Tao Yuanming: Feelings of Leisure: (Seven Parts): No. 7

 

Feelings of Leisure: (Seven Parts): No. 7
Emotions Leisured and Cultivated

 

闲 情 赋
(7)
于 时 毕 昴 盈 轩
北 风 凄 凄
炯 炯 不 寐
众 念 徘 徊。
起 摄 带 以 伺 晨
繁 霜 粲 于 素 阶。
鸡 敛 翅 而 未 鸣
笛 流 远 以 清 哀。
始 妙 密 以 闲 和
终 寥 亮 而 藏 摧。
意 夫 人 之 在 兹
托 行 云 以 送 怀;
行 云 逝 而 无 语
时 奄 冉 而 就 过。
徒 勤 思 以 自 悲
终 阻 山 而 带 河。
迎 清 风 以 祛 累
寄 弱 志 于 归 波。
尤 “蔓 草” 之 为 会
诵 “邵 南” 之 余 歌。
坦 万 虑 以 存 诚
憩 遥 情 于 八 遐。
Xian Qing Fu

(7)

Yu shi bi mao ying xuan
Bei feng qi qi
Jiong jiong bu mei
Zhong nian pai huai.

Qi she dai yi si chen
Fan shuang can yu su jie.
Ji lian chi er wei ming
Di liu yuan yi qing ai.

Shi miao mi yi xian he
Zhong liao liang er cang cui.
Yi fu ren zhi zai zi
Tuo xing yun yi song huai;
Xing yun shi er wu yu
Shi yan ran er jiu guo.

Tu qin si yi zi bei
Zhong zu shan er dai he.
Ying qing feng yi qu lei
Ji ruo zhi yu gui bo.

You “Man Cao” zhi wei hui
Song “Shao Nan” zhi yu ge.
Tan wan lu yi cun cheng
Qi yao qing yu ba xia.

 

Feelings of Leisure: (Seven Parts): No. 7
Emotions Leisured and Cultivated

Now is the time for the stars Bi and Mao to fill my pavilion window
Northern winds very cold and dreary.
For a long time cannot sleep
Many thoughts go back and forth.

So I get up, get dressed, and await the morning light
A lot of frost, bright and white on the steps.
Chickens with folded wings, not yet chirping
Far far away hear the plaintive sounds of a bamboo flute.

This music so marvelous and fine it can provide poetic serenity
But in the end, the music gets louder and more shrill.
I think this lady is now here
Asking the clouds to deliver to her what is in my heart.
But the clouds dissipate without saying a word
The seasons suddenly slip by very fast.

Often think of myself and my melancholy
Front views of entire mountains and rivers blocked.
Clear wind met, removes the sadness
Depend on weak ambitions to return to her waters.

Like the story of Man Cao, I do not want to elope
Singing Shao Nan reveals virtuous people.
Open up ten thousand sincere feelings
In all directions, near and far, these emotions emanate.

 

Notes:

Stars of Bi and Mao: ( Chinese Constellations) Stars of the White Tiger of the West (autumn) within the Twenty-Eight Mansions. In Western charts they are the stars inside the constellation of Taurus.

Man Cao:  (155-220 AD): During the Eastern Han Dynasty he was Imperial Chancelor (208-220 AD) and King (216-220 AD). In poetry he used the ancient four-character line format.