麗人行 A Song of Fair Women
杜甫 Du Fu
三月三日天氣新，
On the third day of the Third-month in the freshening weather
長安水邊多麗人。
Many beauties take the air by the Changan waterfront,
態濃意遠淑且真，
Receptive, aloof, sweet-mannered, sincere,
肌理細膩骨肉勻。
With soft fine skin and well-balanced bone.
繡羅衣裳照暮春，
Their embroidered silk robes in the spring sun are gleaming –
蹙金孔雀銀麒麟。
With a mass of golden peacocks and silver unicorns.
頭上何所有？
And hanging far down from their temples
翠微盍葉垂鬢唇。
Are blue leaves of delicate kingfisher feathers.
背後何所見？
And following behind them
珠壓腰衱穩稱身。
Is a pearl-laden train, rhythmic with bearers.
就中雲幕椒房親，
Some of them are kindred to the Royal House –
賜名大國虢與秦。
The titled Princesses Guo and Qin.
紫駝之峰出翠釜，
Red camel-humps are brought them from jade broilers,
水精之盤行素鱗。
And sweet fish is ordered them on crystal trays.
犀箸饜飫久未下，
Though their food-sticks of unicorn-horn are lifted languidly
鸞刀縷切空紛綸。
And the finely wrought phoenix carving-knife is very little used,
黃門飛鞚不動塵，
Fleet horses from the Yellow Gate, stirring no dust,
御廚絡繹送八珍。
Bring precious dishes constantly from the imperial kitchen.
簫鼓哀吟感鬼神，
...While a solemn sound of flutes and drums invokes gods and spirits,
賓從雜遝實要津。
Guests and courtiers gather, all of high rank;
後來鞍馬何逡巡？
And finally, riding slow, a dignified horseman
當軒下馬入錦茵。
Dismounts at the pavilion on an embroidered rug.
楊花雪落覆白蘋，
In a snow of flying willow-cotton whitening the duckweed,
青鳥飛去銜紅巾。
Bluebirds find their way with vermilion handkerchiefs –
炙手可熱勢絕倫，
But power can be as hot as flame and burn people's fingers.
慎莫近前丞相嗔。
Be wary of the Premier, watch for his frown.
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