李白　蜀道难......... HARD ROADS IN SHU
噫吁戏
危乎高哉
蜀道之难难於上青天
蚕丛及鱼凫
开国何茫然
尔来四万八千岁
始与秦塞通人烟
西当太白有鸟道
可以横绝峨眉巅
地崩山摧壮士死
然後天梯石栈方钩连
上有六龙回日之高标
下有冲波逆折之回川
黄鹤之飞尚不得
猿猱欲度愁攀援
青泥何盘盘
百步九折萦岩峦
扪参历井仰胁息
以手抚膺坐长叹
问君西游何时还
畏途岩不可攀
但见悲鸟号古木
雄飞雌从绕林间
又闻子规啼
夜月愁空山
蜀道之难难於上青天
使人听此凋朱颜
连峰去天不盈尺
枯松倒挂倚绝壁
飞湍瀑流争喧 [兀豕]
冰崖转石万壑雷
其险也如此
嗟尔远道之人
胡为乎来哉
剑阁峥嵘而崔嵬
一夫当关
万夫莫开
所守或匪亲
化为狼与豺
朝避猛虎
夕避长蛇
磨牙吮血
杀人如麻
锦城虽云乐
不如早还家
蜀道之难难於上青天
侧身西望常咨嗟
Oh, but it is high and very dangerous!
Such travelling is harder than scaling the blue sky.
...Until two rulers of this region
Pushed their way through in the misty ages,
Forty-eight thousand years had passed
With nobody arriving across the Qin border.
And the Great White Mountain, westward, still has only a bird's path
Up to the summit of Emei Peak --
Which was broken once by an earthquake and there were brave men lost,
Just finishing the stone rungs of their ladder toward heaven.
...High, as on a tall flag, six dragons drive the sun,
While the river, far below, lashes its twisted course.
Such height would be hard going for even a yellow crane,
So pity the poor monkeys who have only paws to use.
The Mountain of Green Clay is formed of many circles-
Each hundred steps, we have to turn nine turns among its mound --
Panting, we brush Orion and pass the Well Star,
Then, holding our chests with our hands and sinking to the ground with a groan,
We wonder if this westward trail will never have an end.
The formidable path ahead grows darker, darker still,
With nothing heard but the call of birds hemmed in by the ancient forest,
Male birds smoothly wheeling, following the females;
And there come to us the melancholy voices of the cuckoos
Out on the empty mountain, under the lonely moon....
Such travelling is harder than scaling the blue sky.
Even to hear of it turns the cheek pale,
With the highest crag barely a foot below heaven.
Dry pines hang, head down, from the face of the cliffs,
And a thousand plunging cataracts outroar one another
And send through ten thousand valleys a thunder of spinning stones.
With all this danger upon danger,
Why do people come here who live at a safe distance?
...Though Dagger-Tower Pass be firm and grim,
And while one man guards it
Ten thousand cannot force it,
What if he be not loyal,
But a wolf toward his fellows?
...There are ravenous tigers to fear in the day
And venomous reptiles in the night
With their teeth and their fangs ready
To cut people down like hemp.
Though the City of Silk be delectable, I would rather turn home quickly.
Such travelling is harder than scaling the blue sky....
But I still face westward with a dreary moan.

李白　长相思二首·之一 ENDLESS YEARNING I
长相思，在长安
络纬秋啼金井阑
微霜凄凄簟色寒
孤灯不明思欲绝
卷帷望月空长叹
美人如花隔云端
上有青冥之长天
下有渌水之波澜
天长路远魂飞苦
梦魂不到关山难
长相思，摧心肝
"I am endlessly yearning
To be in Changan.
...Insects hum of autumn by the gold brim of the well;
A thin frost glistens like little mirrors on my cold mat;
The high lantern flickers; and. deeper grows my longing.
I lift the shade and, with many a sigh, gaze upon the moon,
Single as a flower, centred from the clouds.
Above, I see the blueness and deepness of sky.
Below, I see the greenness and the restlessness of water....
Heaven is high, earth wide; bitter between them flies my sorrow.
Can I dream through the gateway, over the mountain?
Endless longing
Breaks my heart."

李白　长相思二首·之二 ENDLESS YEARNING II
日色已尽花含烟
月明欲素愁不眠
赵瑟初停凤凰柱
蜀琴欲奏鸳鸯弦
此曲有意无人传
愿随春风寄燕然
忆君迢迢隔青天
昔日横波目
今成流泪泉
不信妾肠断
归来看取明镜前
"The sun has set, and a mist is in the flowers;
And the moon grows very white and people sad and sleepless.
A Zhao harp has just been laid mute on its phoenix holder,
And a Shu lute begins to sound its mandarin-duck strings....
Since nobody can bear to you the burden of my song,
Would that it might follow the spring wind to Yanran Mountain.
I think of you far away, beyond the blue sky,
And my eyes that once were sparkling
Are now a well of tears.
...Oh, if ever you should doubt this aching of my heart,
Here in my bright mirror come back and look at me!"

