鱼玄机,女,晚唐诗人,长安(今陕西西安)人。初名鱼幼薇,字蕙兰。咸通(唐懿宗年号,860—874)中为补阙李亿妾,以李妻不能容,进长安咸宜观出家为女道士。与文学家温庭筠为忘年交,唱和甚多。后被京兆尹温璋以打死婢女之罪名处死。鱼玄机性聪慧,有才思,好读书,尤工诗。与李冶、薛涛、刘采春并称唐代四大女诗人。其诗作现存五十首,收于《全唐诗》。有《鱼玄机集》一卷。其事迹见《唐才子传》等书。
鱼玄机·《访赵炼师不遇》
何处同仙侣,青衣独在家。
暖炉留煮药,邻院为煎茶。
画壁灯光暗,幡竿日影斜。
殷勤重回首,墙外数枝花。
Visiting a Master Alchemist, Not Finding Him at Home
Yu Xuanji
Where shall I look
for my spiritual friend?
An acolyte’s at home alone—
the stove is warm,
the herbs still cooking;
a neighbor prepares
some boiled tea.
Dimly lamplight flickers
on the murals of the walls;
from the banner pole
in the setting sun
a shadow leaning falls.
Over and over I look around;
flowers beyond the walls!
(Bannie Chow, Thomas Cleary 译)