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Night-Closing Flowers: Willows Enchain the Oriole Souls
English Poetic Translation
Willows enchain the spirit of the oriole,
While flowers upset the dreaming butterfly;
I know too well this sorrow staining Pan lang's gown.
My light robe still ungathered, yet I hide
Each secret drop of tear inside.
I muse on bygone days, and dread the fleeting light.
Early spring spies upon the buttery pond-mist rain;
In silent reverie, half-formed plum blossoms gleam,
Their delicate makeup brimming with mute despair.
My tender heart is drawn in threads of wind.
Beside the singing girls, I once provoked regret,
And spun sweet fragrance where the candles met.
Auspicious brocade woven on the fragrant loom,
Why have the mandarin ducks not yet appeared?
A drunken frame supported, and the moon leans by the wall;
Who dared to be so wildly bold at first?
Now in the quiet flower-room through the long night,
With idle words, each ponders on the past.
While flowers upset the dreaming butterfly;
I know too well this sorrow staining Pan lang's gown.
My light robe still ungathered, yet I hide
Each secret drop of tear inside.
I muse on bygone days, and dread the fleeting light.
Early spring spies upon the buttery pond-mist rain;
In silent reverie, half-formed plum blossoms gleam,
Their delicate makeup brimming with mute despair.
My tender heart is drawn in threads of wind.
Beside the singing girls, I once provoked regret,
And spun sweet fragrance where the candles met.
Auspicious brocade woven on the fragrant loom,
Why have the mandarin ducks not yet appeared?
A drunken frame supported, and the moon leans by the wall;
Who dared to be so wildly bold at first?
Now in the quiet flower-room through the long night,
With idle words, each ponders on the past.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
柳鎖鶯魂，花翻蝶夢，自知愁染潘郎。
輕衫未攬，猶將淚點偷藏。
念前事，怯流光。
早春窺、酥雨池塘。
向銷凝裏，梅開半面，情滿徐妝。
風絲一寸柔腸。
曾在歌邊惹恨，燭底縈香。
芳機瑞錦，如何未織鴛鴦。
人扶醉，月依牆。
是當初、誰敢疏狂。
把閒言語，花房夜久，各自思量。
輕衫未攬，猶將淚點偷藏。
念前事，怯流光。
早春窺、酥雨池塘。
向銷凝裏，梅開半面，情滿徐妝。
風絲一寸柔腸。
曾在歌邊惹恨，燭底縈香。
芳機瑞錦，如何未織鴛鴦。
人扶醉，月依牆。
是當初、誰敢疏狂。
把閒言語，花房夜久，各自思量。
Philological Direct Translation
Willows lock oriole souls, flowers overturn butterfly dreams, myself knowing sorrow dyes Pan lang.
Light garments not yet gathered, still taking tear drops secretly to hide.
Thinking of past matters, timid of flowing light.
Early spring peers, buttery rain pond dyke.
Toward melting stillness inside, plums open half a face, feeling fills delicate makeup.
Wind threads one inch soft intestines.
Once beside songs provoking regret, beneath candles entwining fragrance.
Fragrant loom auspicious brocade, how is it not yet weaving mandarin ducks?
Person supports intoxication, moon leans against wall.
It was originally, who dared wild and bold?
Taking idle words, flower chamber night long, each of us pondering.
Light garments not yet gathered, still taking tear drops secretly to hide.
Thinking of past matters, timid of flowing light.
Early spring peers, buttery rain pond dyke.
Toward melting stillness inside, plums open half a face, feeling fills delicate makeup.
Wind threads one inch soft intestines.
Once beside songs provoking regret, beneath candles entwining fragrance.
Fragrant loom auspicious brocade, how is it not yet weaving mandarin ducks?
Person supports intoxication, moon leans against wall.
It was originally, who dared wild and bold?
Taking idle words, flower chamber night long, each of us pondering.