鱼玄机·《春情寄子安》英译

山路欹斜石磴危，不愁行苦苦相思。

冰销远涧怜清韵，雪远寒峰想玉姿。

莫听凡歌春病酒，休招闲客夜贪棋。

如松匪石盟长在，比翼连襟会肯迟。

虽恨独行冬尽日，终期相见月圆时。

别君何物堪持赠，泪落晴光一首诗。

To a Lover, Spring Feelings

Yu Xuanji

The mountain trails are steep,

their rocky steps so dangerous,

and yet the pain of travel

is not the heart of my sorrow;

the pain is my longing for you.

Ice in distant valleys melting

moves me like your clear, crisp voice;

snow afar on the frigid peaks

reminds me of your handsome form.

Please don’t listen to vulgar songs

and drink too much in spring;

avoid the company of idlers

who like to play cheese all night.

Constant as pine,

not hard like a stone,

I pledge to be always here;

as birds of a feather

whose hearts are conjoined,

can our union be far?

Though I dislike traveling alone

all the winter day,

I know I can count on meeting you

when the moon is full.

And when I leave,

what can I give

for a suitable farewell?

Falling tears in the clear daylight—

a poem from me to you.

（Bannie Chow, Thomas Cleary 译）

Spring Feelings, Sent to Zi’an   

Yu Xuanji

The mountain road slants, the rocky steps are steep;

But I don’t lament the hardships of travel, it is my longing that is bitter.

Ice melts in far torrents I am touched by your clear rhymes,

Snow lies distant on cold peaks I think of your jade-like beauty.

Don’t listen to common songs and grow sick on wine in spring,

Don’t invite guests to while away the time, eager for games of chess at night.

I am like pine I am no stone my oath will always endure, ¹

Like paired-wing birds or two robes joined, how could I want to delay our meeting? ²

Though I regret traveling alone through a whole winter’s day,

In the end, I’ll wait to see you when the moon is full.

Parted, what is a worthy present to give to you?

Tears that fall in the bright light and this single poem.

1. Poem 26 of the Book of Odes was reputedly composed by a young widow who refused to obey her family’s demand that she remarry: “My heart is not a stone; you cannot roll it about,” she protests.

2. The biyi, a legendary bird, had only one wing and could not fly without a mate. Like “two robes joined,” it became a symbol of conjugal felicity.   

（Jennifer Carpenter 译）