Yuan Ming and Qing Poetry – Page 7

Tang Xianzu Poem: The Peony Pavilion – 汤显祖《七夕醉答君东》

七夕醉答君东 [明]汤显祖玉茗堂[1]开春翠屏，新词传唱《牡丹亭》。伤心拍遍无人会，自掐[2]檀痕教小伶[3]。注释： [1]玉茗堂：在临川区沙井巷后，是汤显祖晚年写作、会客、排戏的场所。玉茗堂以汤显祖《玉茗堂四梦》的创作而名传千古，他在玉茗堂完成了《牡丹亭》。 [2]掐：用手紧紧握住。 [3]伶：旧时对以演戏为职业的人的称呼。 The Peony Pavilion Tang Xianzu[1] Autumn looks green as spring before my Hall of Jade; The Peony Pavilion is sung here and there. I find no connoisseur, tapping the balustrade; Sandal clappers in hand, I teach my actvess fair. 注释： [1]Tang Xianzu was a contemporary […]

Tang Xianzu Poem: The Peony Pavilion – 汤显祖《七夕醉答君东》 Read More »

Qi Jiguang Poem: March at Dawn – 戚继光《晓征》

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晓征 [明]戚继光霜溪曲曲转旌旗，几许沙鸥[1]睡未知。笳鼓[2]声高寒吹起，深山惊杀老阇黎[3]。注释： [1]沙鸥：栖息沙洲的水鸟。 [2]笳鼓：笳声与鼓声，借指军乐。 [3]阇黎：佛家语“阿阇梨”的略称，泛指僧人。 March at Dawn Qi Jiguang[1] Our banners undulate along the winding stream Without disturbing the riverside birds from their dream. Suddenly we beat drums and blow our bugles shrill To startle even the deaf old monk beyond the hill. 注释： [1]Qi Jiguang was a general

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Li Zhi Poem: Sitting Alone – 李贽《独坐》

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独坐 [明]李贽有客开青眼[1]，无人问落花。暖风熏细草，凉月照晴沙。客久翻疑梦，朋来不忆家。琴书犹未整，独坐送晚霞。注释： [1]青眼：青眼看人是表示对人的重视或尊重，这里指接待朋友来访。 Sitting Alone Li Zhi[1] With friends I open wide my eyes; Friendless, I speak to falling flowers. The slender grass in warm wind sighs; On sparkling sand cool moonlight showers. Life seems a dream in countries strange; Companions make me forget home. My

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Wang Shizhen Poem: General Qi’s Sword – 王世贞《戚将军赠宝剑歌》

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戚将军赠宝剑歌 [明]王世贞毋嫌身价抵千金，一寸纯钩[1]一寸心。欲识命轻恩重处，灞陵[2]风雨夜来深。注释： [1]纯钩：古代宝剑名。 [2]灞陵：古地名，本作“霸陵”。故址在今陕西省西安市东。 General Qi’s Sword[1] Wang Shizhen Can thousand coins of gold buy a sword of this kind? Each inch of steel reveals a battle-hardened mind. For royal favor of his life he has made light: No general but has suffered wind and rain at night. 注释： [1]This

Wang Shizhen Poem: General Qi’s Sword – 王世贞《戚将军赠宝剑歌》 Read More »

Xu Wei Poem: The Sleeping Beauty – 徐渭《杨妃春睡图》

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杨妃[1]春睡图 [明]徐渭守宫[2]夜落胭脂臂，玉阶[3]草色蜻蜓醉。花气随风出御墙[4]，无人知晓杨妃睡。皂纱[5]帐底绛罗委[6]，一团红玉沉秋水。画里犹能动世人，何怪当年走[7]天子。欲呼与语不得起，走向屏西打鹦鹉。为向华清日影斜，梦里曾飞何处雨？注释： [1]杨妃：杨贵妃，即杨玉环。 [2]守宫：壁虎，这里指守宫砂。 [3]玉阶：玉石砌成或装饰的台阶。 [4]御墙：宫墙。 [5]皂纱：黑色的纱绸。 [6]绛罗委：深红色的丝制帷幔。 [7]走：吸引，取悦。 The Sleeping Beauty[1] Xu Wei The chaste rouge spot on her fair arm removed last night, ’Mid grass before jade steps are drunk the dragonflies. The breeze brings out of palace walls the

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Yang Jisheng Poem: On Mount Tai – 杨继盛《登泰山》

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登泰山 [明]杨继盛志欲小天下，特来登泰山。仰观绝顶上，犹有白云还。 On Mount Tai Yang Jisheng[1] The world’s small east to west When I climb mountains high. I look up from the crest: Higher white clouds sail by. 注释： [1]Yang Jisheng was minister of war sentenced to death for he impeached the prime minister of treason.

