S14: Four Tang Poems
Wang Wei: Sending Mr. Yuan On His Way on a Mission to Anxi
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
| 渭城曲 渭城朝雨潤輕塵， 客舍青青柳色新。 勸君更盡一杯酒， 西出陽關無故人。 |
Sending Mr. Yuan On His Way on a Mission to Anxi By the walls of Wei City the rain at dawn dampens the light dust, All green around the guest lodge the colors of willows revive. I urge you now to finish just one more cup of wine. Once you go west out Yang Pass, there will be no more old friends. |
Meng Haoran: To Prime Minister Zhang On Dongting Lake
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
| 臨洞庭上張丞相 八月湖水平， 涵虛混太清。 氣蒸雲夢澤， 波撼岳陽城。 欲濟無舟楫， 端居恥聖明。 坐觀垂釣者， 徒有羨魚情。 |
To Prime Minister Zhang On Dongting Lake In August, the lake is calm and level, Its vastness blends with the clear sky. The air steams over the Yunmeng Marsh, Waves shake the city of Yueyang. Wanting to cross, there are no boats or oars, Sitting idly feels like a shame to the wise. I watch the fishermen at their lines, Only to feel envy for those who catch fish. |
Li Bai: Early Departure from Baidi City
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
| 早發白帝城 朝辭白帝彩雲間， 千里江陵一日還。 兩岸猿聲啼不住， 輕舟已過萬重山。 |
Early Departure from Baidi City At dawn, I bid farewell to Baidi amidst the colorful clouds; In one day, I return to Jiangling, a thousand miles away. The cries of the monkeys on both banks continue without ceasing, As my light boat has already passed through countless mountains. |
Du Fu: The View in Spring
| Chinese | English |
|---|---|
| 春望 國破山河在， 城春草木深。 感時花濺淚， 恨別鳥驚心。 烽火連三月， 家書抵萬金。 白頭搔更短， 渾欲不勝簪。 |
The View in Spring A kingdom smashed, its hills and rivers still here, spring in the city, plants and trees grow deep. Moved by the moment, flowers splash with tears, alarmed at parting, birds startle the heart. War’s beacon fires have gone on three months, letters from home are worth thousands in gold. Fingers run through white hair until it thins, cap-pins will almost no longer hold. |