忆江南四首  李煜

忆江南四首

Four Lyrics to the Tune of Yijiangnan (Thinking of the River South)

其一

多少恨，昨夜梦魂中。还似旧时游上苑，车如流水马如龙。花月正春风。

I

How many types of rue

Did in my dreams of lastnight appear?

I wandered in my imperial garden like in the old year;

Carts went like flowing water and steeds ran like dragons too,

And spring breeze stroked flowers and the moon new.

忆江南四首  李煜

其二

多少泪，沾袖复横颐。心事莫将和泪滴，凤笙休向月明吹，肠断更无疑。

II

How many tears I’ve shed?

They wet my sleeves and stain again my jaw.

I can’t tell what’s in my mind with drops of tears anymore;

Nor can phoenix flutes and pipes be played to my moonlit bed.

I’ll surely be heartbroken as I’ve said.

忆江南四首  李煜

其三

闲梦远，南国正芳春。船上管弦江面渌，满城飞絮辊轻尘。忙杀看花人！

III

My idle dream’s remote.

The fragrant spring falls on my Southern State;

The town is filled with flying catkins and dust slightly raised.

The river’s green, and music of pipes and strings floats from th’ boat.

Flower admirers are busy on th’ road.

忆江南四首  李煜

其四

闲梦远，南国正清秋。千里江山寒色远，芦花深处泊孤舟，笛在月明楼。

IV

My Idle dream’s remote.

The clear autumn falls onmy Southern State;

For thousands of miles, the stretch of hills wears a chilly face.

Amid deep clusters of reeds is moored a solitary boat,

From the moonlit tower tunes of flutes float.