鹊桥仙
秦观
纤云弄巧，
飞星传恨，
银汉迢迢暗渡。
金风玉露一相逢，
便胜却人间无数。
柔情似水，
佳期如梦，
忍顾鹊桥归路。
两情若是久长时，
又岂在朝朝暮暮。
Queqiaoxian
QinGuan
Cloudshave their peculiar flair and skill;
Theycan change their size and shape, as they will.
Starshave qualities more wonderful still;
Thehopes of their fellows, they can fulfill,
Inthose celestial regions, high above,
Aslinks for one star to approach her love,
Theyhelp “Lassie” to cross the Milky Way,
Tosee her “Laddie” once a year, this day.
Theirlove is like heavenly dew for gods to drink.
Tothe human level, it would never sink.
Onerendezvous between them is of more worth –
Thancountless such as we have on this, our earth.
Theirlove is constant, as water is, in its flow.
Theirlover’s meeting is short, as sweet dreams go.
Howshe bears the sight of Magpie Bridge without a tear,
WhichMarks their separation for another year!
Sincetheir affection is something that endure,
Mustthey bill and coo as daily renewer?
(徐忠杰 译)
Immortals at the Magpie Bridge
QinGuan
Cloudsfloat like works of art,
Starsshoot with grief at heart.
Acrossthe Milky Way the Cowherd meets the Maid.
WhenAutumn’s Golden Wind embraces Dew of Jade,
Allthe love scenes on earth, however many, fade.
Theirtender love flows like a stream;
Theirhappy date seems but a dream.
Howcan they bear a separate homeward way?
Iflove between both sides can last for aye,
Whyneed they stay together night and day?
(许渊冲 译)
Immortal at Magpie Bridge
QinGuan
Fineclouds float easy and free,
Shootingstars shine with sorrow.
Theyenjoy a secret date once a year over the far-off Milky Way.
Asfall wind hugs the chill dew,
Theyoutshine all worldly dates.
Theirtender love flows like a stream,
Theirnice date is but a fancy dream.
Howcan they bear to go each one’s way homeward?
Ifthe love for each other goes on as ever,
Whyneed they stay together day and night?
(黄新渠 译)
Que Qiao Xian
QinGuan
Thefleecy clouds affect patterns delicate;
Theflying stars communicate their grief e’er so deep,
Crossingthe expansive Milky Way they meet.
Alas!That single meet amid celestial winds and dews
Surpassescountless meets on earth.
Sweettenderness overflows their hearts,
Shortrendezvous passes like a dream:
Mournfullyshe contemplates her homeward way
Acrossthe magpie-bridge!
Yetif two hearts are ever steadfast,
Thoughparted, they are together
Nightand day!
(黄宏荃 译)
To the Melody
ChinGuan
TheWeaving-Girl with skillful fingers is clever,
Asif gentle clouds were flying faster and faster.
Silentlythe Cowboy-Star crossed the Milky Way,
Forreleasing her grief on the Double-Seventh-Day*,
LikeGolden Wind and Jade Dew merged once again.
Nomeeting was happier than the couple’s reunion.
Theirwater-like tenderness was pretty warm,
Theirreunion date’s like a wonderful dream.
Weaving-Girland Cowboy were reluctant to be apart,
Thetwo heavenly stars knew true love would ever last,
Regardlessof their mutual separation day and night.
*Chinese Double-Seventh-Day is similar to the Valentine’s Day in the West.
(朱曼华 译)
Immortals on the Magpie Bridge*
QinGuan
Herlove into th’ clouds the Maid subtly weaves,
Andth’ shooting stars display how th’ Cowherd grieves.
Whendew falls the Milky Way sees their meeting rare.
However,no secular love can e’er compare
Withthe holy sentiments they for a time share.
Theirtender feeling is like a long stream;
Theirrendezvous’s like a transient dream.
Theymay not bear to part at th’ Magpie Bridge! But nay,
Solong as undying their affections will stay,
Whereatshould they be bound up every night and day?
*This tune name derives from the myth of the sincere love between the Cowboy (Niulang)and the Weaver (Zhinu), who are separated by the Heavenly Queen with the MilkyWay and allowed to meet only once in a year at the bridge built by the magpieswhich sympathize with them.
(卓振英 译)
