诗苑｜李贺《苦昼短》（双语）

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【编者按】

唐代诗人李贺（790—816），人称“鬼才”“诗鬼”，其诗作常托古寓今，被誉为“鬼仙之辞”。李贺虽因早逝在诗史上只似昙花一现，却留下了不少流传千古的好句名篇，《苦昼短》当属其一。这是一首议论性很强的歌行体诗歌，可分为三部分：第一部分慨叹时光易逝、年命短促；第二部分写如何解除“昼短”的痛苦；第三部分则批判和讽刺了求仙的荒唐愚昧行为。全诗充满激情，气势回旋跌宕，具有强烈的艺术感染力。

今天为大家推介的英译本出自卢炳群先生。

（图源：new..com）

欢迎大家来到IT世界,在知识的湖畔探索吧!

苦昼短

飞光飞光，劝尔一杯酒。

吾不识青天高，黄地厚。

唯见月寒日暖，来煎人寿。

食熊则肥，食蛙则瘦。

神君何在？太一安有？

天东有若木，下置衔烛龙；

吾将斩龙足，嚼龙肉，使之朝不得回，夜不得伏。

自然老者不死，少者不哭。

何为服黄金、吞白玉？

谁似任公子，云中骑碧驴？

刘彻茂陵多滞骨，嬴政梓棺费鲍鱼。

The Days Are Too Short

Flying time, flying time, come and drink a cup.

I know not how deep the earth goes down or how high the heaven goes up.

I do see night alternate with day,

Cold with hot, thus people’s life whiling away.

Those who eat dainties grow fat,

While coarse food results in skinny cat.

Are there immortals in reality,

Or anyone meets God of longevity?

As legend goes there is a divine tree in the east of heaven,

Under it, holding candles to light up the world is a dragon.

Should I chop off the dragon’s feet,

And chew the dragon’s meat.

Then it would not move elsewhere during the day,

Nor could it neglect its duty and stay in hideaway.

When it is done, the elder won ‘t die,

The young ones won’t worry and cry.

Is it better than to seek the magic lixir recipe,

Or to swallow gold and jade for the hopeless longevity?

Who has ever witnessed a mortal to ascend to the blue

Riding a blue donkey* on white clouds all the way through?

Emperor Han Wu, a celestial fetishist is buried in grave that is on the blink.

Worse still, Qin Shi Huang’s* hearse had to carry salted fish to hide the stink.

Translator’s notes:

* Blue donkey: If one rides such an animal, it means the person becomes an immortal. In old times, many people including those emperors believed that it was possible to cultivate vital energy by certain means, and became celestials. Li He pointed out that it was a sheer nonsense.

Emperor Han Wu: Emperor Han Wu(156-87BC), believed in celestial beings, and tried every possible means to seek longevity.

* Qin Shi Huang: Qin Shi Huang(259-210BC) also known as First Emperor of Qin Dynasty(221-209BC), believed in immortality and took various pills in vain. He died in summer, his ministers carried salted fish in his hearse to hide the stink to keep his death secret.