092.许渊冲英译《唐宋词一百首》扬州慢·淮左名都 [宋]姜夔

扬州慢 [宋]姜夔
淳熙丙申至日，余过维扬。夜雪初霁，荠麦弥望。入其城，则四顾萧条，寒水自碧，暮色渐起，戍角悲吟。余怀怆然，感慨今昔。因自度此曲。千岩老人以为有黍离之悲也。
淮左名都，
竹西佳处，
解鞍少驻初程。
过春风十里，
尽荠麦青青。
自胡马窥江去后，
废池乔木，
犹厌言兵。
渐黄昏，清角吹寒，
都在空城。
杜郎俊赏，
算而今、
重到须惊。
纵豆蔻词工，
青楼梦好，
难赋深情。
二十四桥仍在，
波心荡、冷月无声。
念桥边红药，
年年知为谁生。
[1]淮左：宋在苏北和江淮设淮南东路和淮南西路，淮南东路又称淮左。
[2]竹西：扬州城东一亭名，景色清幽。
[3]春风十里：借指昔日扬州的最繁华处。
[4]胡马窥江：1129年和1161年，金兵两次南下，扬州都遭到惨重破坏。
[5]杜郎：唐朝诗人杜牧，他在扬州以诗酒清狂著称。
[6]豆蔻（kòu）：本是一种植物，二月初刚刚发芽，后常常用来指柔弱美丽的十三四岁的少女。
[7]青楼梦：出自杜牧《遣怀》：“十年一觉扬州梦，赢得青楼薄幸名。”
[8]二十四桥：在扬州西郊，传说有二十四美人吹箫于此。
[9]桥边红药：二十四桥又名红药桥，桥边生红芍药。

Tune: Slow Tune of Yangzhou
Jiang Kui
On Winter Solstice in 1127, I passed Yangzhou. It turned fine after one night of snow. I saw the fields overgrown with wild wheat and weeds. When I entered the ruined town, I looked around and was grieved to see green wa-ter cold and to hear sad horns blow at dusk. I felt sad and dreary to compare the present desolation with the past glory and composed the following tune which reveals the grief of a ruined country, as says my old uncle-in-law.
In the famous town east of River Huai
And scenic spot of Bamboo West,
Breaking my journey, I alight for a short rest.
In breeze the splendid three-mile road did I pass by.
’Tis now o’ergrown with wild green wheat and weeds.
Since Southern shore was overrun by Jurchen steeds,
E’en the tall trees beside the pond have been war-torn.
As dusk is drawing near,
Cold blows the horn,
The empty town looks drear.
The place Du Mu the poet prized,
If he could come again today,
Would make him feel surprised.
His verse on the cardamon spray
And on sweet dreams in Mansions Green
Could not express
My deep distress.
The Twenty-four Bridges can still be seen,
But the cold moon floating among
The waves would no more sing a song.
For whom should the peonies near
The Bridges grow red from year to year?
Jiang Kui (1155?——12217) was the first musician among the lyrical poets of the Southern Song Dynasty. This lyric was written when he passed by Yangzhou, most prosperous city be-fore Jurchen invasion, situated to the east of the River Huai and well known for scenic spots such as the Pavilion of West Bamboo and Twenty-four Bridges.