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Li Panlong Poem: Farewell to a Banished Friend – 李攀龙《于郡城送明卿之江西》

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于郡城[1]送明卿[2]之[3]江西 [明]李攀龙青枫[4]飒飒[5]雨凄凄[6]，秋色遥看入楚迷。谁向孤舟怜逐客[7]，白云相送大江西。注释： [1]郡城：李攀龙的家乡济南。 [2]明卿：吴国伦，字明卿，江西兴国人。与李攀龙同为“后七子”之一，被贬谪为江西按察司知事，途经济南，李攀龙置酒送行，作此诗。 [3]之：到……去。 [4]青枫：苍翠的枫树。 [5]飒飒：形容风吹动树枝发出的声音。 [6]凄凄：此处形容雨的寒凉。 [7]逐客：被贬谪的客子，这里指吴国伦。 Farewell to a Banished Friend Li Panlong Green maple leaves are shivering in dreary rain: Autumn is veiled in mist on far-off Southern plain. Who would pity my banished friend in lonely boat? Only white clouds across the endless river float.

Li Panlong Poem: Farewell to a Banished Friend – 李攀龙《于郡城送明卿之江西》 Read More »

Wu Chengen Poem: The Autumn Moon – 吴承恩《对月感秋》

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对月感秋 [明]吴承恩人云天上月，中有嫦娥居。孤栖[1]与谁共？顾兔并蟾蜍。冰轮[2]不载土，桂树无根株[3]。纷纷黄金粟[4]，岁岁何由舒[5]？一闭千万年，玉颜[6]近何如？相违不咫尺[7]，照我阑干偶。一杯劝尔酒，为我留须臾[8]。注释： [1]孤栖：孤孤单单地栖居。 [2]冰轮：圆月。 [3]无根株：此句指的是那高耸月宫的桂树不生枝干。 [4]黄金粟：代指桂花。 [5]舒：舒发，生长。 [6]玉颜：美丽的容颜。 [7]咫尺：比喻距离很近。 [8]须臾：片刻，一会儿。 The Autumn Moon[1] Wu Chengen[2] ’Tis said a fair lady on high Resides in the moon up the sky. With whom her solitude to share? An ugly toad and a

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Xie Zhen Poem: Missing My Younger Brother on an Autumn Day – 谢榛《秋日怀弟》

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秋日怀弟 [明]谢榛生涯怜汝自樵苏[1]，时序[2]惊心尚[3]道途[4]。别后几年儿女大，望中千里弟兄孤。秋天落木愁多少，夜雨残灯梦有无。遥想故园挥涕泪，况闻寒雁下江湖。注释： [1]樵苏：砍柴刈草，代指日常生计。 [2]时序：时间季节的变换更替。 [3]尚：还，仍然。 [4]道途：在路途中，这里指离家在外奔波。 Missing My Younger Brother on an Autumn Day Xie Zhen I pity you who live on cutting grass and wood; Starting when seasons change, I still delay my way. Severed for years, our children have grown to manhood; Out of

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Huang E Poem: To My Husband– 黄峨《又寄升庵》

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又寄升庵[1] [明]黄峨懒把音书[2]寄日边，别离经岁又经年[3]。郎君自是无归计，何处青山不杜鹃。注释： [1]升庵：杨慎的号。 [2]音书：音讯，书信。 [3]经年：经过一年。 To My Husband Huang E[1] I’m tired of sending letters to far-off frontier; So long have we been separated from year to year. My beloved cannot come home with his longing eyes; Where on green mountains do we not hear cuckoo’s cries[2]! 注释： [1]Huang E

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