花诗,明写莲花,但处处都是用拟人的手法,诗中的莲花仿佛就是一位明媚动人、嫩脸生香的美人。诗中的“湘妃雨”、“碧玉盘”等名词,也让我们联想到古时的名媛美鬟。所以江湖夜雨很是怀疑,这倒底是在写莲花,还是借写莲花,来写一位他心中所爱的女子。 《莲花》 郭震 脸腻香薰似有情,世间何物比轻盈。 湘妃雨后来池看,碧玉盘中弄水晶。 Lotus Guo Zhen Seemingly, she is affectionate and sentimental with soft and aromatic countenance. Which creature in the early world can match this very floret in lissomness, slimness, and elegance? The Princess Xiang fares hither to appreciate her in the pond after the shower, Fondling with the crystal in the

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Wang Rui: Peony ~ 《牡丹》 王睿 with English Translations

这是一首咏物言志诗,表达了诗人对权贵淫逸奢侈的批判和对寒士朴实无华的赞美之情。 《牡丹》 王睿 牡丹妖艳乱人心,一国如狂不惜金。 曷若东园桃与李,果成无语自成阴。 Peony Wang Rui The enchanting peony bewitches man’s heart with fascination. And the frenzy people spare no thousand-Liang gold for her purchase throughout the nation. Nevertheless, she is inferior to peach and apricot in Eastern Garden, Which speechlessly and spontaneously cast umbrages with fruition.

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Cai Yan: Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute Song 18 ~ 《胡笳十八拍·第十八拍》 蔡琰 with English Translations

汉末大乱,连年烽火,蔡文姬在逃难中被匈奴所掳,流落塞外,后来与左贤王结成夫妻,生了两个儿女。在塞外她度过了十二个春秋,但她无时无刻不在思念故乡。曹操平定了中原,与匈奴修好,派使节用 重金赎回文姬,于是她写下了著名长诗《胡笳十八拍》,叙述了自己一生不幸的遭遇。 《胡笳十八拍·第十八拍》 蔡琰 胡笳本自出胡中,绿琴翻出音律同。 十八拍兮曲虽终,响有馀兮思未穷。 是知丝竹微妙兮均造化之功,哀乐各随人心兮有变则通。 胡与汉兮异域殊风,天与地隔兮子西母东。 苦我怨气兮浩於长空,六合离兮受之应不容。 Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute Song 18 Cai Yan The nomad flute originally came from the nomads themselves, Matched with the qin, their music follows the same patterns. With these eighteen stanzas, my song is finished, But the tones continue, and my longing is without

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Cai Yan: Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute Song 17 ~ 《胡笳十八拍·第十七拍》 蔡琰 with English Translations

汉末大乱,连年烽火,蔡文姬在逃难中被匈奴所掳,流落塞外,后来与左贤王结成夫妻,生了两个儿女。在塞外她度过了十二个春秋,但她无时无刻不在思念故乡。曹操平定了中原,与匈奴修好,派使节用 重金赎回文姬,于是她写下了著名长诗《胡笳十八拍》,叙述了自己一生不幸的遭遇。 《胡笳十八拍·第十七拍》 蔡琰 十七拍兮心鼻酸,关山阻修兮行路难。 去时怀土兮枯枯叶干,沙场白骨兮刀痕箭瘢。 风霜凛凛兮春夏寒,人马饥虺兮骨肉单。 岂知重得兮入长安,欢息欲绝兮泪阑干。 Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute Song 17 Cai Yan In my seventeenth song, my heart and nose are sore as if they inhaled vinegar, Passes and mountains, dangerous and long the road brutal to travel, When I left, I longed for my home soil, I had

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Cai Yan: Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute Song 16 ~《胡笳十八拍·第十六拍》 蔡琰 with English Translations

汉末大乱,连年烽火,蔡文姬在逃难中被匈奴所掳,流落塞外,后来与左贤王结成夫妻,生了两个儿女。在塞外她度过了十二个春秋,但她无时无刻不在思念故乡。曹操平定了中原,与匈奴修好,派使节用 重金赎回文姬,于是她写下了著名长诗《胡笳十八拍》,叙述了自己一生不幸的遭遇。 《胡笳十八拍·第十六拍》 蔡琰 十六拍兮思茫茫,我与儿兮各一方。 日东月西兮徒相望,不得相随兮空断肠。 对萱草兮徒想忧忘,弹鸣琴兮情何伤。 今别子兮归故乡,旧怨平兮新怨长。 泣血仰头兮诉苍苍,生我兮独罹此殃。 Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute Song 16 Cai Yan In my fifteenth song the tempo of the melody quickens, The spirit which rises in my breast, who understands its song? I lived in a yurt with the nomads, their customs so different and strange, I

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Cai Yan: Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute Song 15 ~《胡笳十八拍·第十五拍》 蔡琰 with English Translations

汉末大乱,连年烽火,蔡文姬在逃难中被匈奴所掳,流落塞外,后来与左贤王结成夫妻,生了两个儿女。在塞外她度过了十二个春秋,但她无时无刻不在思念故乡。曹操平定了中原,与匈奴修好,派使节用 重金赎回文姬,于是她写下了著名长诗《胡笳十八拍》,叙述了自己一生不幸的遭遇。 《胡笳十八拍·第十五拍》 蔡琰 十五拍兮节调促,气填胸兮谁识曲。 处穹庐兮偶殊俗,愿归来兮天从欲。 再还汉国兮欢心,心有忆兮愁转深。 日月无私兮曾不照临,子母分离兮意难任。 同天隔越兮如商参,生死不相知兮何处寻。 Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute Song 15 Cai Yan In my fifteenth song the tempo of the melody quickens, The spirit which rises in my breast, who understands its song? I lived in a yurt with the nomads, their customs so different and strange, I

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Yuan Kai: Sitting at Night in an Alien Land ~ 《客中夜坐》 袁凯 with English Translations

《客中夜坐》表达了作者客居他乡,深夜独坐,听闻大雁的叫声而引发的对故乡深深的思念之情。 《客中夜坐》 袁凯 落叶萧萧淮水长,故园归路更微茫。 一声新雁三更雨,何处行人不断肠。 Sitting at Night in an Alien Land Yuan Kai(1) Leaves fall shower by shower on the river long. Where can the way to my native garden be found? The wild geese pierce the midnight rain with their new song. O how can my heart not break on my way homebound!

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