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Bodhisattva Barbarian: A Sorrowful Zither Plays the Xiang River Tune
English Poetic Translation
She strikes the grieving zither, playing the river's song,
Each note tracing out the green waves running long.
Thirteen silken strings beneath her slender fingers thread,
Whispering the hidden sorrows through the chamber spread.
Before the gathering, her autumn eyes look slow and mild;
Upon the board, the jade bridges slant like geese in flight piled.
When the music reaches where the heart must break apart,
Her painted brows droop down like spring hills in her heart.
Each note tracing out the green waves running long.
Thirteen silken strings beneath her slender fingers thread,
Whispering the hidden sorrows through the chamber spread.
Before the gathering, her autumn eyes look slow and mild;
Upon the board, the jade bridges slant like geese in flight piled.
When the music reaches where the heart must break apart,
Her painted brows droop down like spring hills in her heart.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
哀箏一弄湘江曲。
聲聲寫盡湘波綠。
纖指十三絃。
細將幽恨傳。
當筵秋水慢。
玉柱斜飛雁。
彈到斷腸時。
春山眉黛低。
聲聲寫盡湘波綠。
纖指十三絃。
細將幽恨傳。
當筵秋水慢。
玉柱斜飛雁。
彈到斷腸時。
春山眉黛低。
Philological Direct Translation
A sorrowful zither one plays the Xiang River tune.
Note by note writes completely the Xiang ripples green.
Delicate fingers thirteen strings,
Subtly conveying hidden grief.
Before the banquet autumn waters slow (eyes),
Jade bridges diagonally flying wild geese (zither bridges).
Strumming until the heart-breaking moment,
Spring hills eyebrow dark lowers.
Note by note writes completely the Xiang ripples green.
Delicate fingers thirteen strings,
Subtly conveying hidden grief.
Before the banquet autumn waters slow (eyes),
Jade bridges diagonally flying wild geese (zither bridges).
Strumming until the heart-breaking moment,
Spring hills eyebrow dark lowers.