（古詩英譯） 《赠江夏韦太守良宰》－ 李白

Eke five towns by the Palace of Jade White.
The immortals there touched the head of mine, 
On me bestowed longevity divine. 
Tho' wrongly I pursue this worldly fun,
My flair to run the state second to none. 
Thus far on this land ninety six great kings,
Their vain names hang on the floating cloud’s wings.
They all tossed heaven and earth as the bet,
Alas, the warfare has ne’er ended yet.
I did try the strategies I have learned
And hope I could have princely home returned.
Alack, the fate hath completely failed me,
I have been still wandering on the sea.
At my art of sword I myself do sneer,
But wonder how good my verse would appear. 
My sword cannot withstand myriads of foes,
Yet from four seas my verse hath won bravos.
These things so insignificant indeed,
Out of Chang’an that I'd no longer heed.
As I am just about to take my leave,
My hat’s tassels soak in my teary peeve. 
Your superb talent I always admire,
You outshine the best ones of the empire.
A high tea set in a roadside marquee,
Thus you'd formally say goodbye to me.
Like floating clouds is a life on horseback;
Adieu! Let’s part at Piaoqi post, alack!
The music can’t convey your feelings all; 
Into Kunming Pool the sun will soon fall.
Oh that October I came by Youzhou，
Where halberds and spears flash like stars' glow.
Methought our liege’d lose his reign o’er the North Sea,
In which that cur swam like a whale so free.
His breathing would make hundred rivers shake
And bring down Yanran mountain with a quake. 
I knew the crown would not lend me his ear,
Ergo, of the hot water I kept clear. 
Feared that Sky-Wolf* albeit I’d draw my bow;
I durst not shoot though I held my arrow.
By the stage of gold-for-talent I cried,
Oh whither hath the liege lord of Yan hied?
No one would treasure the bones of steed,
Lu Er, the steed idles, but none takes heed.
Even Le Yi, th’ famed fighter, could revive,
To give in at last he would also strive.
My tears exhibit my pathetic life
As I ride to your place to eschew strife. 
We hark your string music that enthralls all 
When you solemnly sit in your grand hall.
The only sage of yore within a hundred li,
Like Fu-hsi Era thou canst sleep carefree.
We enjoy ourselves in your Changle hall;
You feast us on wine in cups in this ball!
Betwixt nobles there seats a damsel fair,
‘Gainst the candlelights it looks pair by pair.
The dance in its cups lures each into dreams;
The songs echo on and on midst roof-beams. 
Our gala finally cometh to an end,
As your mourning’s o’er, to Xianyang you’ll wend.
Thousands of folks turn up to farewell thee,
And face to face there’s many a marquee.
Adieu! Sith then for miles we’ll be apart,
Hot or chill, boom or doom, it’ll itself chart.
Yet chill to hot, hot to chill, so frequent,
Of the chaos the vast land bears the brunt.
The royal armies fight those who rebel,
The dusty sand turns heavens into hell.
Oh even grass and tree lash to spit fire;
All stars lost lustre in the sky entire.
Lo, so many a mountain of bones white,
Why on earth should folks suffer such a plight?
T’ung Pass the last stronghold for the crown land,
The crown’s life in his warrior Geshu’s hand.
Alas, some three hundred thousand halberds
Yield the Pass to the rebellious herds.
Like dogs and sheep the noble courtiers run,
The loyalists are severed one by one.
Away our twain emperors rush to flee,
Their palaces are turned into debris.
Prince Li Lin is thus empowered to
Hoist the flag to control the land of Chu.
He is not like the warriors of yore,
Albeit he hath gallant warriors galore.
His footmen have lost their spirit of fight,
While the rebels like storms gather their might.
But only thou hold’st Fangxian County fast,
Thy fame for loyalty will for good last. 
Instead on Censer Peak I am lying,
Like immortals I eat clouds and drink spring.
Thro’ my door I’d see the Yantze billow,
And the Five Lakes right under my pillow.
The navy of prince Li’s come at midnight,
Xunyang Town is filled with his flags in sight.
Oh, o’er my vain name I am duped to gloat,
Unwisely I join prince Li in his boat. 
Lin offers me five hundred taels in gold,
Yet they’re just like floating clouds I behold.
Tho’ his taels and titles I turn down all,
I can’t yet escape a disgraceful fall.
I’m banished to Yelang such a place poor,
Afar trudging westward maketh me age more.
The vast land now returns to peace again,
Yet a frostbitten grass I still remain.
The sun and moon totally biased not,
Could heavens hear how I suffer a lot?
O thou art a deity-like magistrate
Proffering thy folk compassion so great.
I lodge here as an exile with damned vice 
Ascending Yellow Crane Tower thrice.
Afore Parrot Shoal I appear so small,
So shameful I am not Mi Heng at all.
The might of Mountain Fan hath been long gone,
Doleful autumn seems to go on and on.
From Emei the Youngtze carries its snow,
And thro’ Three Gorges rolls down its swift flow.
Myriad barques traveling to and fro,
Sails after sails are passing thro Yangzhou.
Mine eyes follow them thousand miles away,
The great openness expels my mood grey.
I open my gauze casement to the sky,
Green trees in stream look like belle’s hair coiled high.
Glancing up, I fear high hills eat th’ sun soon,
Raising winecup, I’m glad to gain the moon.
The maids of Chu fair as the belle of Wu,
So gorgeous in shapes, so red in rouge too. 
The fair maids to climb upstairs we summon; 
Out of the curtains they smile one by one.
Afore their guests they dance the “Xiao Chui Shou”,
Waving their long sleeves as if spring winds blow.
Then they kneel down to suade their guests to rest,
Yet our spirits are still high with great zest.
I peruse your works you writ in Mt. Jing,
Which truly equate Jiang’s or Bao’s writing.
‘Tis like hibiscus out of the clear stream,
All up to what Mother Nature’d fain theme. 
You are a man so broad-minded and brave,
For your invitation I always crave. 
The warriors guard your yamen’s red gate,
The halberds arrayed in awesome lines straight.
Through carved rocks and pruned bamboos far and near
Meanders the gurgling stream gentle and clear. 
We’re seated at your pavilion stream-side,
All ears to your wise talk as a great guide.
Afore your words less precious the jade white;
Against your promise the gold weighs so light.
You highly praise me as a real gentleman
With that Blue Bird’s loyal heart to the sun.
Amid the rosy clouds chirps a magpie
Who is descending from the sovereign sky.
All talk about th’ tidings of clemency,
Tho’ still in Ye Lang, I’m granted mercy.
The cold dale is turning warm straightaway,
The ember is rekindling sans delay.
Anon to the Phoenix Pool You’ll move high,
Prithee forsaketh me never by the by. 
Those barking dogs for their master still strong;
The savage scoffs at the heads so ding-dong. 
Oft in the deep of the night sighs I’d heave,
The fate of our vast kingdom makes me grieve.
Lo, the battle flags on the high hills green,
And the Yellow River rolls in between.
Those generals are not in the posts best,
The orders are followed at their behest.
How could I be like that Hou Yi of yore,
The best shooter arrows the head of war. 








(Finished yet to be revised)