Cao Zhi's Poem

[charp]

Does anyone know a place where I can get the translation to this poem:

心悲動我神，棄置莫複陳。

丈夫志四海，萬里猶比鄰。

恩愛苟不虧，在遠分日親。

何必同衾幬，然後展慇懃。

憂思成疾疢，無乃兒女仁。

倉卒骨肉情，能不懷苦辛。

太息將何為，天命與我違。

奈何念同生，一往形不歸。

孤魂翔故域，靈柩寄京師。

存者忽複過，亡沒身自衰。

人生處一世，去若朝露晞。

年在桑榆間，影響不能追。

自顧非金石，咄唶令心悲。

It's by Cao Zhi but I can't find the full version or more importantly the translation. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

[skylee]

The full version (all seven verses and the preface) of "贈白馬王彪" can be found here ->

http://www.emb.gov.hk/FileManager/TC/Content_3453/06.pdf (pdf format)

http://www.emb.gov.hk/FileManager/TC/Content_3453/06.doc (word format)

[charp]

thanks!!!!!

[skylee]

An English translation (source)

To Cao Biao, Prince of Baima

by Cao Zhi

In May 223, Prince of Baima, Prince of Rencheng and I went to the capital to attend the seasonal sacrificial rites. When we reached Luoyang, Prince of Rencheng (Cao Zhang) passed away. In July, Prince Baima and I were ready to go together on our respective feoffs. However, the royal missionary said that it is proper for us to go separately. I hated the idea very much because our lifelong separation would come in a few days. Hence , I presented the following poem to Prince of Baima to emit my feelings of indignation.

After seeing the king on the audience day,

To my feoff I’ll soon be on my way.

At dawn I leave the capital, Luoyang;

At dusk, I reach the foot of Mount Shouyang.

The rivers Yi and Luo are deep and Wide,

But there’s no bridge to go from side to side.

When I brave the torrents in my ship,

I hate to go upon my eastward trip.

When I look back at the capital on my horse,

I gaze and gaze in deep grief and remorse.

How deep and vast has been the valley Tai!

How verdant mountain trees attract my eye!

While heavy downpour muddles mountain paths,

The swollen rivers flood in angry wraths.

When the road is damaged by the flood,

I change the route and climb the mount in mud.

Going up the slopes that reach the sky,

My horse so tired that it might even die.

Tired as it is, my horse can still push on,

But I’m absorbed in grief that won’t be gone.

For what reason should I sigh and grieve?

My bosom kinsman I’m compelled to leave.

Although we’d like to go back side by side,

We have to take a separate long ride.

Kites and owls are screeching on the yoke;

Jackals and wolves are howling to the folk.

The mean and base are changing black to white;

Glib talk and lies are turning wrong to right.

To go back, there’s so way of any kind;

With reins in hand, I stop and look behind.

I stop and look behind but cannot stay;

Yet thoughts of you are lingering on the way.

I feel the chill of autumn winds that groan;

I hear the cold cicadas weep and moan.

When I look upon wildness so unblest,

The pallid sun descends into the west.

A bird returning home among into the trees,

Flaps its spreading wings in the breeze.

A stray beast seeking its crowd north and south,

Forgets to eat the grass within its mouth.

Saddened by the sights revealed to me,

I heave a long, long sigh at what I see.

Why on earth should I heave such a sight?

Heaven rails against me, why, oh why.

Born and brought up by the same dear mother,

Dead and gone is Cao Zhang, my poor brother!

While his solitary soul hovers o’er his feoff,

His body lies in Luoyang blind and deaf.

The living, with too short a span of time,

Will turn to dust without reason or rhyme.

A man’s sojourn on earth so swiftly flies,

Like morning dew that shrinks and flies,

My life is drawing to its close unstained,

Like shades and sounds that cannot be detained.

My life would differ firm metal or stone;

This very thought makes me sigh and moan.

What am I thinking of in pain and woe?

I’ll never trust what heavens shall bestow!

To search for the immortals in vain;

To trust the fictional Songzi is insane,

Since mishap comes without rhyme or reason,

Who can live out his allotted season?

Never more shall we meet one another;

When can I hold the hands of my brother?

Prince, do take good care to guard your health,

So that we’ll have long lives, the greatest wealth.

Alas, I’ll wipe my tears and go my way;

Pen in hand, I must leave you today.

Too bad part six is missing ...

