Saturday 5 July 2014

李煜 春花秋月何時了 When will Spring flow'rs and Autumn Moon e'er end?


【虞美人】 南唐 • 李煜


春花秋月何時,往事知多

小樓昨夜又東,故國不堪回首月明


雕闌玉砌應猶,只是朱顏

問君能有幾(許),恰似一江春水向東


<词中流露了不加掩饰的故国之思,据说是促使 宋太宗(趙光義)下令毒死李煜的原因之一。
那么,它等于是李煜的绝命词了。>


TUNE: YU MEI REN  "Fair Lady Yu"

-- Li Yu (937-978)

-- Translated by Frank C Yue


When will Spring flow'rs and Autumn 

Moon e'er end?

Of past events how many were known 

then?

Small attic was swept again by East Wind 

last night;

I couldn't bear recalling my lost Kingdom 

in clear moon-light!


Carved balustrades and jade ornaments 

should still be there;

Changed only are the pink faces fair.

How much sorrows can one e'er have 

unreleased?

Just like the ceaseless Spring river 

rushing east!


《虞美人‧》

中平中仄平平仄(仄韻一),中仄平平仄(仄韻一)。
中平中仄仄平平(平韻一),中仄中平平仄仄平平(平韻一)。
中平中仄平平仄(仄韻二),中仄平平仄(仄韻二)。
中平中仄仄平平(平韻二),中仄中平平仄仄平平(平韻二)。

1 comment:

  1. Hi, Frank, these are really passionate poetry, allow me to post my rendition:
    【虞美人】 南唐 • 李煜
    Poetry with tune “Lady Yu” by Li Yu, Tang Dynasty(South Tang)
    Translated by Alan Ma, July 6, 2014
    春花秋月何時了,往事知多少。
    小樓昨夜又東風,故國不堪回首月明中。
    雕闌玉砌應猶在,只是朱顏改。
    問君能有幾(許)多愁,恰似一江春水向東流。
    Spring blossoms, Autumn moon, when will all these end?
    How much of the past do we know my friend?
    My little chamber was blowing Easterly wind last night,
    I dare not to look back my lost country in the moon still shining bright.
    Curved corridors, jade stairways should still be there,
    The only change was the master with red face, who care?
    May I ask how much sorrow can one found?
    Just like the river in Spring running ever East bound.
    -End of translation-

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