<Header>
<Author: 韓愈>
<Title: 八月十五夜贈張功曹>
<Format: 七言古詩>
<Year: 1987>
<BookName: 300 Tang Poems: A New Translation>
<Translator: 許淵冲, 陸佩弦, 吳鈞陶>
<TranslatedTitle: To Zhang Gongcao on the Moon Festival>
<BookPage: 266-269>
<UsedPage: 4>
<Feature: 1, 3>
<End Header>
<Poem>
纖雲四卷天無河，
清風吹空月舒波。
沙平水息聲影絕，
一桮相屬君當歌。
君歌聲酸辭且苦，
不能聽終淚如雨。
洞庭連天九疑高，
蛟龍出沒猩鼯號。
十生九死到官所，
幽居默默如藏逃。
下牀畏蛇食畏藥，
海氣濕蟄熏腥臊。
昨者州前搥大鼓，
嗣皇繼聖登夔臯。
赦書一日行萬里，
罪從大辟皆除死。
遷者追廻流者還，
滌瑕蕩垢清朝班。
州家申名使家抑，
坎軻祗得移荆蠻。
判司卑官不堪說，
未免捶楚塵埃間。
同時輩流多上道，
天路幽險難追攀。
君歌且休聽我歌，
我歌今與君殊科。
一年明月今宵多，
人生由命非由他。
有酒不飲奈明何。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
What thin clouds there are, roll off the heavens,
Still leaving the Milky Way out of sight.
A cool breeze sweeps the wide open country.
The moon seems to send forth ripples of light.

The sand – unruffled; the waters are calm.
No shadow about; not even a hum.
As each lifts his cup, about to imbibe,
For sure, out of your lips, a song would come.

A note of sourness pervades the whole song:
Bitter words, and much more in the same strain.
I have hardly heard the final stanza,
Before my tears well up and fall like rain.

"In hue with the sky, Lake Dongting is one.
Jiuyi Mountain in Hunan – Very high.
Dragons appear – disappear – as they please.
Gorillas – flying squirrels – make their cry.

Every time on my way to the yamen,
I'm risking my life and limb, as in war.
In seclusion, I seldom venture out,
Like a hiding fugitive from the law.

Off one's bed, one fears all manner of snakes.
One's food may be poisoned; hard to tell.
From underground comes a composite gas,
With a musty, urinous, fetid smell.

Yesterday, at the county government,
Heavy drums heralded the first report:
Xian Zong on his accession to the throne –
Would employ fully the talented sort.

The royal edict for an amnesty –
Was carried at speeds one could not believe.
All punishments were to be commuted;
For the death sentence, there would be reprieve.

The demoted would be re-instated.
Back to their homes, the banished would be brought.
There'd be a clean-up of the government;
There'd be a purge of personnel at Court.

My application was duly sent in,
But my superior withheld his hand.
Hence, much against my wishes, I was sent ㅡ
As arranged, to Hunan, the savage land.

Indeed, 'tis a minor – menial – post.
Better not speak of it, unless one must.
For mistakes made or errors committed –
One can be flogged and humbled to the dust.

Meanwhile, over our heads are promoted –
The rank and file who have just served their time.
The road to Heaven is out of the way;
Too beset with dangers for us to climb."

0
Here is my tune as response to your song.
Be different from yours in tone, it cannot.
Of all nights, the moon tonight – the brightest.
Why not drink, since predestined is one's lot.
<End Translation>
<Formatted Translation>
What thin clouds there are, roll off the heavens, Still leaving the Milky Way out of sight.
A cool breeze sweeps the wide open country. The moon seems to send forth ripples of light.

The sand – unruffled; the waters are calm. No shadow about; not even a hum.
As each lifts his cup, about to imbibe, For sure, out of your lips, a song would come.

A note of sourness pervades the whole song: Bitter words, and much more in the same strain.
I have hardly heard the final stanza, Before my tears well up and fall like rain.

"In hue with the sky, Lake Dongting is one. Jiuyi Mountain in Hunan – Very high.
Dragons appear – disappear – as they please. Gorillas – flying squirrels – make their cry.

Every time on my way to the yamen, I'm risking my life and limb, as in war.
In seclusion, I seldom venture out, Like a hiding fugitive from the law.

Off one's bed, one fears all manner of snakes. One's food may be poisoned; hard to tell.
From underground comes a composite gas, With a musty, urinous, fetid smell.

Yesterday, at the county government, Heavy drums heralded the first report:
Xian Zong on his accession to the throne – Would employ fully the talented sort.

The royal edict for an amnesty – Was carried at speeds one could not believe.
All punishments were to be commuted; For the death sentence, there would be reprieve.

The demoted would be re-instated. Back to their homes, the banished would be brought.
There'd be a clean-up of the government; There'd be a purge of personnel at Court.

My application was duly sent in, But my superior withheld his hand.
Hence, much against my wishes, I was sent ㅡ As arranged, to Hunan, the savage land.

Indeed, 'tis a minor – menial – post. Better not speak of it, unless one must.
For mistakes made or errors committed – One can be flogged and humbled to the dust.

Meanwhile, over our heads are promoted – The rank and file who have just served their time.
The road to Heaven is out of the way; Too beset with dangers for us to climb."

0
Here is my tune as response to your song.
Be different from yours in tone, it cannot.
Of all nights, the moon tonight – the brightest.
Why not drink, since predestined is one's lot.
<End Formatted Translation>