（古詩詞英譯）倡女行 — （唐）喬知之

倡女行 — （唐）喬知之

 

The Ballad of the Courtesan by Qiao Zhi-zhi (Tang Dynasty)

 

石榴酒，葡萄漿。

蘭桂芳，茱萸香。

 

O, grape nectar, beyond compare —

Pomegranate:  ruby wine,

Orchid and cassia spice the air,

And eke the cornel’s breath, so fine —

 

願君駐金鞍，暫此共年芳。

願君解羅襦，一醉同匡床。

文君正新寡，結念在歌倡。

 

Prithee, let thy gilt saddle rest,

And pause awhile to share our prime.

O, prithee, have me thus undressed,

To drown in our zestful bed and rhyme.

Like Wen Jun, newly widowed, yet blessed,

O, let me tie a knot in melodious time.

 

昨宵綺帳迎韓壽，今朝羅袖引潘郎。

莫吹羌笛驚鄰裏，不用琵琶喧洞房。

 

Last night, my silk drapes lured Han Shou, the comely lad,

This morn, Pan An, the glamour, my sheer sleeves enticed;

Play no plaintive pipe to stir those nearby — too sad,

Nor strum loud lute — its noise mars the nuptial tryst.    

 

且歌新夜曲，莫弄楚明光。

此曲怨且豔，哀音斷人腸。

 

O, let us sing a night song new —

The airs of Chu we pipe no more.

Their shining strains, too sad, too true —

Such plaintive notes wound to the core.

 

Tr. Ziyuzile

25/07/2025

(To be revised)