书城文学王译唐诗三百首:汉英对照
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第42章 琴歌-The Force of Music

琴歌

李颀

主人有酒欢今夕,请奏鸣琴广陵客。

月照城头乌半飞,霜凄万木风入衣。

铜炉华烛烛增辉,初弹渌水后楚妃。

一声已动物皆静,四座无言星欲稀。

清淮奉使千余里,敢告云山从此始。

The Force of Music

Li Qi

The host entertains his guests with wine for the night.

A Qin player is asked to play with all his might.

Crows fly low o’er the city walls bathed in moonlight.

Winds pierce clothes and frost makes all trees a sad sight.

Stuck in a brass vessel, festive candles bright shine.

He plays the Lu River, then the Chu Concubine.

At his first plucking, all things come to a standstill.

All men there keep quiet and fewer stars the sky fill.

I’m commissioned the far-off Huai River to clear.

Let me vow to clouds and hills: here starts my career.