琵琶行(四之一） 白居易

琵琶行(四之一）　   白居易(772-846)

潯陽江頭夜送客，楓葉荻花秋瑟瑟。
主人下馬客在船，舉酒欲飲無管弦。
醉不成歡慘將別，別時茫茫江浸月。
忽聞水上琵琶聲，主人忘歸客不發。
循聲暗問彈者誰？琵琶聲停欲語遲。
移船相近邀相見，添酒回燈重開宴。
千呼萬喚始出來，猶抱琵琶半遮面。(待續)

Ballad of the Pipa (pt. 1 of 4)       Bai Juyi (772-846)

At night by the Great River I bid a friend farewell,

Maple leaves and silver grasses rattled amidst the autumnal gale,
Dismounting from my horse, my friend has already boarded his boat,
As we were about to drink each other farewell,
Without music we felt the occasion a bit cold,
It looked like our farewell was bound in a cheerless finale to stumble,
We were at a loss as we parted with only the moon in the river to idle;
Presently pipa music came from the water vicinal,
My leaving guest hence stalled and I forgot to go,
We quietly asked who the player was on nearby boats,
The music stopped but the answer came really slow,
We moved near her boat and earnestly invited the player to show,
With table reset and lamp rekindled,
Shyly she appeared with the pipa half of her face veiled;
(To be continued)