Po Qin Poems with English Translations: A Woman’s Love – 繁钦《定情诗》

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定情诗

繁钦

我出东门游,邂逅承清尘[1]。

思君即[2]幽房,侍寝执衣巾。

时无桑中[3]契[4],迫此路侧人。

我既媚[5]君姿,君亦悦我颜。

何以致拳拳[6]?绾臂双金环[7]。

何以致殷勤?约指一双银[8]。

何以致区区?耳中双明珠。

何以致叩叩?香囊系肘后。

何以致契阔[9]?绕腕双跳脱[10]。

何以结恩情?美玉缀罗缨[11]。

何以结中心[12]?素缕连双针。

何以结相于?金簿画搔头[13]。

何以慰别离?耳后玳瑁[14]钗[15]。

何以答欢欣?纨素三条裙[16]。

何以结愁悲?白绢双中衣。

何以消滞[17]忧?足下双远游。

与我期何所?乃期东山隅[18]。

日旰[19]兮不来,谷风吹我襦。

远望无所见,涕泣起蜘蹰。

与我期何所?乃期山南阳。

日中兮不来,飘风[20]吹我裳。

逍遥莫谁睹,望君愁我肠。

与我期何所?乃期西山侧。

日夕兮不来,踯躅[21]长太息。

远望凉风至,俯仰正衣服。

与我期何所?乃期山北岑[22]。

日暮兮不来,凄风吹我襟。

望君不能坐,悲苦愁我心。

爱身以何为,惜我华色时。

中情既款款,然后克密期。

褰衣[23]蹑茂草,谓君不我欺。

厕此丑陋质,徙倚无所之[24]。

自伤失所欲,泪下如连丝。

注释:

[1] 清尘:本意指车后扬起的轻盈的尘土。也可用作对人的敬称。

[2] 即:靠近。

[3] 桑中:本意指桑树林里,这里指男女私奔幽会之处。

[4] 契:契约,约定。

[5] 媚:女人取悦男人。

[6] 拳拳:与下文的“区区”“叩叩”都指情意真挚。

[7] 绾臂双金环:臂钏,又称缠臂金,这是一种我国古代女性缠绕于臂的装饰,是用金银带条盘绕成螺旋圈状,所盘圈数多少不等,一般三至八圈,也有多到十二三圈的。

[8] 约指一双银:这里指用戒指定情,见指环如见其人,可见这一风俗由来已久。

[9] 契阔:相约,相交。

[10] 跳脱:今天的手镯。

[11] 罗缨:古代女子出嫁时系于腰间的彩色丝带,以示人有所属。古代女子为心仪之人的佩玉结缀罗缨,心意昭昭。

[12] 中心:心中。

[13] 搔头:簪的别称,据《西京杂记》记载:汉武帝宠爱李夫人,有一次取下李夫人的玉簪搔头,搔头之名由此而来。

[14] 玳瑁:从玳瑁龟壳上取得的玳瑁片。

[15] 钗:为珠翠和金银合制成花朵或其他造型的发钿,连缀着固定发髻的双股或多股长针,使用时安插在双鬓。钗不仅是一种饰物,还是一种寄情的表物。古代恋人或夫妻之间有一种赠别的习俗。

[16] 纨素三条裙:用绢做成的裙子。

[17] 滞:滞留,停留。

[18] 隅:日出照耀的地方。

[19] 日旰:指天气晚。

[20] 飘风:和暖的风,指南风。

[21] 踯躅:与“踟蹰”都是徘徊不前的意思。

[22] 北岑:山北面的崖岸。

[23] 褰衣:提起衣服。

[24] 之:到,往。

A Woman’s Love

Po Qin

I went out of the eastern gate,

And met by chance a handsome mate.

To a sweet bower I was led;

Undressed, I served him in the bed.

We did not date ‘neath mulberry;

By the roadside our love was free.

I was enchanted at his sight,

My beauty gave him sweet delight.

How to express our loving heart?

Two golden bracelets for my part.

How to express his gallantry?

Two silver rings were given to me.

How to express our feeling dear?

Two bright pearls hanging from the ear.

How to express feelings we nurse?

Behind the elbow a perfume purse.

How to express love in our tryst?

Two jade bracelets around the wrist.

How could I know our love won’t fade?

Silken girdles adorned with jade.

How could I know our hearts unite?

Two needles joined by a thread white.

How could I know deep love within?

My hair adorned with gold-foiled pin.

How to console our parting drear?

The turtle pin behind the ear.

How to remember our delight?

A silken robe with three fringes white.

How to express the grief I bear.

The white silk vest and underwear.

How to forget old sorrow sweet?

Far-going shoes upon his feet.

Where did he have with me a date?

East of the mountain did I wait.

At dusk, oh! he did not come down,

But the east wind ruffled my gown.

I looked far, none did appear;

At a loss, I shed tear on tear.

Where did he have with me a date?

South of the mountain did I wait.

At noon, oh! he came not with zest,

But the south wind ruffled my vest.

I could not see him, far apart;

Waiting for him would break my heart.

When did he have with me a date?

West of the mountain did I wait.

At sunset he did not come by;

I loitered and heaved a long sigh.

Looking far, I felt the wind cold.

And up and down my robe was rolled.

Where did he have with me a date?

North of the mountain did I wait.

At nightfall he did not appear;

My dress was ruffled by wind drear.

Longing for him, I could not sit;

My heart broken, could I keep fit?

Why had he loved my person fair?

For youth and beauty he did care.

Had his heart felt love for his mate,

No doubt would he then keep his date.

Lifting my robe, I tread thick grass,

Thinking he’d not deceive, alas!

I turn and loiter high and low;

My poor heart knows not where to go.

I’m grieved to find my love has fled;

My tears stream down like silken thread.

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