Song of the Pipa, Bai Juyi's original text and translation

Answer 1

Song of the Pipa:

Ten years later, he was demoted to Jiujiang County Sima. In the autumn of the following year, I saw off my guests at Pukou. I heard someone playing the lute on the boat at night. Listening to the sound of the lute, it sounded like the sound of Kyoto. Ask her, she was originally Chang 'an singing girl, once learned the lute from Mu, Cao two good talents, old age, beauty decline, married to a merchant's wife. So he ordered wine and music to be played quickly. After listening to the song, he was very sad and told himself the happy things when he was young. Now he was haggard and exiled to the Jianghu. I have been an official for two years. I am at ease. I am moved by these people's words. That night, I felt that I had the intention of being demoted. He wrote a long sentence and sang it for him, a total of 616 words, named "Pipa Xing."

Xunyang River at night to see off guests, maple leaves, reed flowers autumn rustling. The host dismounted and the guest was on the boat. He raised his wine and wanted to drink. There was no orchestral music. Drunk but not happy sad to say goodbye, farewell when the vast river immersed in the moon. Suddenly heard the sound of pipa on the water, the host forgot to go home, the guest did not start. Then he secretly asked who was playing the piano. the pipa music stops, I'm about to speak slowly. Move the boat close to invite each other to meet, add wine back to the lamp to reopen the banquet. Only after a thousand calls did he come out, still holding the pipa half covering his face. The rotating shaft plucked the strings three or two times, and before the tune was formed, there was emotion. The strings of the strings are suppressed, and the sound of thinking is like complaining about the unhappiness of life. Lowering his eyebrows, he continued to play, saying all the infinite things in his heart. The first song was "Six Yao," which was followed by "Nishang." The sound of the big strings is like the rapid rain, and the sound of the small strings is like a whisper. There was a loud noise, and the pearls fell on the jade plate. The orioles in the pass whisper at the bottom of the flowers, and the deep swallow spring flows under the ice. The icy spring is cold and astringent, and the strings are condensed and cut off. The sound of condensation is not heard for a while. There were other sorrows and hatred. At this moment, silence was better than sound. The silver bottle suddenly burst into water, and the cavalry rushed out with swords and spears. At the end of the song, I plucked the string carefully and drew it carefully. The sound of the four strings was like tearing silk. East boat west boat silent, only see the river center autumn moon white. He put the plucked string in his hand and straightened his clothes. She claimed to be a daughter of the capital and lived in the foot of the toad tomb. At the age of 13, he learned to play the pipa, which was called the first part of Jiaofang. After the song has been taught to wear good talent, make-up is often jealous by autumn Niang. The young people of the Five Ling Dynasties competed to wrap their heads, and the number of red silk in a song was unknown. The silver comb on the head of the mother-of-pearl was smashed into pieces, and the blood-red dress was stained with wine. This year's laughter will be repeated next year, autumn moon and spring breeze will be relaxed. His younger brother fled from the army and his aunt died. His face changed from morning to evening. There are few pommel horses in front of the door, and the eldest son marries a merchant's wife. Merchants value profit and despise parting. A month ago, they went to Fuliang to buy tea. Go to the river mouth to guard the empty boat, around the boat moon bright river cold. Late at night suddenly dream of young things, dream of crying makeup tears red railing dry. I heard the pipa sigh, and heard the words again. We're both people who have fallen from grace, why should we meet again? I left the capital last year and was demoted to Xunyang City. Xunyang is remote and has no music. I haven't heard the sound of silk and bamboo all year round. Living near the Qijiang River is low and wet, surrounded by yellow reeds and bitter bamboos. What do you hear in the meantime? cuckoos cry, blood apes wail. Spring river flowers face autumn moon night, often take wine also alone pour. Is there no folk song and village flute? it's hard to listen to my hoarse voice and mocking. Tonight I hear your lute music, as if listening to fairy music. Don't refuse to sit down and play a song for you. I'll play the Pipa Song for you. Moved by my words, he stood for a long time and sat down to play the strings. The mournful voice did not sound like the voice of the front, and the whole hall wept when they heard it. Who among us cries the most? the green robes of the commander of Jiangzhou are wet.

Translator:

Tang Xianzong Yuanhe ten years, I was demoted to Jiujiang County Sima. One day in the autumn of the second year, when he saw off the guests to Qipukou, he heard someone playing the lute on the boat at night. From the sound of it, it had a jingling sound that was popular in the capital. Ask this person, originally is Chang 'an song girl, once from Mu, Cao two pipa masters to learn skills. Later, when she grew old, her beauty faded away and she married a merchant. So he ordered someone to set up a banquet and let her play a few songs happily. After she finished playing, she looked a little depressed. She talked about the happy things in her youth. Now, she was drifting and sinking. She looked haggard and wandered around the Jianghu. I've been transferred from the capital for two years. I've been at ease and happy. Now that I'm touched by this person's words, I feel demoted tonight. So he wrote a long poem and gave it to her. It was a total of 616 words, titled "Pipa Song."

