左辅·《浪淘沙》英译

曹溪驿折桃花一枝，数日零落，裹花片投之涪江，歌此送之。

水软橹声柔，

草绿芳洲。

碧桃几树隐红楼。

者是春山魂一片，

招入孤舟。

乡梦不曾休，

惹甚闲愁？

忠州过了又涪州。

掷与巴江流到海，

切莫回头。

Tune: “Wave-washed Sand”

[Lang-t’ao sha]

Tso Fu

[Traveling in Szechwan, I picked a sprig of peach blossom by the Ts’ao Creek Posting-station. When the petals fell a few days later I carefully wrapped one and committed it to the Fu River to the accompaniment of the farewell song.]

Soft splash of oar in gentle waters

Sweet-smelling islets newly green

A flowering peach grove hides the painted lodge.

The soul of the spring hills is in this petal

Summoned to my lonely boat.

While dreams of home persist

Why cosset idle sorrows?

Chungchou once passed, Fuchou is still to come.

The Pa River will take you to the sea

--Just don’t look back.

（Cyril Birch 译）