《琵琶行》

　　Song of the Lute Player

　　白居易

　　Bai Juyi

　　浔阳江头夜送客，枫叶荻花秋瑟瑟。

　　By the Xunyang River a guest is seen off one night;

　　Chill the autumn, red the maple leaves and in flower the reeds;

　　主人下马客在船，举酒欲饮无管弦。

　　The host alights from his horse, the guest is aboard,

　　They raise their cups to drink but have no music.

　　醉不成欢惨将别，别时茫茫江浸月。

　　Drunk without joy, in sadness they must part;

　　At the time of parting the river seems steeped in moonlight;

　　忽闻水上琵琶声，主人忘归客不发。

　　Suddenly out on the water a lute is heard;

　　The host forgets to turn back, the guest delays going.

　　寻声暗问弹者谁?琵琶声停欲语迟。

　　Seeking the sound in the dark, we ask who is the player.

　　The lute is silent, hesitant the reply.

　　移船相近邀相见，添酒回灯重开宴。

　　Rowing closer, we ask if we may meet the musician,

　　Call for more wine, trim the lamp and resume our feast;

　　千呼万唤始出来，犹抱琵琶半遮面。

　　Only after a thousand entreaties does she appear,

　　Her face half-hidden behind the lute in her arms.

　　转轴拨弦三两声，未成曲调先有情。

　　She tunes up and plucks the strings a few times,

　　Touching our hearts before even the tune is played;

　　弦弦掩抑声声思，似诉平生不得志。

　　Each chord strikes a pensive note

　　As if voicing the disillusion of a lifetime;