On the Advent of Spring
Xin Qi-ji文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/14130.html
文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/14130.html
Spring is back again. Look! Ladies wearing seasonal pennants in their coiffures, as is the custom, colourful little pennants waving welcome. The wind and rain, somehow, yet hesitate to take the last touch off the air. I suppose the swallows would not fail to visit the west garden in their dreams tonight. Not so keen myself: no orange wine for the libation, nor onions green and fragrant to offer the gods.文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/14130.html
文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/14130.html
O East Wind! You are going to have a busy time, aren’t you? So many plum blossoms to be scented, so many willows to paint. If you have a moment to spare, you will come and tamper with my image in the mirror. For I am oppressed with a sense of desolation, and day after day, sorrow begets sorrow. How is the chain to be broken? I dread the sight of flowers blooming and then falling; I dread the dawn when the winged messenger returns with no message from those lost in the Tartar sands.文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/14130.html
文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/14130.html
（翁显良 译）文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/14130.html
文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/14130.html
Tune title: Spring in Han Palace (Han-kung-ch’un)文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/14130.html
Title: On the First Day of Spring文章源自英文巴士-https://www.en84.com/14130.html
Hsin Ch’i-Chi
Spring has returned!
Just look at spring’s streamers and ribbons
Gracefully dancing on pretty maidens’ heads.
Alas, the indiscriminate wind and rain
Yet reluctant to store away the lingering cold!
Seasonal swallows,
I imagine, will this night
Dream of returning to their orchard,
Though unprepared to scent
The golden tangerines that go with wine
Among green leeks and scallions piled on the plate.
From this time on, I should laugh at the east wind
That perfumes the plum flowers and dyes the willow
Without any let-up;
Then steal one idle moment, looking at a mirror,
And see the ruby color fade from my cheeks.
Oh, interminable grief!
Who, let me ask,
Knows the clue to uncouple these interlocked jade-rings?
I dread most to see
Flowers bloom and flowers fall.
When morning comes, the frontier geese will be the first to come home.
（Irving Yucheng Lo 译）
Han kung ch’un
The First Day of Spring
Hsin Ch’I-Chi
Spring did come back
Look in her hair
A graceful spring ribbon
But for no reason, wind and rain
Refuse to make an end of the remaining cold
It’s time for swallows
Perhaps tonight they’ll dream of reaching the west garden –
But the wine-soaked oranges aren’t ready
Nor has the scallion dish been ordered
Do not smile at the east wind
Even if now it must smear the plum, dye the willow
Without a moment spare
By and by it will be back – there, in the mirror
To fade your blush
From brightness to sorrow, nonstop
Who can break the chain!
I dread anew to see the flowers bloom, the flowers fall
The geese that come at dawn will be the first to go
（Julie Landau 译）
