（古詩英譯）望海潮 – 柳永

望海潮 – 柳永

 

东南形胜，三吴都会，

钱塘自古繁华。

烟柳画桥，风帘翠幕，

参差十万人家。

云树绕堤沙。怒涛卷霜雪，天堑无涯。

市列珠玑，户盈罗绮，竞豪奢。

 

重湖叠清嘉。有三秋桂子，十里荷花。

羌管弄晴，菱歌泛夜，嬉嬉钓叟莲娃。

千骑拥高牙。乘醉听箫鼓，吟赏烟霞。

异日图将好景，归去凤池夸。

 

Contemplating the Tide-Swept Sea by Liu Yong

 

Unrivalled stands Qiantang in the southeast,

The heart of the Three Wu lands,

Since days of yore, it hath flourished in grace.

Its mist-veiled willows, its ornate bridges,

Its breeze-stirred portieres, its emerald drapes,

Ten thousand homes fill all this place.  

The sandy dikes the cloud-capped trees embrace.

The tidal waves roar to swirl frost and snow

Towards boundless heavenly space.

Hither brisk marts, thither bazaars throng,

All households hoard brocade and gems —

In lavish splendour do they vie and race.

 

Lake in lake, peak on peak, they interlace,

O, fragrant autumn osmanthus,

Ten li of lotus, face to face,

Qiang pipes ring by day,

Caltrop songs float through eventide,

Lotus pickers giggle as grinning anglers chase.

A thousand riders throng the pennant-mace;

The tipsy prefect, extolling the rosy mist,

Revels in flutes, while drums roll deep in bass,

He dreams to praise these wonders once back —

Returning to the Phoenix Pool apace...

 

Tr. Ziyuzile

22/12/2025

(To be revised)