李冶·《从萧叔子听弹琴，赋得三峡流泉歌》英译

从萧叔子听弹琴，赋得三峡流泉歌

李冶

妾家本住巫山云，巫山流泉常自闻。

玉琴弹出转寥夐，直是当时梦里听。

三峡迢迢几千里，一时流入幽闺里。

巨石崩崖指下生，飞泉走浪弦中起。

初疑愤怒含雷风，又似呜咽流不通。

回湍曲濑势将尽，时复滴沥平沙中。

忆昔阮公为此曲，能令仲容听不足。

一弹既罢复一弹，愿作流泉镇相续。

A Song Written on the Topic “Streams Flowing down in the Three Gorges” 

Li Ye

My home used to be up there

in Wu Mountain’s clouds,

Where streams flowing from the mountain

always can be heard.

As the jade zither plays these sounds,

they grow more sharp and clear,

Just as they were in days of yore

when heard within a dream.

The Three Gorges are far away,

many thousands of miles,

But all at once they come flowing

into my secluded chambers.

Huge boulders crash down cliffs,

audible under his fingers,

Waterfalls and rushing waves

rise from in the strings.

It seems at first some bursting rage,

thundering gales within,

Then as if choked with sobbing sounds

some current can’t get through.

When force of winding rapids

and whirlpools runs its course,

The liquid notes fall drop by drop

upon the level sand.

I recall how long ago

Ruan Xian composed this tune

This could make even him

ever hear his fill.

You’ve played it once and finished,

now play it once again,

I want those flowing streams

to continue forever.

（Stephen Owen 译）