（古詩英譯）對月李白歌 – （明）唐寅

對月李白歌 – （明）唐寅

 

李白前时原有月，惟有李白诗能说。
李白如今已仙去，月在青天几圆缺？
今人犹歌李白诗，明月还如李白时。
我学李白对明月，月与李白安能知！
李白能诗复能酒，我今百杯复千首。
我愧虽无李白才，料应月不嫌我丑。
我也不登天子船，我也不上长安眠。
姑苏城外一茅屋，万树梅花月满天。

 

(梅花 一作：桃花)

 

A Verse by Tang Yin (Ming Dynasty)

    

The moon already there afore Li Bai was born,

Yet only his ode to the moon all best adorn.

He hath passed away to be an immortal bright,

How many times hath the moon waxed and waned at night?

People still heartily chant his poems today,

The moon, as Li Bai’s time, remains the same bright ray.  

I raise a wine-cup as Li Bai did to the moon's gleam,

But how could the bright moon and Li Bai share my dream?

Li – a superb drinker, a poet second to none,

I’ve downed myriad cups, and myriad poems I’ve done.

Though shamefully lacking his grand gifts and finesse,

I don’t think the moon will sneer at me and my mess.

Neither will I board any Emperor’s boat,

Nor will I slumber in Chang’an, fie so remote.

Outside Gu Su town, under a thatched roof, I dwell,

Countless plum blossoms blow neath moonlit spell.

 

Tr. Ziyuzile

(To be revised)

30/06/2024