Seeing off guests at night at the head of Xunyang River, maple leaves and reed flowers rustled in the autumn wind. My guests and I dismounted and set up a farewell banquet on the ship. We raised our glasses to drink, but there was no music to liven things up. The wine was not happy, but it was even more sad to be separated. When they were separated, the vast river reflected the moon. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a pipa on the water. I forgot to go back, and the guests didn't want to leave either. She followed the sound and quietly asked who was playing the pipa? The pipa music stopped, but he hesitated to answer. He moved closer to the ship and invited her out to meet him. He added more wine, lit the lamps, and set up a banquet again. After a long time, she slowly walked out with her face half-covered by her pipa. He tightened the guqin shaft and plucked the strings a few times. The form was very emotional even before the tune was formed. Xianxian's mournful voice contained a hint of contemplation, as if she was talking about the unhappiness in her life. She lowered her head and played continuously, using the zither to tell the endless past in her heart. He gently gathered them together, slowly twisted them, wiped them, and picked them up. First play "Nishang Feather Song" and then play "611." The big strings are loud and long, and the sound is like a storm; The small strings are gentle and quiet, as if someone is whispering. The noisy sounds of cutting and cutting intertwined with each other, like strings of big and small beads falling onto a jade plate. The sound of the pipa sometimes sounded like the smooth chirping of birds under the flowers, and sometimes it sounded like the low, muffled, and intermittent sound of water flowing under ice. Like a cold spring, the sound of a pipa began to condense, and the condensed and obstructed sound gradually stopped. It was as if there was another kind of sorrow and hatred growing in secret, and at this moment the silence was more moving than sound. Suddenly, it was like a silver bottle breaking and water splashing, or like armored cavalry fighting with swords and spears. At the end of the song, she aimed at the center of the strings, and the four strings roared as if they were tearing cloth. The pleasure boats and boats in the east and west were silent. The only thing that could be seen was the white light of the autumn moon reflected in the middle of the river. She put away the plectrum and inserted it into the strings, straightening her clothes to show her solemn face. She said that she was a famous singer in the capital, and her hometown was in the Toad Mausoleum in the southeast of Chang 'an. At the age of thirteen, he had already learned how to play the pipa, and his name was registered in the first section of the Jiaofang orchestra. Every time she finished playing, the masters of art were impressed, and every time she put on makeup, she was envied by her peers. The children of the rich and powerful in the capital scrambled to offer their gifts. After playing a song, they got countless red gauze. The silver comb with a mother-of-pearl head often broke and shattered when beating the beat, and the red silk dress was stained with wine without regret. Year after year, they spent their time in laughter and banter, and the beautiful times of autumn and spring were wasted. Brothers and sisters in the army died, the family is ruined, and I'm getting old and pale. The carriages and horses in front of the door are few and far between, and the visitors are few and far between. My youth is gone, and I have to marry a merchant. A businessman who values profits more than friendship often leaves easily. Last month, he went to Fuliang to buy tea and do business. After he left, he left me alone at the mouth of the river to guard the empty boat; The autumn moon accompanied me in the cold autumn water around the cabin. Deep in the night, I often dream of the fun and revelry of my youth; In my dreams, I wake up crying and tears stain my pink face. I have long shook my head and sighed at the lute's weeping, and to hear her speak of it makes me even more sad. We are both sad people who have fallen into the end of the world. Why ask if we have known each other when we meet today? Ever since I left the bustling capital of Chang 'an last year, I have been demoted to live by the Xunyang River and often lie in bed. Xunyang was a desolate and remote place without music, and the sound of orchestral instruments could not be heard all year round. Living in a low-lying and humid place like Qijiang, the house was surrounded by yellow reeds and bitter bamboos. What would they hear here sooner or later? It was filled with the mournful wails of the cuckoos and apes. Spring river flowers in autumn river moonlit night so beautiful scenery, but also can not help but often take wine to drink alone. Were there no folk songs and village flutes here? It was just that his voice was hoarse and rough, and it was really unpleasant to hear. Tonight I hear you play the lute and tell me your true feelings, just like hearing the music of immortals, my eyes light up and my ears are clear. Please do not refuse to sit down and play another song; I will compose a song for you called Song of the Pipa. Moved by my words, she stood for a long time, then sat down and strummed the strings again. The mournful voice was no longer the same as before, and everyone present covered their faces and cried non-stop. Who had shed the most tears? I, the commander of Jiangzhou, wet my clothes with tears.

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