李白 行路难三首·之一 THE HARD ROAD
金樽清酒斗十千
玉盘珍羞值万钱
停杯投箸不能食
拔剑四顾心茫然
欲渡黄河冰塞川
将登太行雪暗天
闲来垂钓碧溪上
忽复乘舟梦日边
行路难，行路难
多歧路，今安在
长风破浪会有时
直挂云帆济沧海
Pure wine costs, for the golden cup, ten thousand coppers a flagon,
And a jade plate of dainty food calls for a million coins.
I fling aside my food-sticks and cup, I cannot eat nor drink....
I pull out my dagger, I peer four ways in vain.
I would cross the Yellow River, but ice chokes the ferry;
I would climb the Taihang Mountains, but the sky is blind with snow....
I would sit and poise a fishing-pole, lazy by a brook --
But I suddenly dream of riding a boat, sailing for the sun....
Journeying is hard,
Journeying is hard.
There are many turnings --
Which am I to follow?....
I will mount a long wind some day and break the heavy waves
And set my cloudy sail straight and bridge the deep, deep sea.

HARD IS THE WAY OF THE WORLD II
大道如青天
我独不得出
羞逐长安社中儿
赤鸡白狗赌梨栗
弹剑作歌奏苦声
曳裾王门不称情
淮阴市井笑韩信
汉朝公卿忌贾生
君不见
昔时燕家重郭隗
拥彗折节无嫌猜
剧辛乐毅感恩分
输肝剖胆效英才
昭王白骨萦蔓草
谁人更扫黄金台
行路难，归去来
The way is broad like the blue sky,
But no way out before my eye.
I am ashamed to follow those who have no guts,
Gambling on fighting cocks and dogs for pears and nuts.
Feng would go homeward way, having no fish to eat;
Zhou did not think to bow to noblemen was meet.
General Han was mocked in the market-place;
The brilliant scholar Jia was banished in disgrace.
Have you not heard of King of Yan in days gone by,
Who venerated talents and built Terrace high
On which he offered gold to gifted men
And stooped low and swept the floor to welcome them?
Grateful, Ju Xin and Yue Yi came then
And served him heart and soul, both full of stratagem.
The King's bones were now buried,
who would sweep the floor of the Gold Terrace any more?
Hard is the way.
Go back without delay!

李白　行路难三首·之三 HARD IS THE WAY OF THE WORLD III
有耳莫洗颍川水
有口莫食首阳蕨
含光混世贵无名
何用孤高比云月
吾观自古贤达人
功成不退皆殒身
子胥既弃吴江上
屈原终投湘水滨
陆机雄才岂自保
李斯税驾苦不早
华亭鹤唳讵可闻
上蔡苍鹰何足道
君不见
吴中张翰称达生
秋风忽忆江东行
且乐生前一杯酒
何须身後千载名
Don't wash your ears on hearing something you dislike
Nor die of hunger like famous hermits on the Pike!
Living without a fame among the motley crowd,
Why should one be as lofty as the moon or cloud?
Of ancient talents who failed to retire, there's none
But came to tragic ending after glory's won.
The head of General Wu was hung o'er city gate;
In the river was drowned the poet laureate.
The highly talented scholar wished in vain
To preserve his life to hear the cry of the crane.
Minister Li regretted not to have retired
To hunt with falcon gray as he had long desired.
Have you not heard of Zhang Han who resigned, carefree,
To go home to eat his perch with high glee?
Enjoy a cup of wine while you're alive!
Do not care if your fame will not survive!

