Thursday 31 July 2014

辛棄疾 少年不識愁滋味 愛上層樓 In my youth I knew not what were grief and woe

醜奴兒/采桑子書博山道中壁
   南宋辛棄疾

    少年不識愁滋
         

         
;
         
赋新詞強說

         而今識盡愁滋
         
說還
         
說還 ;
         
卻道天凉好個


TUNE: Chou Nu Er “Ugly Boy-Servant”/
             Cai Sang Zi “Picking Mulberries”
TITLE: "Written on a Wall on the Way to Boshan"
-- by Xin Qiji (1140-1207)
-- Translated by Frank C Yue

In my youth I knew not what were grief and woe --
Up the storeys I loved to go.
Up the storeys  I loved to go,
For my new songs I just feigned my grief and woe!

Of grief and woe I’ve tasted the flavours today –
I'd like to talk but just wouldn’t say;
I’d like to talk but just wouldn’t say,
O! What a chilly Autumn, what a fine day!

and a fine rendition by -- 夜月星河'Night Moon Starry River':

While young I failed to know the taste of woe.
I climbed upstairs with gusto;
I climbed upstairs with gusto.
I used to write new songs with fake sorrow.

Now I know the taste of grief as I grow.
Try to speak but I stall though;
Try to speak but I stall though.

" A cool fall day!"  I finally say so.

The following explanatory information is culled from the net:

… < 譯文:
少年時不懂的什麼是憂愁,
閒來無事喜歡登上高樓。
喜歡登上高樓,
為了寫首新詞沒有憂愁也要說有許多憂愁。
如今嘗盡了愁的滋味,
想說卻又說不出口。
想說卻又說不出口,
而只是說:「好涼爽的一個秋天啊!」


欣賞:
這闋詞精彩的描寫出隨著年齡的成長,心態的轉變。無憂無慮的少年有些無聊、強裝的閒愁,卻好像很嚴重一樣。到真正體會到人生的苦澀艱辛,許多的愁怨連說都說不出口,只能獨自承受。>

… < 詞的故事
有句話說:「如人飲水,冷暖自知。」水是涼的或熱的,只有喝水的人最清楚了;同樣的,辛棄疾這首詞也是如此,愁的滋味到底有多苦呢?只有親身體驗的人,才能夠了解。到那個時候,即使想說愁,愁反而不是言語所能夠形容了。這種心情,你不必急著知道,有一天自然會明白的。

這首詞的作者辛棄疾,是位愛國詞人。當他出生的那年,正是岳飛領軍向北反攻,北宋人民群起響應,金人節節敗退的年代。然而,過了兩年,岳飛被害死了,只求偏安江南的南宋政府,居然屈辱的和金人談和,從此中原落入金人殘暴的統治。

在北方淪陷區長大的辛棄疾,從小就富有民族意識。長大後便在家鄉聚集了二千多人,投入當時的抗敵領袖耿京的旗下,立下不少輝煌的戰功。

二十三歲時,辛棄疾更率軍回到南方,打算一展抱負,收復北方的失地。然而,當時南宋政府根本沒有抵抗金人的決心,辛棄疾滿腔抱負落空了;又因為處處為人民著想,積極的作為,引起別人的猜忌,以致於兩度被迫離職,過了二十年閒散的生活。這使得滿懷壯志的他,心中非常痛苦,只好藉詞來表達心聲,因此他的詞豪放中別有一股悲涼的情懷。-- 
摘錄自華一書局《兒童啟蒙文學》>

now, for a better appreciation of this famous xin qiji long-and-short verse, let's see how some of the masters of translation do their own rendition. 

Rendition 1
-- by 林語堂 Lin Yutang  (1895 - 1976)

In my young days, 
I had tasted only gladness,
But loved to mount the top floor,    
But loved to mount the top floor,    
To write a song pretending sadness.

And now I have tasted 
Sorrow's flavours, bitter and sour,
And can't find a word, 
And can't find a word. 
But merely say, "What a golden autumn hour!



