Cao Zhi Poems with English Translations: Lament – 曹植《七哀》

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Cao Zhi – 曹植

 

七哀

曹植

明月照高楼,流光[1]正徘徊[2]。

上有愁思妇,悲叹有余哀。

借问叹者谁?自云宕子[3]妻。

君行逾十年,孤妾常独栖。

君若清路尘[4],妾若浊水泥[5]。

浮沉各异势,会合何时谐?

愿为西南风,长逝入君怀。

君怀良不开,贱妾当何依?

注释:

[1] 流光:明澈如水、恍然如流的月光。

[2] 徘徊:原处停留而不前的样子。

[3] 宕子:同“荡子”,指飘荡在外的丈夫。与“游子”意同。不是指通常所说的“轻薄荡子”。

[4] 清路尘:路上飞起的轻尘。

[5] 浊水泥:水底沉积的淤泥。六朝时人常爱以尘和泥来比喻不同的身份和地位。

Lament

Cao Zhi

Streams of light on the tower softly play;

It seems the moon is loath to move away.

For here is beauty wilting, tender sighs

Telling of tender heart in pain, which cries.

May we ask who is there so full of ruth?

A wife in name, a widow, ah! in truth.

“You are far, far away for over ten years;

I am alone, alone and oft in tears.

You’re like the dust drawn upward on the way;

Like mud in dirty water still I stay.

One sinking, the other swimming we remain.

If ever, when are we to meet again?

Would that I were the wind from the southwest

That I could rush across the land to your breast!

If you from your embrace should shut me out,

Where could I go? Where should I roam about?”

Cao Zhi – 曹植
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