李群玉·《黄陵庙》英译

小姑洲北浦云边，二女啼妆自俨然。

野庙向江春寂寂，古碑无字草芊芊。

风回日暮吹芳芷，月落山深哭杜鹃。

犹似含颦望巡狩，九疑如黛隔湘川。

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Huangling Temple¹

The First of Two Poems

Li Qunyu

North of the Isle of Maidens, by the mist-filled banks,

The image of the two girls weeping still holds true to life.

In the spring stillness, the rustic temple faces the river;

Teeming grasses grow among the ancient tablets, their inscriptions long effaced.

At twilight, the fragrance laden breeze begins to blow;

As the moon sets, from the mountain depths a cuckoo cries.

The maidens seem to knit their brows to view his majesty’s arrival,

While across the Xiang², the Nine Peaked Mount³ grows greener still.

1. Huangling Temple: On Mt. Huangling, in Hunan province, near Dongting Lake. The temple was dedicated to E Huang and Nu Ying—the “river maidesn who weep in bamboo groves” whose forms were suggested by a nearby rock formation.

2. Xiang: Xiang River, originating in Hunan province.

3. Nine Peeked Mount: Where the legendary emperor Shun was buried.