詠白海棠 – (薛寶釵) – 曹雪芹

詠白海棠 – (薛寶釵) – 曹雪芹

 

珍重芳姿晝掩門，自攜手甕灌苔盆。

胭脂洗出秋階影，冰雪招來露砌魂。

淡極始知花更豔，愁多焉得玉無痕？

欲償白帝宜清潔，不語婷婷日又昏。

 

Ode to Begonia (The Story of the Stone) by Cao Xueqin 

 

To hold her grace dear, she stays behind bolted door.

A clay jar watering the pots with moss galore,

An autumn belle sans loud hue stands by the stone steps,

Where clear dew bestows snowy soul on her, and more,

Her beauty lies in the natural simple white.

How could she have no grievous spots? For all adore

Her chaste traits, she’s obliged to Goddess of Autumn.

Sunset again, a silent prayer plucks her core.

 

Tr. Ziyuzile

 

(To be revised)