Translation
Cen Shen (715-770) | 岑參 |
To Advisor Du Fu of the Left Ministry | 寄左省杜拾遺 |
We walk together to the red imperial throne, | 聯步 趨丹陛 |
but there we’re divided, advisors bound by a screen like the constellation, Purple Forbidden Enclosure. | 分曹 限紫微 |
Following the rising day, we enter battle at court; | 曉隨 天仗入 |
and as evening spurs imperial incense, we return. | 暮惹 御香歸 |
Graying hair, sad flowers falling... | 白髮 悲花落 |
Clouds in a clear sky, we envy flying birds. | 青雲 羨鳥飛 |
This dynasty lacks palace work; | 聖朝 無闕事 |
and awareness, self-rebuke is rare. | 自覺 諫書稀 |
Notes:
1. Du Fu recommended the poet, Cen Shen, to the emperor for an advisor position. Cen wrote this poem the next year.
2. The latter part of the poem: Cen was 44 years-old and Du was 47 years-old that year. Cen’s position was fairly junior, and Du’s rank was slightly higher. So it was a complaint to see other people promoted to important posts.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
岑參 | 岑参 | Cén Shēn |
寄左省杜拾遺 | 寄左省杜拾遗 | Jì zuǒ shěng dù shí yí |
聯步趨丹陛， | 联步趋丹陛， | Lián bù qū dān bì, |
分曹限紫微。 | 分曹限紫微。 | Fēn cáo xiàn zǐ wēi. |
曉隨天仗入， | 晓随天仗入， | Xiǎo suí tiān zhàng rù, |
暮惹御香歸。 | 暮惹御香归。 | Mù rě yù xiāng guī. |
白髮悲花落， | 白发悲花落， | Bái fà bēi huā luò, |
青雲羨鳥飛。 | 青云羡鸟飞。 | Qīng yún xiàn niǎo fēi. |
聖朝無闕事， | 圣朝无阙事， | Shèng cháo wú quē shì, |
自覺諫書稀。 | 自觉谏书稀。 | Zì jué jiàn shū xī. |
Literal Notes
岑參 | Small-hill/steep Ginseng=Cen Shen(715 - 770) |
寄左省杜拾遺 | To-send/mail/entrust Left Ministry/province Du/ birchleaf-pear-tree Pick-up Lost-property |
[Left Ministry/province= refers to Menxia Department, the top advisory bureau and the general office. It’s located in the left of the main palace. Thus, also called the Left Department.], [Du= the famous poet, Du Fu] [Pick-up Lost-property= Shiyi, is a middle-rank advisor position. Also means “expropriate others’ property.”] | |
聯步趨丹陛， | To-ally/join/unite/associate/connection step/pace/walk/stroll/march approach/tend-towards/hasten/walk-fast/hurry/attracted-to red/cinnabar/vermillion steps-to-the-throne/throne |
分曹限紫微。 | Separate/divide/allocate class/grade/government-department/ministry-officials limit/bound/border/boundary Purple Miniature [Separate/divide/allocate class/grade/government-department= the poet, Cen Shen was serving in the Zhongshu Dept., which was also called the Right Dept.], [Purple Miniature= Ziwei, a Chinese constellation’s name. The shape is like a screen. So it is a metaphor to describe there’s a partition between the two poets when standing in the imperial court.] |
曉隨天仗入， | Dawn/daybreak follow/comply-with/listen-to day/heaven/sky Weaponry/war/fight enter/go-into/join [day/heaven/sky Weaponry=the emperor’s weaponry] |
暮惹御香歸。 | Evening/sunset/dusk provoke/attract/cause/stir/vex/irritate/incite imperial/drive/ride/chariot incense/fragrance/sweet-smelling return/go-back/return-to/revert-to |
白髮悲花落， | White/gray hair sad/sorrow/grief flower to-fall/drop /to-set(of the sun)/to-go-out(of a tide)/lower/decline/sink |
青雲羨鳥飛。 | Clear/blue/green/young sky/cloud envy/admire/praise/covet bird fly [Clear sky/cloud= fig. high official position, the noble] |
聖朝無闕事， | Current/holy/sacred/sage imperial-dynasty/one’s-own-court no/not fault/deficiency/palace matter/thing/item/affair/work [Note: Both poets were working as advisors to the emperor.], |
自覺諫書稀。 | Self feel/aware/conscious/conscientious/wake-up-from-sleep to-remonstrate/admonish letter/document rare/uncommon/sparse [self feel = conscious, aware, on one’s own initiative, conscientious] |
Year:
2012
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