Wednesday 23 October 2013

李清照 落日鎔金 暮雲合璧 人在何處?The setting Sun, itself smelted like gold, taints all like gold

【永遇樂】       南宋 • 李清照

落日鎔金,暮雲合璧,人在何處?

染柳煙濃,吹梅笛怨,春意知幾許。
元宵佳節,融和天氣,次第豈無風雨。
來相召,香車寶馬,謝他酒朋詩侶。  
 

中州盛日,閨門多暇,記得偏重三五。
鋪翠冠兒,撚金雪柳,簇帶爭濟楚。
如今憔悴,風鬟霜鬢,怕見夜間出去。
不如向,簾兒底下,聽人笑語。
 


TUNE: YONG YU LE 
            "Forever A-meeting Happiness"    TITLE: "The setting Sun, itself smelted                like gold"
-- LI QINGZHAO (1084-1151)
-- Translated by Frank C Yue
 

The setting Sun, itself smelted like gold,                                 taints all like gold; 
Ev'ning clouds close ranks to form piece                               of sculpted jade, like so.
Alas! Where is my dear husband, though?
Willows dyed dripping green,
Thick chimney smokes rising, by all seen,
Plum-blossoms swaying in the breeze                                    there, 
Flute's sad tunes from nowhere --
O! Vibrant Spring is now in the air!
On this fine 'Everyone's Birthday' today,
The weather is warm, people are gay.
Despite all this, the wind and rain may not                           stay away!
I'm thankful for the invitation: Fragrant                                 carriage, precious steeds,
Drinking friends, rhyming companions,                                 come a-visiting at speed.

On this double feast day (this leap year) at                           the Middle Kingdom,
Be idling in their boudoirs, young ladies                               would seldom --
Enjoying bright lanterns and full Moon is                             the common wisdom.
Ladies' new hats adorned with fine                                       feathers and jade green,
Bright, gold-trimmed silk-flower cutouts                              are sharp and lean. 
But, I'm so dreary, 
And I'm so weary!
Of wind and frost, my graying hair has its                            share;
Going out after dusk, I do not care. 
It's better to sit by the curtain, out of sight,
Listening to the people's talks and                                        laughter at night!  
 
 


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