[TRANSLATION]清平调词三首 其一 – Three Tunes with Serenity and Purity，No.1

Three Tunes with Serenity and Purity，No.1

Author: Bai Li(AD701-AD762, Tang Dynasty)

Translator: Lei Fan 2017 in Chicago

 

Clouds remind me your sumptuous dresses, flowers remind me your face.

Breezes caress the railings, peonies appear to be delicate when bedewed.

If you are not the elegant fairy resides on top of the Qunyu mountain,

Then I must have met you next to the Jade Pool, under the moonlights.

 

 

[NOTE] These three poems were composed by Bai Li to describe the unprecedented beauty of imperial concubine yang and the spoiled love and favor from the emperor.

 

清平调词三首

其一

云想衣裳花想容。
春风拂槛露华浓。
若非群玉山头见。
会向瑶台月下逢。


Image Courtesy:高鹏国画云想衣裳花想容 北京书画网

[TRANSLATION]赠韦秘书子春 其一– A Poem for Ancient Record Clerk Zichun Wei, No 1.

　　

A Poem for Ancient Record Clerk Zichun Wei, No 1.

Author: Bai Li(AD701-AD762, Tang Dynasty)

Translator: Lei Fan 2017 in Chicago

 

 

Hermit Zizhen Zheng once lived in the mountains,

Farming and fishing in the barren lands.

His fame was heard in the forbidden city,

His name was known by everyone on the streets.

He never wanted to serve the court, become an official,

Slept in the forest, surrounded by clouds and pine trees.

Why to live alone and only take care of your own good,

But left everyone else suffering?

Zichun, you are from once a prestigious family,

The dynasty is thriving, but your family is declining.

You can talk about state affairs eloquently without a stop,

And you know every details about diplomacy and strategy.

Like Nobleman Xie, you do not want to wait in vain,

Without hesitation, you serve countless lives.

As a clerk who manages the ancient records,

We all know even this title does not commensurate your abilities.

Now you are demoted, maybe it’s time to go back home,

There is nothing left in this golden palace for you to concern.

You old house is probably desolated and decayed,

Buried by the overgrown weeds and underbushes.

Gaze at the Peak of Nuji not far away,

It stands still, faces moon and clouds abashedly.

 

 

赠韦秘书子春 – 其一

       谷口郑子真，躬耕在岩石。
　　高名动京师，天下皆籍籍。
　　斯人竟不起，云卧从所适。
　　苟无济代心，独善亦何益。
　　惟君家世者，偃息逢休明。
　　谈天信浩荡，说剑纷纵横。
　　谢公不徒然，起来为苍生。
　　秘书何寂寂，无乃羁豪英。
　　且复归碧山，安能恋金阙。
　　旧宅樵渔地，蓬蒿已应没。
　　却顾女几峰，胡颜见云月。

 

Image Courtesy: https://goo.gl/images/uXlxYa wemedia.ifeng.com

[TRANSLATION]鲁郡东石门送杜二甫 – Farewell with Fu Du at East Stone Gate of County Lu

Farewell with Fu Du at East Stone Gate of County Lu

Author: Bai Li(AD701-AD762, Tang Dynasty)

Translator: Lei Fan 2017 in Chicago

 

How many days are left for us to inebriate,

For us to visit all the terraces and courts?

When on the road in front of the stone gate,

Can we open the fine wine barrels again?

The water of River Si ripples in the autumn,

Glisten waves light up the mountains afar.

Like cronqs in the wind we will fly away and separate,

Just toast and drain the cups in our hands.

鲁郡东石门送杜二甫

醉别复几日，登临遍池台。

何时石门路，重有金樽开。

秋波落泗水，海色明徂徕。

飞蓬各自远，且尽手中杯。

Image Courtesy: Guan Yousheng and Hei Bolong. 徂徕山Artnet

[TRANSLATION]白毫子歌 – Song of Haozi Bai

Song of Haozi Bai

Author: Bai Li(AD701-AD762, Tang Dynasty)

Translator: Lei Fan 2017 in Chicago

 

Haozi Bai, one of the eight Huai Nan Hermits,

Indeed lives in the mountains of Huai Nan.