Rendition 2
-- by 楊憲益 Yang Xianyi (1915-2009

"Written on the Wall on My Way to Boshan -- to the Melody Chou Nu Er"

As a lad I never knew the taste of sorrow,
But loved to climb towers,
Loved to climb towers,
And drag sorrow into each new song I sung.

Now I know well the taste of sorrow,
It is on the tip of my tongue,
On the tip of my tongue,
But instead I say, "What a fine, cool autumn day!"

Rendition 3
-- by 唐安石神父 Fr. John A.Turner (? -1971) 

"Enlightenment"

In youth, ere Grief to me was known
I loved to climb on high, I loved to climb on high:
In many a laboured lay
Grief would I there portray.

But now, with Grief familiar grown,
Slower to speak am I, slower to speak am I.
At most, I pause and say,
"What a fine autumn day!"
  
Rendition 4
-- by 許淵沖 Xu Yuanchong(1921- )

Tune: "Song of Ugly Slave --Written on the Wall on My Way to Boshan"

While young, I knew no grief I could not bear;
I'd like to go upstair.
         
I'd like to go upstair
To write new verses with a false despair.


I know what grief is now that I am old;
I would not have it told.  
 
 
I would not have it told,      

But only say I'm glad that autumn's cold.  



Rendition 5
-- Andrew W.F. Wong (Huang Hongfa) 譯者黃宏發
23 May 2007 (revised 18.7.07; 5.12.07; further revised... 30.11.10)

Xin Qiji (1140-1207)
Tune: "Chou Nu Er (The Ugly Page)"/ 

          "Cai Sang Zi (Picking Mulberries)"
Title: "Written on a Wall on the Way to Boshan"

1  When young I never did know the taste of woe or sorrow,
2  To the top floor upstairs, I loved to go;
 
 

3  To the top floor upstairs, I loved to go,
4  For to compose new verses, I feigned my sorrow and woe.

5  Now that sorrow and woe I've tasted, and the bitterness withal,
6  To speak, I wish, and yet I stall;
7  To speak, I wish, and yet I stall,
8  What a beautifully chilly autumn! I say, after all.

Tuesday 29 July 2014

老人 春盡落花隨水流 朱顏到老白哀頭 When Spring bids adieu, fallen flow’rs

324. 《七珍惜》一老年人

       春盡落花隨水

       朱顏到老白哀
   
       黃昏錦繡未時晚,
   
       莫待人離對影

Qi Jue (28-Character Quatrain):
 “Precious Treasure”
-- by 一老年人  ‘A Man of Advanced Years’

-- Translated by Frank C Yue

When Spring bids adieu, fallen flow’rs left with waters running;
The fair Beauty in white-hair age can’t help sadly frowning.
Even at the golden Sunset hour, it’s still not too late –
Don’t Wait! When soulmate’s gone, your grieving shadow you’ll berate!

七月星 天晴碧海綠汪洋 鷗鳥傲遊翔 In between the clear skies

訴衷情。無常七月星


天晴碧海綠汪洋,鷗鳥傲遊翔,

揚帆點點飄遠,風暖熱嬌陽。


雷閃電,鳥驚惶,雨傾狂,

滔天巨浪,驟變風雲,生命無常。



TUNE:'My Inner Feelings Outpoured'

TITLE: "Inconstancy"

-- by  七月星 'Seven Star Moon'

-- Translated by Frank C Yue


In between the clear skies and the 

deep green ocean,

The proud sea-gulls glide slowly in 

graceful motion.

In the horizon, of white sails there are 

dots and dots;

The sea breeze is so warm and the bright 

Sun, so hot!



But, all of a sudden, thunders and 

lightnings strike!

Frightened, all the birds swiftly fly out of 

sight.

It just keeps on raining cats and dogs -- 

non-stop!

The in-coming sky-high waves are 

crashing,

In a twinkling, the weather a-changing!

Life's quite unpredictable as it ought.  