李白　将进酒... BRINGING IN THE WINE
君不见
黄河之水天上来
奔流到海不复回
君不见
高堂明镜悲白发
朝如青丝暮成雪
人生得意须尽欢
莫使金樽空对月
天生我材必有用
千金散尽还复来
烹羊宰牛且为乐
会须一饮三百杯
岑夫子，丹丘生
将进酒，君莫停
与君歌一曲
请君为我侧耳听
钟鼓馔玉不足贵
但愿长醉不愿醒
古来圣贤皆寂寞
惟有饮者留其名
陈王昔时宴平乐
斗酒十千恣欢谑
主人何为言少钱
径须沽取对君酌
五花马，千金裘
呼儿将出换美酒
与尔同消万古愁
See how the Yellow River's waters move out of heaven.
Entering the ocean, never to return.
See how lovely locks in bright mirrors in high chambers,
Though silken-black at morning, have changed by night to snow.
...Oh, let a man of spirit venture where he pleases
And never tip his golden cup empty toward the moon!
Since heaven gave the talent, let it be employed!
Spin a thousand pieces of silver, all of them come back!
Cook a sheep, kill a cow, whet the appetite,
And make me, of three hundred bowls, one long drink!
...To the old master, Cen,
And the young scholar, Danqiu,
Bring in the wine!
Let your cups never rest!
Let me sing you a song!
Let your ears attend!
What are bell and drum, rare dishes and treasure?
Let me be forever drunk and never come to reason!
Sober men of olden days and sages are forgotten,
And only the great drinkers are famous for all time.
...Prince Chen paid at a banquet in the Palace of Perfection
Ten thousand coins for a cask of wine, with many a laugh and quip.
Why say, my host, that your money is gone?
Go and buy wine and we'll drink it together!
My flower-dappled horse,
My furs worth a thousand,
Hand them to the boy to exchange for good wine,
And we'll drown away the woes of ten thousand generations!

杜甫　兵车行 A SONG OF WAR-CHARIOTS
车辚辚，马萧萧
行人弓箭各在腰
耶娘妻子走相送
尘埃不见咸阳桥
牵衣顿足拦道哭
哭声直上干云霄
道旁过者问行人
行人但云点行频
或从十五北防河
便至四十西营田
去时里正与裹头
归来头白还戍边
边亭流血成海水
武皇开边意未已
君不闻
汉家山东二百州
千村万落生荆杞
纵有健妇把锄犁
禾生陇亩无东西
况复秦兵耐苦战
被驱不异犬与鸡
长者虽有问
役夫敢申恨
且如今年冬
未休关西卒
县官急索租
租税从何出
信知生男恶
反是生女好
生女犹得嫁比邻
生男埋没随百草
君不见，青海头
古来白骨无人收
新鬼烦冤旧鬼哭
天阴雨湿声啾啾
The war-chariots rattle,
The war-horses whinny.
Each man of you has a bow and a quiver at his belt.
Father, mother, son, wife, stare at you going,
Till dust shall have buried the bridge beyond Changan.
They run with you, crying, they tug at your sleeves,
And the sound of their sorrow goes up to the clouds;
And every time a bystander asks you a question,
You can only say to him that you have to go.
...We remember others at fifteen sent north to guard the river
And at forty sent west to cultivate the campfarms.
The mayor wound their turbans for them when they started out.
With their turbaned hair white now, they are still at the border,
At the border where the blood of men spills like the sea --
And still the heart of Emperor Wu is beating for war.
...Do you know that, east of China's mountains, in two hundred districts
And in thousands of villages, nothing grows but weeds,
And though strong women have bent to the ploughing,
East and west the furrows all are broken down?
...Men of China are able to face the stiffest battle,
But their officers drive them like chickens and dogs.
Whatever is asked of them,
Dare they complain?
For example, this winter
Held west of the gate,
Challenged for taxes,
How could they pay?
...We have learned that to have a son is bad luck-
It is very much better to have a daughter
Who can marry and live in the house of a neighbour,
While under the sod we bury our boys.
...Go to the Blue Sea, look along the shore
At all the old white bones forsaken --
New ghosts are wailing there now with the old,
Loudest in the dark sky of a stormy day.

杜甫　丽人行 A SONG OF FAIR WOMEN
三月三日天气新
长安水边多丽人
态浓意远淑且真
肌理细腻骨肉匀
绣罗衣裳照暮春
蹙金孔雀银麒麟
头上何所有
翠微盍叶垂鬓唇
背後何所见
珠压腰 [衤及] 稳称身
就中云幕椒房亲
赐名大国虢与秦
紫驼之峰出翠釜
水精之盘行素鳞
犀箸餍饫久未下
鸾刀缕切空纷纶
黄门飞 [革空] 不动尘
御厨络绎送八珍
箫鼓哀吟感鬼神
宾从杂沓实要津
後来鞍马何逡巡
当轩下马入锦茵
杨花雪落覆白苹
青鸟飞去衔红巾
炙手可热势绝伦
慎莫近前丞相嗔
On the third day of the Third-month in the freshening weather
Many beauties take the air by the Changan waterfront,
Receptive, aloof, sweet-mannered, sincere,
With soft fine skin and well-balanced bone.
Their embroidered silk robes in the spring sun are gleaming --
With a mass of golden peacocks and silver unicorns.
And hanging far down from their temples
Are blue leaves of delicate kingfisher feathers.
And following behind them
Is a pearl-laden train, rhythmic with bearers.
Some of them are kindred to the Royal House --
The titled Princesses Guo and Qin.
Red camel-humps are brought them from jade broilers,
And sweet fish is ordered them on crystal trays.
Though their food-sticks of unicorn-horn are lifted languidly
And the finely wrought phoenix carving-knife is very little used,
Fleet horses from the Yellow Gate, stirring no dust,
Bring precious dishes constantly from the imperial kitchen.
...While a solemn sound of flutes and drums invokes gods and spirits,
Guests and courtiers gather, all of high rank;
And finally, riding slow, a dignified horseman
Dismounts at the pavilion on an embroidered rug.
In a snow of flying willow-cotton whitening the duckweed,
Bluebirds find their way with vermilion handkerchiefs --
But power can be as hot as flame and burn people's fingers.
Be wary of the Premier, watch for his frown.

