无题

(二首其一)

昨夜星辰[1]昨夜风,

画楼[2]西畔桂堂东。

身无彩凤双飞翼,

心有灵犀[3]一点通。

隔座送钩[4]春酒暖,

分曹[5]射覆[6]蜡灯红。

嗟余听鼓应官去,

走马兰台[7]类断蓬。

“身无彩凤双飞翼,心有灵犀一点通”可谓千古名句——尽管自己身上没有彩凤那样的双翅能够飞越阻隔,与对方相会,但彼此的心,却像犀角一样,自有一线相通,深挚缠绵。

注释:

[1]星辰:众星,星之通称。

[2]画楼:指彩绘华丽的高楼。

[3]灵犀:犀角中心的髓质像一条白线贯通上下,借喻双方心灵的感应和暗通。

[4]隔座送钩:一队用一钩藏在手内,隔座传送,使另一队猜钩所在,以猜中为胜。

[5]分曹:分组。

[6]射覆:把东西放在瓯、盂等器具下使人猜。

[7]兰台:秘书省的别称。《旧唐书·职官志》:“秘书省,龙朔(唐高宗年号)初改为兰台。”当时李商隐在做秘书省校书郎。

Unnamed

(I)

As last night twinkle stars,as last night blows the breeze,

West of the painted bower,east of Cassia Hall.

Having no wings,I can’t fly to you as I please;

Our hearts at one,your ears can hear my inner call.

Maybe you’re playing hook in palm and drinking wine

Or guessing what the cup hides under candle red.

Alas!I hear the drum call me to duties mine;

Like rootless weed to Orchid Hall I ride ahead.

Note:The poet who worked in Orchid Hall and lived in Cassia Hall recalled the night spent together with an unnamed mistress and imagined what she was doing on his lonely night,for their hearts were communicative.