Monday 28 July 2014

王昌齡 寒雨連江夜入吳 平明送客楚山孤 Cold rains blott'd out the Yangtze

芙蓉樓送辛漸其一  王昌齡

        寒雨連江夜入
        平明送客楚山
        洛陽親友如相問,
        一片冰心在玉

"At the Lotus Inn Bidding Goodbye to Xin Jian" – Verse No. 1 (of 2)  
--by Wang Changling (698?-757)
-- Translated by Frank C Yue

Cold rains blott'd out the Yangtze as I came to Wu at night;

Amid the Chu hills, we bid lonely Adieu at first light.
O, Should my Louyang friends and relatives ask about me –
Of clear ice in a jade bottle, my heart is like a piece. 

to aid in better appreciating this famous Tang poem, the following supplementary materials have been culled from the net: 

<【作者簡介】
王昌齡(公元 ?─約756) 字少伯,盛唐大詩人,擅長七絕。其邊塞詩氣勢雄渾,格調高昂,而深厚優柔、舒緩自然則是其獨特風格。

【字句淺釋】
解題:這是很有名的送別詩。朋友辛漸要經潤州北上洛陽,作者從江寧陪伴他到潤州,與他在那裡的芙蓉樓分手。吳:吳地(三國時東吳屬地)。平明:天亮的時候。冰心、玉壺:六朝詩人鮑照在《代白頭吟》中用“清如玉壺冰”來比喻高潔清白的品格,後人多用其意。

【全詩串講】
昨晚,
寒冷秋雨悄然來到吳地江天,
煙雨迷濛中與江水連成一片。
今晨,
天明時候送別朋友面對楚山,
它孤零零的矗立在江的對岸。
如果住在洛陽的親朋好友們,
向你訊問打聽我生活的近況。
請告訴他們,我的心還像
清澈無瑕的玉壺中擺放著的
一片晶瑩而純潔的冰心一樣。

【言外之意】
蒼茫的煙雨中孤峙的楚山,烘托出作者獨立寒秋的高大形象和堅強性格;而玉壺冰心則刻畫了詩人內在的冰清玉潔的心靈純淨。全詩向讀者托出一片清空明澈的意境,自然而不露人工痕跡,含蓄而餘味無窮。
自古送別詩多寫兩情依依,情是詩中主線。此詩卻跳出窠臼,從大處著眼,向親朋表白自己高潔清白的品格和堅持操守的信念。... > 

... < (淺釋):

寒雨淋淋的夜晚,我们渡江进入到吴地。

天亮时,我就要与送行的客人分别了,这样的凄凉的心情,                                                     看着远处的楚山好像也同我现在一样,孤孤单单。


临别前嘱咐起我的朋友,要是在洛阳的那繁华之地的亲友们问起我的情况呀,

说我的心地还是一如既往的象放在玉壶里冰心一般纯洁呀。>

老人雪月風花詩景待 秋冬春夏好題材 The Snow, Moon, Wind and Flower all want


325.《七絕‧風花》一老年人

         雪月風花詩景
         秋冬春夏好題
         草棚不是青樓地,
         問柳尋芳莫進

Qi Jue (28-Character Quatrain)
“The Wind and the Flower”
-- by 一老年人  ‘A Man of Advanced Years’
-- Translated by Frank C Yue

The Snow, Moon, Wind and Flower all want to go into poetry,
And Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer are good subject matters.
At the Thatch’d Pavilion one can’t find any Escort pretty –
If you had lusty sex on your mind, please do not enter!

Sunday 27 July 2014

老人 江河滾滾向東流 民主之心永不休 The River waters are rushing

《七絕‧願》一老年人


     江河滾滾向東
     民主之心永不
     北望神州多少夢,
     何時能得票來

Qi Jue (28-Character Quatrain): “Wish”
-- by 一老年人 ‘A Man of Advanced Years’
-- Translated by Frank C Yue

The River waters are rushing toward the east;
The People's urge for Democracy will ne'er cease.
O Countless dreams -- gazing north at the Motherland!
In line to vote really freely, when may we stand?

