My Translation

By Wei Yinwu (737-792)
韋應物


At My Official Residence Amidst the Rain:
A Feast for Literary Men
郡齋雨中
與諸文士燕集


Soldiers guard
the forest border
with halberds

兵衛
森畫
While the banquet chamber
congeals
with scented incense

宴寢
清香
Wind and rain
arrive from
high above the sea

海上
風雨
Free, unfettered
the pond, pavilion cool

逍遙
池閣涼
The troubling weather
has almost cleared

煩痾
近消散
And honored guests
return to fill the room

嘉賓
復滿堂
I’m ashamed
to live in such a lofty place

自慚
居處崇
As I do not see
the mass of people

未睹
斯民康
Yet if I pay attention
to right and wrong
they are attended to:

理會
是非
Men of good character
overlook red tape

性達
形跡忘
Though meat and seafood
are in short supply

鮮肥
屬時禁
Fortunately
we have fruits and vegetables
to see and taste

蔬果
見嘗
I bow and drink
a glass of wine

俯飲
一杯酒
And raise my head to listen
to recitals of poetry
like gold and jade

仰聆
金玉
My spirit is happy
and body, light

神歡
體自輕
I feel like
rising high into the wind
and gliding

意欲
淩風
Our State of Wu has attained
a flourishing literature and history

吳中
盛文史
The multitude of learned men
is now a vast ocean

群彥
今汪洋
The region’s knowledge
is soil great and prosperous

方知
大蕃地
How can anyone say
that it’s just the wealth and tributes
that make us strong?

豈曰
財賦

Original Chinese

Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation



韋應物
韦应物
Wéi Yìngwù
郡齋雨中
與諸文士燕集
郡斋雨中
与诸文士燕集
Jùn zhāi yǔ zhōng
yǔ zhū wén shì yàn jí



兵衛森畫戟,
兵卫森画戟,
Bīng wèi // sēn huà jǐ,
宴寢凝清香。
宴寝凝清香。
Yàn qǐn // níng qīngxiāng.
海上風雨至,
海上风雨至,
Hǎi shàng // fēng yǔ zhì,
逍遙池閣涼。
逍遥池阁凉。
Xiāo yáo // chí gé liáng.
煩痾近消散,
烦疴近消散,
Fán ē // jìn xiāo sàn,
嘉賓復滿堂。
嘉宾复满堂。
Jiā bīn // fù mǎn táng.
自慚居處崇,
自惭居处崇,
Zì cán // jū chù chóng,
未睹斯民康。
未睹斯民康。
Wèi dǔ // sī mín kāng.
理會是非遣,
理会是非遣,
Lǐ huì // shì fēi qiǎn,
性達形跡忘。
性达形迹忘。
Xìng dá // xíng jì wàng.
鮮肥屬時禁,
鲜肥属时禁,
Xiān féi // shǔ shí jìn,
蔬果幸見嘗。
蔬果幸见尝。
Shū guǒ // xìng jiàn cháng.
俯飲一杯酒,
俯饮一杯酒,
Fǔ yǐn // yī bēi jiǔ,
仰聆金玉章。
仰聆金玉章。
Yǎng líng // jīn yù zhāng.
神歡體自輕,
神欢体自轻,
Shén huan // tǐ zì qīng,
意欲淩風翔。
意欲淩风翔。
Yì yù // líng fēng xiáng.
吳中盛文史,
吴中盛文史,
Wú zhōng // shèng wén shǐ,
群彥今汪洋。
群彦今汪洋。
Qún yàn // jīn wāng yáng.
方知大蕃地,
方知大蕃地,
Fāng zhī // dà fān de,
豈曰財賦強?
岂曰财赋强?
Qǐ yuē // cái fù qiáng?


Literal Translation

韋應物
Tanned-leather Must Thing [=Wei Yinwu (737-792)]
郡齋雨中
與諸文士燕集
Region building rain midst
with several literature scholar enjoy assemble


兵衛森畫戟,
Soldiers guard forest delineate halberd
宴寢凝清香。
Banquet chamber congeal pure fragrant
[pure fragrant = sweet scent/fragrant odor]
海上風雨至,
Sea highest wind rain arrive
[sea highest = maritime]
逍遙池閣涼。
Stroll distant pond pavilion cool
[stroll distant = free and unfettered]
煩痾近消散,
Troublesome illness close vanish disperse
[vanish disperse = dissipate]
嘉賓復滿堂。
Honored guest return fill room
自慚居處崇,
Self ashamed live place lofty
未睹斯民康。
Do-not look-at such citizens/people abundant
理會是非遣,
Manage assemble is not send-off/dispatch
[manage assemble = understand/pay attention to/take notice of; is not = right and wrong]
性達形跡忘。
Character eminent form search omit/forget/overlook
[form search = etiquette]
鮮肥屬時禁,
Delicacy/seafood fat belong-to season restrict
蔬果幸見嘗。
Vegetables fruit fortunately see taste
俯飲一杯酒,
Bow-down drink a glass wine
仰聆金玉章。
Raise-head-to-look listen gold jade composition/recite
[gold jade = precious]
神歡體自輕,
Spirit happy body self light
意欲淩風翔。
Feel desire rise-high wind glide/soar
吳中盛文史,
Wu attain flourishing literature history
群彥今汪洋。
Multitude learned/accomplished now vast ocean
方知大蕃地,
Region know great luxuriant/flourishing soil
豈曰財賦強?
How? say wealth tax strong
[wealth tax = government revenue, tributary goods]

Year: 
2012