王安石·《桂枝香·金陵怀古》英译

登临送目，正故国晚秋，天气初肃。千里澄江似练，翠峰如簇。征帆去棹残阳里，背西风、酒旗斜矗。采舟云淡，星河鹭起，画图难足。<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

念往昔、繁华竞逐，叹门外楼头，悲恨相续。千古凭高对此，漫嗟荣辱。六朝旧事随流水，但寒烟芳草凝绿。至今商女，时时犹唱，后庭遗曲。

 

Fragrance of Laurel Branch

 

Wang Anshi

 

I climb the height

And stretch my sight:

Late autumn just begins its gloomy time.

The ancient capital looks sublime.

The limpid river, beltlike, flows a thousand miles;

Emerald peaks on peaks tower in piles.

In the declining sun sails come and go;

Against west wind wineshop steamers flutter high and low.

The painted boat

In cloud afloat,

Like stars in Silver River egrets fly.

What a picture before the eye!

 

The days gone by

Saw people in opulence vie.

Alas! Shame on shame came under the walls,

In palace halls.

Leaning on rails, in vain I utter sighs

Over ancient kingdoms’ fall and rise.

The running water saw the Six Dynasties pass,

But I see only chilly mist and withered grass.

Even now and again

The songstresses still sing

The song composed in vain

By a captive king.