AT WANG CHANGLIN' S RETREAT

宿王昌龄隐居
常建

清溪深不测， 隐处唯孤云。
松际露微月， 清光犹为君。
茅亭宿花影， 药院滋苔纹。
余亦谢时去， 西山鸾鹤群。
　
AT WANG CHANGLIN' S RETREAT
Chang Jian

Here, beside a clear deep lake,
You live accompanied by clouds;
Or soft through the pine the moon arrives
To be your own pure-hearted friend.
You rest under thatch in the shadow of your flowers,
Your dewy herbs flourish in their bed of moss.
Let me leave the world. Let me alight, like you,
On your western mountain with phoenixes and cranes.

A BOAT IN SPRING ON RUOYA LAKE

春泛若耶溪
綦毋潜

幽意无断绝， 此去随所偶。
晚风吹行舟， 花路入溪口。
际夜转西壑， 隔山望南斗。
潭烟飞溶溶， 林月低向后。
生事且弥漫， 愿为持竿叟。
　
A BOAT IN SPRING ON RUOYA LAKE
Qiwu Qian

Thoughtful elation has no end:
Onward I bear it to whatever come.
And my boat and I, before the evening breeze
Passing flowers, entering the lake,
Turn at nightfall toward the western valley,
Where I watch the south star over the mountain
And a mist that rises, hovering soft,
And the low moon slanting through the trees;
And I choose to put away from me every worldly matter
And only to be an old man with a fishing-pole.

AFTER MISSING THE RECLUSE ON THE WESTERN MOUNTAIN

寻西山隐者不遇

邱为



绝顶一茅茨， 直上三十里。

扣关无僮仆， 窥室惟案几。

若非巾柴车， 应是钓秋水。

差池不相见， 黾勉空仰止。

草色新雨中， 松声晚窗里。

及兹契幽绝， 自足荡心耳。

虽无宾主意， 颇得清净理。

兴尽方下山， 何必待之子。

　

AFTER MISSING THE RECLUSE ON THE WESTERN MOUNTAIN

Qiu Wei



To your hermitage here on the top of the mountain

I have climbed, without stopping, these ten miles.

I have knocked at your door, and no one answered;

I have peeped into your room, at your seat beside the table.

Perhaps you are out riding in your canopied chair,

Or fishing, more likely, in some autumn pool.

Sorry though I am to be missing you,

You have become my meditation --

The beauty of your grasses, fresh with rain,

And close beside your window the music of your pines.

I take into my being all that I see and hear,

Soothing my senses, quieting my heart;

And though there be neither host nor guest,

Have I not reasoned a visit complete?

…After enough, I have gone down the mountain.

Why should I wait for you any longer?

WITH MY BROTHER AT THE SOUTH STUDY

同从弟南斋玩月忆山阴崔少府
王昌龄

高卧南斋时， 开帷月初吐。
清辉淡水木， 演漾在窗户。
苒苒几盈虚？ 澄澄变今古。
美人清江畔， 是夜越吟苦。
千里其如何？ 微风吹兰杜。
　
WITH MY BROTHER AT THE SOUTH STUDY
THINKING IN THE MOONLIGHT OF VICE-PREFECT CUI IN SHANYIN
Wang Changling

Lying on a high seat in the south study,
We have lifted the curtain-and we see the rising moon
Brighten with pure light the water and the grove
And flow like a wave on our window and our door.
It will move through the cycle, full moon and then crescent again,
Calmly, beyond our wisdom, altering new to old.
…Our chosen one, our friend, is now by a limpid river --
Singing, perhaps, a plaintive eastern song.
He is far, far away from us, three hundred miles away.
And yet a breath of orchids comes along the wind.

AT THE MOUNTAIN-LODGE OF THE BUDDHIST PRIEST YE

宿业师山房待丁大不至
孟浩然

夕阳度西岭， 群壑倏已暝。
松月生夜凉， 风泉满清听。
樵人归欲尽， 烟鸟栖初定。
之子期宿来， 孤琴候萝径。
　
AT THE MOUNTAIN-LODGE OF THE BUDDHIST PRIEST YE
WAITING IN VAIN FOR MY FRIEND DING
Meng Haoran

Now that the sun has set beyond the western range,
Valley after valley is shadowy and dim….
And now through pine-trees come the moon and the chill of evening,
And my ears feel pure with the sound of wind and water
Nearly all the woodsmen have reached home,
Birds have settled on their perches in the quiet mist….
And still -- because you promised -- I am waiting for you, waiting,
Playing lute under a wayside vine.

IN SUMMER AT THE SOUTH PAVILION THINKING OF XING

夏日南亭怀辛大
孟浩然

山光忽西落， 池月渐东上。
散发乘夜凉， 开轩卧闲敞。
荷风送香气， 竹露滴清响。
欲取鸣琴弹， 恨无知音赏。
感此怀故人， 中宵劳梦想。
　
IN SUMMER AT THE SOUTH PAVILION THINKING OF XING
Meng Haoran

The mountain-light suddenly fails in the west,
In the east from the lake the slow moon rises.
I loosen my hair to enjoy the evening coolness
And open my window and lie down in peace.
The wind brings me odours of lotuses,
And bamboo-leaves drip with a music of dew….
I would take up my lute and I would play,
But, alas, who here would understand?
And so I think of you, old friend,
O troubler of my midnight dreams !
　

ON CLIMBING ORCHID MOUNTAIN IN THE AUTUMN TO ZHANG

秋登兰山寄张五
孟浩然

北山白云里， 隐者自怡悦。
相望始登高， 心随雁飞灭。
愁因薄暮起， 兴是清秋发。
时见归村人， 沙行渡头歇。
天边树若荠， 江畔洲如月。
何当载酒来， 共醉重阳节。

ON CLIMBING ORCHID MOUNTAIN IN THE AUTUMN TO ZHANG
Meng Haoran

On a northern peak among white clouds
You have found your hermitage of peace;
And now, as I climb this mountain to see you,
High with the wildgeese flies my heart.
The quiet dusk might seem a little sad
If this autumn weather were not so brisk and clear;
I look down at the river bank, with homeward-bound villagers
Resting on the sand till the ferry returns;
There are trees at the horizon like a row of grasses
And against the river's rim an island like the moon
I hope that you will come and meet me, bringing a basket of wine --
And we'll celebrate together the Mountain Holiday.