This poem was written at farewell, when Meng decided to follow a secluded life in the South Mountain.
Translation
Li Bai (701-762) | 李白 |
A Present for Meng Haoran | 贈孟浩然 |
I adore Master Meng | 吾愛 孟夫子 |
The wind carries word of his talents under all the skies | 風流 天下聞 |
In his youthful time of rosy cheeks he threw away the carriage and ministry cap | 紅顏 棄軒冕 |
Now that his head is white he lounges by a pine beneath the clouds | 白首 臥松雲 |
Drunk under the moon he attains wisdom repeatedly | 醉月 頻中聖 |
Bewitched by flowers he doesn’t do the ruler’s work | 迷花 不事君 |
He is a lofty mountain peak, one I can admire in peace | 高山 安可仰 |
So I am his disciple, saluting his pure essence | 徒此 挹清芬 |
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
李白 | 李白 | Lǐ Bái |
贈孟浩然 | 赠孟浩然 | zèng mèng hào rán |
吾愛孟夫子， | 吾爱孟夫子， | wú ài mèng fū zǐ, |
風流天下聞。 | 风流天下闻。 | fēng liú tiān xià wén. |
紅顏棄軒冕， | 红颜弃轩冕， | Hóng yán qì xuān miǎn, |
白首臥松雲。 | 白首卧松云。 | bái shǒu wò sōng yún. |
醉月頻中聖， | 醉月频中圣， | Zuì yuè pín zhōng shèng, |
迷花不事君。 | 迷花不事君。 | mí huā bù shì jūn. |
高山安可仰？ | 高山安可仰？ | Gāo shān ān kě yǎng? |
徒此挹清芬。 | 徒此揖清芬。 | Tú cǐ yì qīng fēn. |
Literal Notes
李白 | Plum White=Li Bai(701-762) |
贈孟浩然 | Give-as-a-present/repel/bestow/confer Meng Grand Correct [Meng Grand Correct=Meng Haoran, another famous poet in Tang.] |
吾愛孟夫子， | I love/fond-of/like/adore Meng man child [man child = Master/(old form of address for)teachers-or-scholars)/pedant] |
風流天下聞。 | Wind/air/atmosphere flow/circulate sky/heaven under/below hear/well-known/famous/fame/reputation [Wind flow= distinguished and accomplished, talented in letters and unconventional in life, romantic, dissolute], [sky under = whole world] |
紅顏棄軒冕， | Rosy/red cheeks/face/facial-appearance abandon/discard/relinquish/throw-away/reject chariot/carriage/high crown/ceremonial-cap [rosy cheeks=youth, at a young age, beautiful woman] [chariot crown= symbols of important persons, fig. royals and dignitaries] |
白首臥松雲。 | White head lie-down/crouch pine-tree/fir-tree clouds [White head= a saying, white hair, refers to seniors.] [pine clouds=pine and clouds are common allusions of a hermit life.] |
醉月頻中聖， | Drunk/intoxicated moon/at-night frequently/repetitious/again-and-again hit/win/attain holy/sacred/sage [hit/win holy/sacred/sage= an old saying, means getting drunk.] |
迷花不事君。 | Crazy-about/enthusiast/fan/bewilder/bewitch/infatuate flowers/blossoms not serve/thing/affair/business emperor/lord/monarch/sovereign/ruler |
高山安可仰？ | High/tall/lofty mountain/alpine/hill/peak how/peaceful/tranquil/quiet able-to/can/may/to-suit/permit admire/face-upward/look-up/raise-head-to-look/look-up-to/admire [Note: This is an ancient saying in Chinese. Here depicts the noble virtues of Meng, which is compared to lofty mountains.] |
徒此挹清芬。 | Only/disciple/follower here/this-place/in-this-case/then salute/make-a-bow-with-hands(to-show-humbleness)/bale-out clear/distinct/pure/just-and-honest/quiet/peaceful/clean aroma/fragrance/perfume [clear/distinct/pure/just-and-honest/quiet aroma/fragrance/perfume= metaphor of Meng’s noble character.] |
Note: Liane Rui of Shanghai, China assisted with the notes and character tables.
Posting a link at dVersePoets for 4/24/2012.
Posting a link at dVersePoets for 4/24/2012.
Year:
2012
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