李清照 生怕離懷別苦，多少事，欲說還休。

生怕離懷別苦，多少事，欲說還休。
I'm afraid of parting sorrows and longing pain.
For many things, the best results to attain --
From speaking, one must know when to abstain.

【鳳凰台上憶吹蕭】    南宋 • 李清照

TUNE: FENGHUANGTAI SHANG YI CHUI XIAO
(“Recalling the Flute-Duet at Phoenix Terrace”)
-- Li Qingzhao (1081-1151?) (Southern Song dynasty)
-- Translated by Frank C Yue


香冷金猊，被翻紅浪，起來慵自梳頭。
In the gold-like lion-head burner, cold incense is found;
Like red waves, the embroidered quilt is tossed around.
Getting out of bed, my hair I care not comb and wound.

任寶奩塵滿，日上簾鉤。
On the pretty mirror box, let the dusts there sleep;
Now, high up to the curtain hooks the sunbeams creep.

生怕離懷別苦，多少事，欲說還休。
I'm afraid of parting sorrows and longing pain.
For many things, the best results to attain --
From speaking, one must know when to abstain.

新來瘦，非干病酒，不是悲秋。
I have lost weight these few days --
It's not due to my drinking the day away,
Nor lamenting Autumn is due to decay.

休休！這回去也，千萬遍《陽關》，也則難留。
Let it be, let it be! This time, you must go away!
Ten million times the "Parting Song" we might play,
But here, these shall never make you stay!

念武陵人遠，煙鎖秦樓。
The visitor at Peach-Blossom Country has strayed far and long;
Lingering mists still lock onto the Phoenix Terrace strong.

惟有樓前流水，應念我、終日凝眸。
In front of our Qin mansion -- only the flowing waters gay
Will not forget me -- this is where I shall fix my gaze all day.

凝眸處，從今又添、一段新愁。
Where my pining gaze is fixed each long day,
A layer of new sorrows, again, is laid!