Sunday, September 20, 2009

Another, from the Chinese of Chen Cao'an

《山坡羊》

晨雞初叫
昏鴉爭噪
那箇不去紅塵閙
路遙遙
水迢迢
功名盡在長安道
今日少年明日老
山 依舊好
人 憔悴了

To the tune, "Goats on the Mountainside."

The rooster crows at break of day,
At dusk the ravens squawk and fuss,
Who isn't busy making noise and raising clouds of dust?
The highway stretches far,
And the water flows away;
Everyone is city-bound and hopes to be a star,
And they'll be old tomorrow who are young and fresh today.
The hills
Will always last,
But men
Get ground down fast.

A Translation from the Chinese of Guan Hanqing

《四塊玉》

南畝耕
東山臥
世態人情經歷多
閒將往事思量過
是他
是我
爭什麽

To the tune, "Four Pieces of Jade."

Go till the southern fields
And sleep on lonely hills.
I've seen much of the world's and men's hearts' fickle ways,
And in my leisure I have pondered former days:
Others are worthy,
Dull am I,
Why should I try?