Saturday 26 July 2014

星河 渡頭舟泊 夕陽紅樹 寒鴉聲切 The moored boats by the ferry

《留春令江村夜月星河


渡頭舟泊,夕陽紅樹,寒鴉聲切。

水漾歸帆映明霞,汐潮湧、波濤咽。


四野昏黄雲山接,遠漁燈明滅。

風過層林葉飄零,碧天雁,江樓月。



TUNE: “Spring-Detention Ci

TITLE: “River Village”

-- by 夜月星河 ‘Night Moon Starry River’

-- Translated by Frank C Yue

The moored boats by the ferry at the country-side
And all the trees by the setting Sun are red dyed,
While the crows in the chilly evening loudly cry.
Reflected on the wavy waters some sails returning,
So bright the coloured clouds glowing!
The in-coming tide rising,
The lapping waves a-groaning.

Softly falling in all the four directions, Dusk’s shown;
The clouds and the mountains then join hands at this instance.
The fishermen’s lights are flickering in the distance.
Winds sweeping through the layers of woods – parting leaves blown
Into disarray and oblivion.
As wild geese arrow past the clear skies,
By the river mansion the Moon shines.

Friday 25 July 2014

老人 炒風難擋 滔天巨浪 看誰無恙?When speculative winds blow




  《留春令‧股海》一老年人

炒風難擋,滔天巨浪,看誰無恙?
股海隨波任浮沉,勇追放,沽拋爽。

順勢人人存幻想,發達天天望。
逆轉財空更驚心,膽肝創,神魂蕩。

TUNE: “Spring-Detention Ci
TITLE: “Sea of Stocks and Shares”
-- by 一老年人  ‘A Man of Advanced Years’
-- Translated by Frank C Yue

When speculative winds blow
Giant waves rule in the choppy sea.
Who will then survive, O let’s see!
In the Stocks Sea one goes with the flow –
Be it rising,
Be it diving,
So brave in chasing
And quick in selling.

When the market keeps on climbing,
Up and up on its way,
Everyone, drugged, keeps on dreaming –
Ah, I’ll be filthy rich any day!
When it crashes the money’s gone –
It’s scary as scary can be!
So hurt is e’eryone’s proud bravery,
The spirit’s hijack’d by a sad song! 

Thursday 24 July 2014

一老年人 刀勁呼呼箭疾輕 The broadsword cuts ferociously


《七 一老年人


   刀勁呼呼箭疾

   來回幾度戰無
   
   招招式式快如電

   貫注全神心力


Qi Jue (28-Character Quatrain): "Fighting"

-- by 一老年人  ‘A Man of Advanced Years’

-- Translated by Frank C Yue


The broadsword cuts ferociously
As the fast arrows fly blithely.
After fighting several rounds,
Still there is (strangely) not a sound.
Each move, each strike, quick as lightning;
With their all they are focusing.  

Wednesday 23 July 2014

夜月星河 久伴琴書世味輕 I am now oblivious of affairs worldly


 《七 夜月星河


   久伴琴書世味

   夜長誰與慰心

   愁腸入酒相思醉

   炬成灰淚始


Qi Jue (28-Character Quatrain): “Night”
-- by 夜月星河 ‘Night Moon Starry River’

-- Translated by Frank C Yue

I am now oblivious of affairs worldly,
In the company of my lute and books for so long.
Who’d attend to my heart’s voice the long night throughout?
Drunk with wine and mutual yearning, I sigh lonely.
Like the candle weeping till all its tears are gone,


I have no more tears as the candle light goes out.

老人 又見山林滿樹紅 懷人天各遠西東 Again, seeing red trees covering


《七寄單思一老年人

   又見山林滿樹

   懷人天各遠西

   秋風可會憐情意

   代寄天涯一片


Qi Jue (28-Character Quatrain): “Sending My Unilateral Love”

-- by 一老年人  ‘A Man of Advanced Years’

-- Translated by Frank C Yue


Again, seeing red trees covering the hills and 

woods wild,  

I think of my Loved One at the other end of the sky.

O! Dear Autumn Wind, would you please, 

please have pity on me?


Blow, blow this piece of maple leave afar for 

her to see?