Lies on the boulders under clouds and pines,

Dines with the stalactite in the morning.

Rolling hills stand in front of the rivers,

Water circles near the verdant and perpendicular cliffs.

I also live like Haozi Bai,

Drink alone underneath the glow of sunset.

Sitting on ancient lichens, I touch the flowers gently, play the zither,

Under the ivies, the breeze caresses my face.

The bleak sound from the ocean of pines wave through the window,

Next to the bluffs, it purifies my ears and souls.

I heard Haozi Bai later became saint,

Sadly I have not witnessed with my own eyes.

Eight Hermits all went to heaven riding clouds with five hues, hand in hand,

Left me alone, wistfully with the Osmanthus trees they once planted.

 

 

 

 

白毫子歌

淮南小山白毫子，乃在淮南小山里

夜卧松下云，朝飡石中髓。

小山连绵向江开，碧峰巉岩渌水回。

余配白毫子，独酌流霞杯。

拂花弄琴坐青苔，绿萝树下春风来。

南窗萧飒松声起，凭崖一听清心耳。

可得见，未得亲。

八公携手五云去，空余桂树愁杀人。

Image Courtesy: [转载]【国画】清代.翁绶琪作品精选集新浪博客

[TRANSLATION]答从弟幼成过西园见赠 – A poem for my brother Youcheng to express my appreciation when he stops by West Garden

A poem for my brother Youcheng to express my appreciation for his stop by at West Garden

Author: Bai Li(AD701-AD762, Tang Dynasty)

Translator: Lei Fan 2017 in Chicago

 

I live alone, unrestrained.

Why concern the surrounding uproars.

I know I am lack of wisdom and ability,

So I return home, back to my garden.

Luckily my brother pays me visits,

Accompanied by neighbors in their lush coaches.

Dresses and swords light up the trees and mansion,

Entourages proudly pass through the stone gate.

Youths serve us with rare fruits,

Seniors open the jars holding fine wine.

First we talk about hunting and fishing,

Next we discuss farming and gardening.

Yesterday you saw a pond of lotuses,

Today, the trumpet vines are exuberant.

laughter intertwined with cheerful songs,

No one realize the arrival of dusk.

Come join us, intoxicate yourself,

Such joy can not be described by my words.

 

答从弟幼成过西园见赠

一身自潇洒，万物何嚣喧。

拙薄谢明时，栖闲归故园。

二季过旧壑，四邻驰华轩。

衣剑照松宇，宾徒光石门。

山童荐珍果，野老开芳樽。

上陈樵渔事，下叙农圃言。

昨来荷花满，今见兰苕繁。

一笑复一歌，不知夕景昏。

醉罢同所乐，此情难具论。

Image Courtesy: 齐白石 寿酒图

[TRANSLATION]山中问答 – Question and Answer in the Mountain

Question and Answer in the Mountain

Author: Bai Li(AD701-AD762, Tang Dynasty)

Translator: Lei Fan 2017 in Chicago

Someone asks me why I live in the emerald mountain,

I give no answer with a smile, as my heart is at rest.

Peach blossoms flow away in a stream quietly,

This is a place like heaven, not for mortals to stay.

 

 

 

山中问答

又作《山中答俗人》

问余何意栖碧山， 笑而不答心自闲。

桃花流水杳然去， 别有天地非人间。

 

Image Courtesy: gracecss.tian.yam.com李白〈山中問答〉：別有天地非人間

[TRANSLATION]春日游罗敷潭 – Touring Lake Luo Fu in a Spring Day

Touring Lake Luo Fu in a Spring Day

Author: Bai Li(AD701-AD762, Tang Dynasty)

Translator: Lei Fan 2017 in Chicago

 

 

Singing and walking, we arrive at the mouth of the canyon,

At the end of the path, this is where no one has ever been.

Climb the steep cliffs, conquer the insurmountable valleys,

We scramble up following the meandering creeks.