[skylee]

Another translation (this one is complete but ... )(source)

To Cao Biao, Prince of Baima

The Princes of Baima and Rencheng and myself attended the Imperial Presence together in the fifth month of Huangchu 4 (Ad 223) for the promulgation of the calendar. Prince Rencheng died on reaching Luoyang, and Prince Baima and I left for home in the seventh month, but we were ordered to take separate ways and not travel together. As we were to part definitively in a few days we opened our hearts to each other, and I wrote this in fury as we rode apart.

1

Having paid our respects to the Emperor in his palace

We left for our separate places.

We departed from the capital at dawn;

When evening set we had passed Shouyang Mount.

The two rivers were deep and wide,

And no bridge to bear us across.

We took a boat across the torrential waves,

And we complained, the road returning, endless!

I looked back at the city, disappearing,

And raised my head to it, sorrowing.

2

How vast the valley of Taigu,

And lush the trees, the mountain.

Rain made mud of the path

And muck of the land.

The roads were completely blocked,

So we turned to the track of the high hill

And the long slope to reach the clouds, beyond the clouds, the sun

My horse dizzy, staggering.

3

Dizzy, staggering, still we proceed,

My heart in knots of sadness.

Why are my feelings so knotted like this?

Dear brothers are parting, one from another.

I thought I might be company for you,

But sudden turns mean a change of plan.

The sinister owls are whooping before my cart,

And wolves obstruct the path.

Flies turn black to white and white to black,

And slander separates friends.

I want to turn again, but there is no road;

I hesitate, my hand upon the bridle.

4

I hesitate -- what is it that I long for and I leave behind?

My love feels limitless.

And how the autumn wind brings with it a chill,

The shivering cicada chirps beside me.

Desolate is this wilderness;

The bright sun in the west is suddenly dark;

The birds return to their homes in the high trees --

With wings spread wide they fly fast by me.

A lonely animal seeks its companions;

Grass in mouth, it has no time to eat.

My heart is grieved by such a scene as this;

I hold my breast; a lengthy sigh escapes me.

5

What's the sue of sighing?

Providence is against my fate.

Helpless, I think of my brother.

Who, now he is gone, will never return in bodily form.

His lonely ghost will hover in the old place,

His coffin sojourn in the capital.

Those that remain pass quickly by;

The lifeless body swiftly decays.

Man's time on earth is brief

As that of morning dew that quickly dries.

Our year has reached Sangyu,

The place of the setting sun,

And we can never catch up with its shadow and sound...

For myself, I'm no gold-stone,

And how this moves my heart...

6

My heart is moved, and so my soul;

Let's end it there, not harp on such complaints.

A man can exert his will across the entire Four Oceans;

Ten thousand li apart, we are still neighbours.

If our love doesn't lessen,

The further away, the closer the feeling.

We don't need to share the same silk cover

To show our intimacy!

Too much depression will harm our health,

And all of this is sentimental, childish...

But when brothers of the same blood are torn apart in such haste,

How can we control our grief?

7

This grief though, what is its reason?

Providence is doubtful indeed.

From nothing I seek the immortals --

Chi Songzi, he constantly deceives!

The unexpected happens every minute:

Who can last a hundred years?

Once parted we can never reunite.

When will we clasp our hands together once again?

Take care of your Body of Jade, Your Honour!

Together we will both enjoy the time of yellow hair!

A long road lies ahead; I hold my tears.

Pen in hand, I take my leave...

Translated by Wu Fusheng and Gradham Hartill

Originally published in Chinese Literature magazine (No. 1, 1990)

[charp]

Thanks for all the help!!! I actually foudn the translation in an old book that I found in my school library. Regardless, I appreciate all you help. Thanks again!

[skylee]

charp, if the translation you have is the same as that in #4, could you post the missing part 6?

[charp]

hey Skylee,

Sorry for the late reply. In the book I have, "An Anthology of Chinese Verse" by Frodsham, there's only six poems in "Poem Presented to Piao, Prince of Pai-ma". The fifth poem matches with your sixth and the fourth with your fifth. So the fifth poem is:

v (or vi)

So sad at heart stirs my very soul,

Let me thrust it away, never speak of it again.

A man's ambitions are set on the Four Seas,

To him ten thousand leagues seem but next door.

As long as this love of ours is not eclisped,

Through far removed, we shall daily grow closer still.

No need for us to share a quilt or curtains,

To let this love of ours rise as it should.

My melancholy thoughts have made me ill,

I grow as love-sick as a boy or maid.

When sudden disaster hurt my brother-love,

Could I prevent the sorrow in my breast?

I hope this helps.

Charp