柳永·《鹤冲天·黄金榜上》英译

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偶失龙头望。

明代暂遗贤，

如何向。

未遂风云便，

争不恣狂荡。

何须论得丧。

才子词人，

自是白衣卿相。　　　　

烟花巷陌，

依约丹青屏障。

幸有意中人，

堪寻访。

且恁偎红翠，

风流事、

平生畅。

青春都一饷。

忍把浮名，

换了浅斟低唱。

He Chong Tian

Liu Yong

On the golden list of candidates,

I lost the chance to come first ¹.

And am briefly a deserted sage during this enlightened time,

What should I turn to?

Failing to achieve my ambition,

Why not indulge in passions and run wild?

No need to worry about gains and losses.

As a gifted scholar and writer of lyrics,

I am like an untitled minister.

In the singsong houses and brothels,

I keep a rendezvous behind painted screens;

My old acquaintances are to my liking.

They are worthy of my visits.

Better to take comfort in the arms of the girls in red and green

And enjoy the distractions and hours of dalliance,

Thus compensating for my disappointment.

The prime of one’s life is too short.

Better to barter empty fame

For the pleasures of good wine and sweet song.

1. Meaning that the poet has failed the imperial examination though he wished to come out first.

（杨宪益、戴乃迭 译）