Clouds rise above the boulders in front of us,

 

Surrounded and charmed by the flowers all over the mountain.

We linger and indulge in pleasure, do not want to leave,

Until the sun sinks away to the west of where we are at.

 

春日游罗敷潭



行歌入谷口。

路尽无人跻。

攀崖度绝壑。

弄水寻回溪。

云从石上起。

客到花间迷。

淹留未尽兴。

日落群峰西。



Image Courtesy: ArtnetKang Shiyao. 山花烂漫

[TRANSLATION]杨叛儿 – Yang Pan Er

Yang Pan Er

Author: Bai Li(AD701-AD762, Tang Dynasty)

Translator: Lei Fan 2017 in Chicago

 

You sing a lover’s song, the name is Yang Pan Er,

I raise the cup, filled with fine wine from Xin Feng.

Where is the place your heart lingers,

Next to the willow trees where the song of crows can be heard.

The crows hide and chirp happily in the poplar flowers, in their nests,

You are inebriated, so why don’t you stay at my place.

Eaglewood incense is burning in the Bo Shan censer,

Two clouds of smoke are curling up, confluence into one.

 

 

杨叛儿

君歌杨叛儿，妾劝新丰酒。
何许最关人？乌啼白门柳。
乌啼隐杨花，君醉留妾家。
博山炉中沉香火，双烟一气凌紫霞。

Image Courtesy: 杨叛儿(古典)-搜狗百科搜狗百科

[TRANSLATION]僧伽歌 – The song of Seng Qie

The song of Seng Qie

Author: Bai Li(AD701-AD762, Tang Dynasty)

Translator: Lei Fan 2017 in Chicago

 

A sacred monk who has a holy name called Seng Qie,

We sometime discuss the three approaches to nirvana.

Recite the scripture and chant the incantation thousand times,

Like the uncountable sands rest in the River Ganga.

This monk used to live in the South Sindhu,

To propagate the Buddha Dharma he travels to this land.

Peaceful as fall moon in the sky is his tranquil mind,

His heart is pure as water lilies, spotless, without a dust.

He looks righteously awe-inspiring,

Attained by his serene innermost.

His temperament is just right and pleasant,

Slightest adjustment is considered unnecessary.

The jar in his hand holds Buddha’s relic from thousand years ago,

The pig-weed staff he carries is probably older.

He shows his compassion since we both wander throughout our lives,

Signs pitifully as no one ever elaborate to me the difference between fulfillment and emptiness.

One conversation with him extricates myself from my sins,

In our bends and bows, I am freed from all of my past faults.

僧伽歌

真僧法号号僧伽，有时与我论三车。

问言诵咒几千遍，口道恒河沙复沙。

此僧本住南天竺，为法头陀来此国。

戒得长天秋月明，心如世上青莲色。

意清净，貌棱棱。亦不减，亦不增。

瓶里千年铁柱骨，手中万岁胡孙藤。

嗟予落魄江淮久，罕遇真僧说空有。

一言散尽波罗夷，再礼浑除犯轻垢。

Image Courtesy: 僧伽歌图 郭西元作品

[TRANSLATION]横江词六首 其五 – Six Poems of River Heng, No.5

Six Poems of River Heng, No.5

Author: Bai Li(AD701-AD762, Tang Dynasty)

Translator: Lei Fan 2017 in Chicago

 

The ferry officer welcomes me in front of the Posthouse of River Heng,

Point to the east, showing me the storm cloud is forming above the water.

He asks me why I have no other choices but to take the ferry today?

 

With the imminent tempest and the fierce waves, nothing will be able to sail!

 

Note: Bai Li wrote six poems about the fierce storm and waves of River Heng, which blocked his way up north to serve Emperor Xuan Zong. On the surface, he depicted the spectacular sight and the severe conditions, but the intention was to express his anxiety of not been able to return to court and serve on time.

 

横江词六首 – 其五

横江馆前津吏迎，向余东指海云生。

郎今欲渡缘何事？如此风波不可行！

Image Courtesy: 寻找李白 National Geographic China 传送门