周邦彦·《少年游·并刀如水》英译

并刀如水，

吴盐胜雪，

纤手破新橙。

锦幄初温，

兽烟不断，

相对坐调笙。

低声问：向谁行宿？

城上已三更。

马滑霜浓，

不如休去，

直是少人行！

Joy of the Young

(To the Tune of Shaonianyou)

Zhou Bangyan

The knife from Bing sharp as water,

the salt from Wu white as snow,

she cuts for him a fresh orange

in her slender fingers.

Behind the newly warmed brocade curtain,

the incense incessantly rising

from the animal-shaped burner,

they sit opposite each other,

tuning up their reed pipe instruments.

Softly she inquires:

“Where are you going to spend the night?

It’s the third watch on the city wall,

the frost thick, the road too slippery

for the horse. Don’t leave.

Really, few people walk outside.”