The Sad Zither

［唐］李商隱

許淵沖（譯）

Why should the zither sad have fifty strings?

Each string,each strain evokes but vanished springs.

Dim morning dream to be a butterfly;

Amorous heart poured out in cuckoo's cry.

In moonlit pearls see tears in mermaid's eyes;

From sunburnt emerald watch vapor rise!

Such feeling cannot be recalled again;

It seemed long lost even when it was felt then.

錦瑟無端五十弦，

一弦一柱思華年。

莊生曉夢迷蝴蝶，

望帝春心托杜鵑。

滄海月明珠有淚，

藍田日暖玉生煙。

此情可待成追憶？

只是當時已惘然。