《贈江夏韋太守良宰》- 李白
天上白玉京,十二樓五城。
仙人撫我頂,結發受長生。
誤逐世間樂,頗窮理亂情。
九十六聖君,浮雲掛空名。
天地賭一擲,未能忘戰爭。
試涉霸王略,將期軒冕榮。
時命乃大謬,棄之海上行。
學劍翻自哂,為文竟何成。
劍非萬人敵,文竊四海聲。
兒戲不足道,五噫出西京。
臨當欲去時,慷慨淚沾纓。
歎君倜儻才,標舉冠群英。
開筵引祖帳,慰此遠徂征。
鞍馬若浮雲,送餘驃騎亭。
歌鍾不盡意,白日落昆明。
十月到幽州,戈鋋若羅星。
君王棄北海,掃地借長鯨。
呼吸走百川,燕然可摧傾。
心知不得語,卻欲棲蓬瀛。
彎弧懼天狼,挾矢不敢張。
攬涕黃金台,呼天哭昭王。
無人貴駿骨,騄耳空騰驤。
樂毅倘再生,於今亦奔亡。
蹉跎不得意,驅馬過貴鄉。
逢君聽弦歌,肅穆坐華堂。
百裏獨太古,陶然臥羲皇。
征樂昌樂館,開筵列壺觴。
賢豪間青娥,對燭儼成行。
醉舞紛綺席,清歌繞飛梁。
歡娛未終朝,秩滿歸鹹陽。
祖道擁萬人,供帳遙相望。
一別隔千裏,榮枯異炎涼。
炎涼幾度改,九土中橫潰。
漢甲連胡兵,沙塵暗雲海。
草木搖殺氣,星辰無光彩。
白骨成丘山,蒼生竟何罪。
函關壯帝居,國命懸哥舒。
長戟三十萬,開門納凶渠。
公卿如犬羊,忠讜醢與菹。
二聖出遊豫,兩京遂丘墟。
帝子許專征,秉旄控強楚。
節製非桓文,軍師擁熊虎。
人心失去就,賊勢騰風雨。
惟君固房陵,誠節冠終古。
仆臥香爐頂,餐霞漱瑤泉。
門開九江轉,枕下五湖連。
半夜水軍來,潯陽滿旌旃。
空名適自誤,迫脅上樓船。
徒賜五百金,棄之若浮煙。
辭官不受賞,翻謫夜郎天。
夜郎萬裏道,西上令人老。
掃蕩六合清,仍為負霜草。
日月無偏照,何由訴蒼昊。
良牧稱神明,深仁恤交道。
一忝青雲客,三登黃鶴樓。
顧慚禰處士,虛對鸚鵡洲。
樊山霸氣盡,寥落天地秋。
江帶峨眉雪,川橫三峽流。
萬舸此中來,連帆過揚州。
送此萬裏目,曠然散我愁。
紗窗倚天開,水樹綠如發。
窺日畏銜山,促酒喜得月。
吳娃與越豔,窈窕誇鉛紅。
呼來上雲梯,含笑出簾櫳。
對客小垂手,羅衣舞春風。
賓跪請休息,主人情未極。
覽君荊山作,江鮑堪動色。
清水出芙蓉,天然去雕飾。
逸興橫素襟,無時不招尋。
朱門擁虎士,列戟何森森。
剪鑿竹石開,縈流漲清深。
登台坐水閣,吐論多英音。
片辭貴白璧,一諾輕黃金。
謂我不愧君,青鳥明丹心。
五色雲間鵲,飛鳴天上來。
傳聞赦書至,卻放夜郎回。
暖氣變寒穀,炎煙生死灰。
君登鳳池去,忽棄賈生才。
桀犬尚吠堯,匈奴笑千秋。
中夜四五歎,常為大國憂。
旌旆夾兩山,黃河當中流。
連雞不得進,飲馬空夷猶。
安得羿善射,一箭落旄頭。
A Long Verse by Li Bai
Tr. Ziyuzile
In heavens God twelve towers doth site,
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)