Li Bai has both a proud side and a secular side. His ideals and freedom can only be sought in the mountains and forests, fairyland, and drunk country. Therefore, he has flowed in poems such as “Jiang Jinjiu”, “Jiangshang Yin”, “Xiangyang Song” and other poems. Revealing the thoughts of life as a dream, having fun in time, escaping from reality, etc., are also representative of the upright and arrogant literati in feudal society.

 

夜下征虏亭[1]

船下广陵去,

月明征虏亭。

山花如绣颊[2],

江火[3]似流萤[4]。

这首诗应该是李白写了《金陵酒肆留别》之后,上船到扬州去,在月下经过征虏亭时写的。诗人把烂漫的山花比作天真烂漫、巧妆打扮的妙龄少女的脸颊,把长江两岸星星点点的万家灯火比作闪闪烁烁的万点萤光,画出了一幅令人心醉神迷的春江花月图。英译文把每句诗的五个字译成八个音节(四个抑扬格的音步),来传达这首小诗的意美、音美和形美。

注释:

[1]征虏亭:东晋时征虏将军谢石所建,故址在今江苏省南京市南郊。此诗题下原注:”《丹阳记》:亭是太安中征虏将军谢安所立,因以为名。“据《晋书·谢安传》等史料,谢安从未有过征虏将军的封号,这里“谢安”应是“谢石”之误。

[2]绣颊(jiá):女子脸颊涂上胭脂后,色如锦绣,因称绣颊。此处借喻岸上山花的娇艳。

[3]江火:江上的渔火。

[4]流萤:飞舞的萤火虫。

Passing by the Triumphal Tower at Night

My boat sails down to River Town[1],

The Tower’s bright in the moonlight.

The flowers blow like cheeks that glow,

And lanterns beam as fireflies gleam.

注释:

[1]Yangzhou in Jiangsu Province.