李西興英譯杜甫《丹青引贈曹將軍霸》

李西興英譯杜甫《丹青引贈曹將軍霸》

2025/11/21

興案：紅色中文是英譯內容的中文反饋

A song of a painting to General Cao 丹青歌贈曹將軍

Du Fu 杜甫

將軍魏武之子孫，如今是清廉平民。

General Cao descended from the Martial Emperor of Wei

Now he is a commoner of the clean pure family.

將軍魏武之子孫，於今為庶為清門。

英雄割據雖已矣，文採風流今尚存。

The era of separatist regimes of heroes was gone,

But he remains literary talent with elegance.

英雄割據時已去，文采風流他仍存。

書法初學衛夫人，可惜難超王羲之。

He first learned calligraphy from Lady Wei,

But regretfully, he couldn』t surpass Wang Xizhi.

學書初學衛夫人，但恨無過王右軍。

丹青不知老將至，富貴於我如浮雲。

He loved painting while oblivious to his old age,

Wealth and status are like fleeting clouds to him.

丹青不覺老將至，富貴於他如浮雲

開元年常被召見，蒙恩數入南薰殿。

In the Kaiyuan era, he was often summoned by the throne,

And granted the privilege of entering the Nanxun Hall.

開元之中常引見，承恩數上南薰殿。

凌煙功臣少顏色，將軍下筆開生面。

The portraits of the heroes of Lingyan Pavilion had faded.

They came to life again under your brush-pen of painting

凌煙功臣像褪色，在你筆下又鮮活。

良相頭戴賢良冠；猛將腰間帶羽箭。

Good premiers wore crowns of the virtuous,

Heroic generals put feather-arrows on the waists.

良相頭上進賢冠，猛將腰間大羽箭。

褒公鄂公毛髮動，英姿颯爽來酣戰。

The hair and beards of Duke Bao and Duke E moving

So dashing they looked, like coming for fierce battles.

褒公鄂公髮鬚動，英姿颯爽赴激戰。

先帝坐騎玉花驄，許多畫繪貌不同。

The late Emperor』s steed, known as Jade Piebald Horse,

There were many painters to picture it in various poses.

先帝御馬玉花驄，畫工如山貌不同。

是日牽來赤墀下，迥立閶闔生長風。

That day it was led to the red steps of marble

It stood toward the palace gate in the long wind.

那天牽來赤墀下，佇向宮門迎長風。

將軍奉命畫絲絹，全神貫注創作中。

The general was ordered to paint on silk,

He concentrated himself on the creation.

詔謂將軍拂絹素，意匠慘澹經營中。

斯須九重真龍出，一洗萬古凡馬空。

Soon a real dragon was born in the palace,

Banished all mortal horses from history,

須臾真龍出皇宮，一洗萬古凡馬空。

玉華驄在御榻上，面向庭院的真馬。

Jade Piebald Horse laid on the imperial couch,

It was facing the real horse in the courtyard.

玉花卻在御榻上，榻上庭前屹相向。

至尊含笑催賜金，圉人太僕皆惆悵。

The emperor smiled and urged the bestowal of gold,

While stablemen and the Grand Savant were frustrated.

皇帝微笑催賜金，馬夫太僕皆沮喪。

[興按]太僕，漢九卿之一，主管皇室車馬及全國馬政。

[Xixing』s note] The Grand Savant (Taipu), one of Nine Ministers of the Han Dynasty, oversaw the imperial carriages and horses and the national horse administration.

早年隨曹霸學畫，韓干也繪馬殊相。

Following Cao Ba to picture art from young,

Han Gan could also paint horses in all poses.

弟子韓干早入室，亦能畫馬窮殊相。

干惟畫肉不畫骨，忍使驊騮氣凋喪。

Han Gan only painted the flesh, not the bones,

Thus causing the spirit of good steed to wither.

韓只畫肉不畫骨，因此駿馬神韻喪。

畫技精湛堪有神，遇見佳士亦寫真。

His paintings were skilful and might be divine,

He portraited good men whom he met as well.

將軍畫善蓋有神，必逢佳士亦寫真。

即今漂泊干戈際，屢貌尋常行路人。

Even now, he lives amidst the chaos of war,

he always paints portraits for ordinary travelers.

即今身處戰亂中，常繪肖像為路人。

絕望時遭人鄙夷；世上未有如公貧。

Hopeless one is met with disdain from others,

None in this world has ever been as poor as you.

途窮反遭俗眼白，世上未有如公貧。

但看古來盛名下，終日坎壈纏其身。

But look at those who have achieved great fame in history—

They have been plagued by hardship day and night.

但看古來成名者，日夜飽受苦與難。