Saturday 14 March 2015

望江樓 望江流 望江樓上望江流 The Tower-for-River-Gazing

也許這許多年來,也沒有人把這對妙聯用英語譯出,也許於在下還有點能力之時,可以一試 (嘻嘻) ... (and i am aware that 月影 'moon shadows' may well be a pun.)

巧對 

望江樓,望江流,望江樓上望江流。江樓千
古,江流千古。(歸庄)

映月井,映月影,映月井裏映月影。月井萬
年,月影萬年。(李芳吉)

according to wikipedia:
這是四川成都 望江樓映月井聯。 歸庄 遊覽成都望江樓曾題一聯:「望江樓,望江流,望江樓上望江流,江樓千古,江流千古。」此聯一出,長久以來無人能對上工整的下聯。


直到1930 年代,四川什邡人 李芳吉 觸景生情,在什邡 (有「禹跡仙鄉」之美譽) 舊城北門橋頭的古印月井邊對出了下聯「印月井,印月影,印月井中印月影,月井萬年,月影萬年。」


Witty Chinese Couplet 

-- Translated by Frank C Yue

The Tower-for-River-Gazing,
Gazing at the river flowing;
On the Tower-for-River-Gazing 
Gazing at the river flowing --
The river tower's been here forever,
The Great River's stopp'd flowing never.


The Well-of-the-Moon-Reflecting,
Beneath the Moon shadows casting;  
In the Well-of-the-Moon-Reflecting
Shadows the Moon a-casting --
Ageless the Reflected-Moon-Well
Where the ageless Moon shadows dwell.

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