A Short Ballad
翻译曹操《短歌行》
Before the drink I chant.
How long the life extant?
It seems like morning dew,
sad old time's much, new's scant.
I'm wreathed with veh'ment thought,
forget not what pine's brought.
What cures my woeful heart?
Apart from Dukang, naught.
How blue my sage's gown
my heart swings up and down.
But only for thy sake,
o'er troubled thoughts I frown.
How tender deer do bleat.
In wild field they weed eat.
Good guests today, I shall
with strings and pipes you greet.
How bright the moonlight beams!
How do I seize its gleams?
The grieve sprang up within
flows to my heart as streams.
Across the country's lane,
Down for my friends I crane.
Conversing o'er the feast,
with gratitude I'm lain.
The moon, few stars hang high.
The crows and pies south fly.
They thrice tree's branches round
on which they can't rely.
Let mountains higher soar.
Let seas more water store.
Like Duke Zhou I'll pause meals
to meet with talents more.
对酒当歌，人生几何？
譬如朝露，去日苦多。
慨当以慷，忧思难忘。
何以解忧？唯有杜康。
青青子衿，悠悠我心。
但为君故，沉吟至今。
呦呦鹿鸣，食野之苹。
我有嘉宾，鼓瑟吹笙。
明明如月，何时可掇?
忧从中来，不可断绝。
越陌度阡，枉用相存。
契阔谈讌，心念旧恩。
月明星稀，乌鹊南飞。
绕树三匝，何枝可依。
山不厌高，海不厌深。
周公吐哺，天下归心。
2018/1/26
Tortoise long may live
翻译曹操《龟虽寿》
Old tortoise long may live.
It’ll face its fate someday.
The serpent wings yond haze.
To ashes it’ll decay.
By trough the old steed lies.
For journey long it vies.
Brave warrior in late years,
his young heart never dies.
Life’s wax or wane relies
on Heaven’s will alone.
Maintaining bod’ly health’s
to life long-lasting prone.
Too much of joy I feel,
I chant my thoughts with songs.
神龟虽寿，犹有竟时。
螣蛇乘雾，终为土灰。
老骥伏枥，志在千里。
烈士暮年，壮心不已。
盈缩之期，不但在天；
养怡之福，可得永年。
幸甚至哉，歌以咏志。
The Hymn of Liangfu
梁甫吟
Over night Boreas roared,
flaming cloud soon did hoard.
In the air snowflakes whirled,
changed the face of th'old world.
I begazed vast blue sky,
thought the jade dragons vie.
Forthwith their scales disperse
through th'entire universe.
Do I fear Heaven might
neglect this grey-haired wight?
On ass' back crossing bridge,
I lament plum blooms' tidge.
一夜北风寒，万里彤云厚。
空中乱雪飘，改尽江山旧。
仰面观太虚，疑是玉龙斗。
纷纷鳞甲飞，顷刻遍宇宙。
白发银丝翁，岂惧皇天漏？
骑驴过小桥，独叹梅花瘦。
King's woe
《三国志通俗演义》卷一回七少帝诗
Tender grass fogged in green.
Graceful paired swifts are seen.
River Luo verd'ntly flows
with farmers envious crows.
Far beyond thick teal cloud,
stood my old palace proud.
Who will me justice bring?
Write down woes of this king!
嫩草绿凝烟，袅袅双飞燕。
洛水一条青，陌上人呼羡。
远望碧云深，是吾旧宫殿。
何人仗忠义，写我心中怨！