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Song of White Snow in Farewell to Judge Wu Returning to the Capital
English Poetic Translation
North winds lash the earth, snapping white steppe-grass,
In the Tartar sky, the eighth-month snow flies fast.
Suddenly, in one night, a spring wind wakes:
A thousand, ten thousand trees wear pear-blossom flakes.
They drift through bead-strung curtains, dampening gauze,
Fox-furs feel thin, and quilted brocades lose cause.
The general's horn-carved bow is stiff to draw;
Iron breastplates freeze so cold they bite raw.
Across the endless desert, hundred-foot ice sheets lock,
While gloomy sorrow-clouds stretch for a thousand league block.
Inside the central tent, wine flows for the homeward guest,
Amid barbarian zithers, lutes, and pipes of the West.
Dusk-snow falls heavy and thick upon the postern gate;
The gale grips the red flag, frozen and stiff in state.
At Luntai's eastern gate, I bid you our last adieu,
And snow completely chokes the Tianshan mountain view.
The mountain winds, the path turns—and you are gone from sight,
Leaving only horse tracks on the snow's blank white.
In the Tartar sky, the eighth-month snow flies fast.
Suddenly, in one night, a spring wind wakes:
A thousand, ten thousand trees wear pear-blossom flakes.
They drift through bead-strung curtains, dampening gauze,
Fox-furs feel thin, and quilted brocades lose cause.
The general's horn-carved bow is stiff to draw;
Iron breastplates freeze so cold they bite raw.
Across the endless desert, hundred-foot ice sheets lock,
While gloomy sorrow-clouds stretch for a thousand league block.
Inside the central tent, wine flows for the homeward guest,
Amid barbarian zithers, lutes, and pipes of the West.
Dusk-snow falls heavy and thick upon the postern gate;
The gale grips the red flag, frozen and stiff in state.
At Luntai's eastern gate, I bid you our last adieu,
And snow completely chokes the Tianshan mountain view.
The mountain winds, the path turns—and you are gone from sight,
Leaving only horse tracks on the snow's blank white.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
北風捲地白草折，胡天八月即飛雪。
忽然一夜春風來，千樹萬樹梨花開。
散入珠簾濕羅幕，狐裘不煖錦衾薄。
將軍角弓不得控，都護鐵衣冷難着。
瀚海闌幹百丈冰，愁雲黲淡萬裏凝。
中軍置酒飲歸客，胡琴琵琶與羌笛。
紛紛暮雪下轅門，風掣紅旗凍不翻。
輪臺東門送君去，去時雪滿天山路。
山迴路轉不見君，雪上空留馬行處。
忽然一夜春風來，千樹萬樹梨花開。
散入珠簾濕羅幕，狐裘不煖錦衾薄。
將軍角弓不得控，都護鐵衣冷難着。
瀚海闌幹百丈冰，愁雲黲淡萬裏凝。
中軍置酒飲歸客，胡琴琵琶與羌笛。
紛紛暮雪下轅門，風掣紅旗凍不翻。
輪臺東門送君去，去時雪滿天山路。
山迴路轉不見君，雪上空留馬行處。
Philological Direct Translation
North wind rolls ground white grasses snap,
Hu skies eighth month soon fly snow.
Suddenly one night spring wind comes,
Thousand trees ten-thousand trees pear flowers open.
Scattered enter bead screens wet gauze curtains,
Fox furs not warm brocade quilts thin.
General horn bow not able draw,
Commissioner iron armor cold difficult wear.
Desert and dry crossed hundred zhang ice,
Sorrowful clouds dim ten-thousand miles congeal.
Center army sets wine drinks returning guest,
Barbarian zhou pipa and Qi flute.
Falling falling evening snow descends camp gate,
Wind pulls red flag frozen not flutters.
Luntai east gate sends lord go,
Going time snow fills Tianshan road.
Mountain winding road turns not see lord,
Snow on empty remains horse travel place.
Hu skies eighth month soon fly snow.
Suddenly one night spring wind comes,
Thousand trees ten-thousand trees pear flowers open.
Scattered enter bead screens wet gauze curtains,
Fox furs not warm brocade quilts thin.
General horn bow not able draw,
Commissioner iron armor cold difficult wear.
Desert and dry crossed hundred zhang ice,
Sorrowful clouds dim ten-thousand miles congeal.
Center army sets wine drinks returning guest,
Barbarian zhou pipa and Qi flute.
Falling falling evening snow descends camp gate,
Wind pulls red flag frozen not flutters.
Luntai east gate sends lord go,
Going time snow fills Tianshan road.
Mountain winding road turns not see lord,
Snow on empty remains horse travel place.