锦瑟 The Inlaid Harp
李商隐 translated by Xu, Yuanchong 许渊冲
锦瑟无端五十弦 I wonder why my inlaid harp has fifty strings,
一弦一柱思华年 Each with its flower-like fret an interval of youth.
庄生晓梦迷蝴蝶 …The sage Chuangzi is day-dreaming, bewitched by butterflies,
望帝春心托杜鹃 The spring-heart of Emperor Wang is crying in a cuckoo,
沧海月明珠有泪 Mermen weep their pearly tears down a moon-green sea,
蓝田日暖玉生烟 Blue fields are breathing their jade to the sun….
此情可待成追忆 And a moment that ought to have lasted for ever
只是当时已惘然 Has come and gone before I knew.
成追忆啊成追忆，已惘然啊已惘然
