The River-Merchant's Wife: A Letter
长干行
Li Bai
李白
While my hair was still cut straight across my forehead I played about the front gate, pulling flowers.
妾发初覆额，折花门前剧。
You came by on bamboo stilts, playing horse.You walked about my seat, playing with blue plums.
郎骑竹马来，绕床弄青梅。
And we went on living in the village of Chokan :Two small people, without dislike or suspicion.
同居长千里，两小无嫌猜。
At fourteen I married My Lord you.I never laughed, being bashful.
十四为君妇，羞颜未尝开。
Lowering my head, I looked at the wall.Called to, a thousand times, I never looked back.
低头向暗壁，千唤不一回。
At fifteen I stopped scowling,I desired my dust to be mingled with yours
十五始展眉，愿同尘与灰。
Forever and forever and forever.Why should i climb the lookout?
常存抱柱信，岂上望夫台。
At sixteen you departed,You went into far Ku-to-yen, by the river of swirling eddies,
十六君远行，瞿塘滟滪堆。
And you have been gone five months.The monkeys make sorrowful noise overhead.
五月不可触，猿声天上哀。
You dragged your feet when you went out.
门前旧行迹， 生绿苔。
By the gate now, the moss is grown, the different mosses Too deep to clear them away!
苔深不能扫，落叶秋风早。
The leaves fall early this autumn, in wind.The paired butterflies are already yellow with August,
八月蝴蝶黄，双飞西园草。
Over the grass in the West garden ;They hurt me. I grow older.
感此伤妾心，坐愁红颜老。
If you are coming down through the narrows of the river Kiang Please let me know beforehand,
早晚下三巴，预将书报家。
And I will come out to meet youAs far as Cho-fu-Sa.
相迎不道远，直至长风沙。
