Wind return little courtyard overgrown green
Willow see spring appear extend
Lean on railing half day alone no word
As before bamboo sound new moon like those days
Playing and singing not disperse wine cups outside at
Pool face ice begin melt
Candle bright fragrance dim painted hall deep
Complete temples complete frosty remnant snow think hard allow
The wind returns; my little courtyard is green and overgrown,
The willows seem to have grown again this spring.
I lean for a long time on the railings; alone, without a word,
The sound of bamboo and the new moon are just like in days gone by.
The playing and singing have not yet ceased; the wine cups remain,
The ice on top of the pool begins to melt.
Bright candles and a faint fragrance are deep in the painted hall,
It’s hard to think I must allow my temples all to turn white.
Flower bright moon dim enveloped light mist
Today night good to darling side to
stockings tread fragrant steps
Hand carry gold thread shoes
Painted hall south side meet
One time snuggle person tremble
Servant be out come hard
Teach you reckless love
Light mist envelopes the dim moon and bright flowers,
A perfect night to go to her darling’s side.
In stocking soles, she treads the fragrant steps,
And carries in one hand her gold threaded shoes.
They meet by the south side of the painted hall,
And trembling fall into each other’s arms.
“It’s hard for me to creep out like a servant,
To teach my darling the recklessness of love.”
Idle dream far
South land positively fragrant spring
Boat on wind string river surface clear
Full city fly catkins light dust
Busy extremely look flower people
Idle dream far
South land positively clear autumn
Thousand li rivers hills cold colour far
Reed flower in depths moor solitary boat
Flute at moon bright night
My idle dreams roam far,
To the southern land where spring is fragrant.
Wind and strings play on a boat on the river’s clear surface,
The city is full of catkins flying like light dust.
People are occupied admiring the flowers.
My idle dreams roam far,
To the southern land where autumn is clear.
For a thousand li over rivers and hills cold colours stretch far,
Deep in flowering reeds, a solitary boat is moored.
Beneath the bright moon, a flute plays in the tower.
Spring flower autumn moon what time finish?
Past events know so many
Small tower last night again east wind
Old country cot bear recollect moon bright at
Carve balustrade marble steps must still remain
Simply red face change
For gentleman can be how much sorrow?
Just like a river spring water to east flow
Oh when will autumn moon and spring flowers end?
How many past events I’ve known.
The east wind buffeted my room again last night,
I cannot bear to remember the bright moon of the old country.
The marble steps and carved balustrades must still be there,
The people’s rosy cheeks are all that’s changed.
How much sorrow can one man have to bear?
As much as a river of spring water flowing east.
Curtain outside rain murmer
Spring trace waning
Silk covers not resist fifth watch cold
Dream in not know oneself be visitor
One time seek pleasure
Alone self not lean on railings
Without limit rivers hills
Parting time easy meet time hard
Flow water fall flower spring go with
Heaven on man world
Outside the curtains the rain is murmering,
And spring is waning,
Silk bedding cannot resist the fifth watch cold.
While in my dream, I forget I am a guest,
And covet pleasure!
I should not lean alone on these railings,
The land is unlimited;
It’s easy to part- to meet again is hard.
Spring’s gone like blossom fallen on flowing water,
My paradise too!
East wind blow water sun hold hill
Spring come great be idleness
Fall flower scattered wine rail pendants tinkling
Playing and singing drunk dream inside
Pendant sound quiet evening dress lack
For whom organise jadeite hair
Accept successive brightness cherish red complexion
Dusk alone lean on railings
The east wind blows over the water, the sun sits by the hill,
Though spring has come, the idleness persists.
Fallen blossom is scattered amid wine and tinkling pendants by the rail,
She listens to playing and singing in a drunken daze.
The pendants are now silent, her evening wear undone,
For what man’s sake is she to dress her hair?
Her fair appearance too will pass as time slips by,
At dusk, she leans alone upon the railing.
Peng lai compound shut heaven level woman
Painted hall day sleep people not speak
Throw pillow jade cloud glossy
Embroidered clothes smell extraordinary fragrance
Secretly come pearl lock move
Startle wake silver screen dream
Face freely smile full full
Mutual watch not limit love
A heavenly woman’s imprisoned in the palace at Penglai Hill,
All are silent as she sleeps by day in the painted hall.
Her glossy hair is spread like cloud on the pillow,
Her embroidered clothes bear a wondrous fragrance.
I secretly come and slide the pearl lock back,
She’s startled from her dream behind the silver screen.
Her smiling face is overflowing with bliss,
We gaze at each other with unbounded love.
Oriental cherry fall all steps front moon
Appear bed sorrow rest on smoke enveloped
Distant like last year this day regret also same
Two braids not in order cloud wan and sallow
Tears wet red wipe chest
What place seem yearn suffer
Gauze window drunk dream in
Beneath the moon, before the steps, all cherry blossom has fallen,
Enwreathed in smoke, she looks sorrowful lying in bed.
She feels the same regret today as one long year ago.
Both braids like cloud in disarray, her face is wan and sallow,
The crimson corset wet from wiping tears.
But what’s the reason why she suffers so?
She lies in a drunken dream before the window.
Life sorrow regret how can avoid
Overwhelm sorrow alone my feeling what limit
Old country dream again return
Wake come two tears fall
High tower who do climb
Long remember autumn clear scene
Past events already become empty
Go like a dream in
How can a man escape life’s sorrow and regret?
What limit is there to my solitary grief?
I returned to my homeland in a dream,
As I awakened, I shed two tears.
Who now will climb up those high towers,
I remember those clear autumn scenes.
Those past events have lost their meaning,
They disappear as in a dream.
How many tears
Cut face repeat across cheek
Worry not with together tears speak
Phoenix flute not to tears time play
Heart break more without doubt
How many tears
Criss-cross your cheeks and run across your face!
Don’t try to speak when worry makes you weep,
Nor play the flute when it will bring your tears,
Or surely then your heart will break.