杜甫　哀江头... A SONG OF SOBBING BY THE RIVER
少陵野老吞生哭
春日潜行曲江曲
江头宫殿锁千门
细柳新蒲为谁绿
忆昔霓旌下南苑
苑中景物生颜色
昭阳殿里第一人
同辇随君侍君侧
辇前才人带弓箭
白马嚼啮黄金勒
翻身向天仰射云
一箭正坠双飞翼
明眸皓齿今何在
血污游魂归不得
清渭东流剑阁深
去住彼此无消息
人生有情泪沾臆
江水江花岂终极
黄昏胡骑尘满城
欲往城南望城北
I am only an old woodsman, whispering a sob,
As I steal like a spring-shadow down the Winding River.
...Since the palaces ashore are sealed by a thousand gates --
Fine willows, new rushes, for whom are you so green?
...I remember a cloud of flags that came from the South Garden,
And ten thousand colours, heightening one another,
And the Kingdom's first Lady, from the Palace of the Bright Sun,
Attendant on the Emperor in his royal chariot,
And the horsemen before them, each with bow and arrows,
And the snowy horses, champing at bits of yellow gold,
And an archer, breast skyward, shooting through the clouds
And felling with one dart a pair of flying birds.
...Where are those perfect eyes, where are those pearly teeth?
A blood-stained spirit has no home, has nowhere to return.
And clear Wei waters running east, through the cleft on Dagger- Tower Trail,
Carry neither there nor here any news of her.
People, compassionate, are wishing with tears
That she were as eternal as the river and the flowers.
...Mounted Tartars, in the yellow twilight, cloud the town with dust.
I am fleeing south, but I linger-gazing northward toward the throne.

杜甫　哀王孙 A SONG OF A PRINCE DEPOSED
长安城头头白乌
夜飞延秋门上呼
又向人家啄大屋
屋底达官走避胡
金鞭断折九马死
骨肉不待同驰驱
腰下宝 [“决”换王旁] 青珊瑚
可怜王孙泣路隅
问之不肯道姓名
但道困苦乞为奴
已经百日窜荆棘
身上无有完肌肤
高帝子孙尽隆准
龙种自与常人殊
豺狼在邑龙在野
王孙善保千金躯
不敢长语临交衢
且为王孙立斯须
昨夜东风吹血腥
东来橐驼满旧都
朔方健儿好身手
昔何勇锐今何愚
窃闻天子已传位
圣德北服南单于
花门 [“嫠”下女换刀] 面请雪耻
慎勿出口他人狙
哀哉王孙慎勿疏
五陵佳气无时无
Along the wall of the Capital a white-headed crow
Flies to the Gate where Autumn Enters and screams there in the night,
Then turns again and pecks among the roofs of a tall mansion
Whose lord, a mighty mandarin, has fled before the Tartars,
With his golden whip now broken, his nine war-horses dead
And his own flesh and bone scattered to the winds....
There's a rare ring of green coral underneath the vest
Of a Prince at a street-corner, bitterly sobbing,
Who has to give a false name to anyone who asks him-
Just a poor fellow, hoping for employment.
A hundred days' hiding in grasses and thorns
Show on his body from head to foot.
But, since their first Emperor, all with hooknoses,
These Dragons look different from ordinary men.
Wolves are in the palace now and Dragons are lost in the desert --
O Prince, be very careful of your most sacred person!
I dare not address you long, here by the open road,
Nor even to stand beside you for more than these few moments.
Last night with the spring-wind there came a smell of blood;
The old Capital is full of camels from the east.
Our northern warriors are sound enough of body and of hand --
Oh, why so brave in olden times and so craven now?
Our Emperor, we hear, has given his son the throne
And the southern border-chieftains are loyally inclined
And the Huamen and Limian tribes are gathering to avenge us.
But still be careful-keep yourself well hidden from the dagger.
Unhappy Prince, I beg you, be constantly on guard --
Till power blow to your aid from the Five Imperial Tombs.