桃源行 A Song of Peach-blossom River

王維 Wang Wei

渔 舟 逐 水 爱 山 春 ，
A fisherman is drifting, enjoying the spring mountains,
两 岸 桃 花 夹 古 津 。
And the peach-trees on both banks lead him to an ancient source.
坐 看 红 树 不 知 远 ，
Watching the fresh-coloured trees, he never thinks of distance
行 尽 青 溪 不 见 人 。
Till he comes to the end of the blue stream and suddenly- strange men!
山 口 潜 行 始 隈 隩 ，
It's a cave-with a mouth so narrow that he has to crawl through;
山 开 旷 望 旋 平 陆 。
But then it opens wide again on a broad and level path –
遥 看 一 处 攒 云 树 ，
And far beyond he faces clouds crowning a reach of trees,
近 入 千 家 散 花 竹 。
And thousands of houses shadowed round with flowers and bamboos....
樵 客 初 传 汉 姓 名 ，
Woodsmen tell him their names in the ancient speech of Han;
居 人 未 改 秦 衣 服 。
And clothes of the Qin Dynasty are worn by all these people
居 人 共 住 武 陵 源 ，
Living on the uplands, above the Wuling River,
还 从 物 外 起 田 园 。
On farms and in gardens that are like a world apart,
月 明 松 下 房 栊 静 ，
Their dwellings at peace under pines in the clear moon,
日 出 云 中 鸡 犬 喧 。
Until sunrise fills the low sky with crowing and barking.
惊 闻 俗 客 争 来 集 ，
...At news of a stranger the people all assemble,
竞 引 还 家 问 都 邑 。
And each of them invites him home and asks him where he was born.
平 明 闾 巷 扫 花 开 ，
Alleys and paths are cleared for him of petals in the morning,
薄 暮 渔 樵 乘 水 入 。
And fishermen and farmers bring him their loads at dusk....
初 因 避 地 去 人 间 ，
They had left the world long ago, they had come here seeking refuge;
及 至 成 仙 遂 不 还 。
They have lived like angels ever since, blessedly far away,
峡 里 谁 知 有 人 事 ，
No one in the cave knowing anything outside,
世 中 遥 望 空 云 山 。
Outsiders viewing only empty mountains and thick clouds.
不 疑 灵 境 难 闻 见 ，
...The fisherman, unaware of his great good fortune,
尘 心 未 尽 思 乡 县 。
Begins to think of country, of home, of worldly ties,
出 洞 无 论 隔 山 水 ，
Finds his way out of the cave again, past mountains and past rivers,
辞 家 终 拟 长 游 衍 。
Intending some time to return, when he has told his kin.
自 谓 经 过 旧 不 迷 ，
He studies every step he takes, fixes it well in mind,
安 知 峰 壑 今 来 变 。
And forgets that cliffs and peaks may vary their appearance.
当 时 只 记 入 山 深 ，
...It is certain that to enter through the deepness of the mountain,
青 溪 几 曲 到 云 林 ？
A green river leads you, into a misty wood.
春 来 遍 是 桃 花 水 ，
But now, with spring-floods everywhere and floating peachpetals –
不 辨 仙 源 何 处 寻 ？
Which is the way to go, to find that hidden source?

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