贾至·《早朝大明宫》英译

银烛朝天紫陌长，禁城春色晓苍苍。　　

千条弱柳垂青琐，百啭流莺绕建章。　　

剑佩声随玉墀步，衣冠身惹御炉香。　　

共沐恩波凤池上，朝朝染翰侍君王。

Morning Levee at Daming Palace

Jia Zhi

Silver lanterns waiting for the levee on the purple street are long in queue,

In the Forbidden City of mild spring the east appears in a hazy blue hue.

Slender willows by the thousand droop quietly by the gates painted with green laces,

Yellow orioles sing a hundred times and fly merrily around the golden palaces.

As officials ascend jade steps, we hear only pendants clink with swords,

In the hall our attire and hats all smell of the incense from the imperial tripods.

On the Phoenix Pool (1), we all share His Majesty’s favour,

After the levee, I’ll return to serve him with my brush and paper.

(1)    The Phoenix Pool: the Imperial Secretariat.