LI BAI
(将进酒 [Qiang Jin Jiu] – 李白 – English translation)
Behold – the torrents of the Yellow River cascade from the heavens;
Bolting ocean-ward, and never coming back.
Behold – in stark chambers hangs the burnished mirror, grieving hoary hair:
Sable silk at dawn, and snow by twilight.
While Fortune indulges you still, carouse to your heart's content!
Squander not with an empty chalice the moonlit night.
Certainly, to one application or another, Heaven above has given us life;
The gold scattered now will someday return!
Cooking lambs, butchering cattle – be them blithe diversions for now;
But three hundred cups must we today imbibe.
– Master Cen! – Dan Qiusheng!
Come, drink up; may our revel have no end!
Here; I present this song of mine, to regale you all awhile;
So tilt hither your ear and hear me, good friend.
No gaudy grandeur or sumptuous splendour is treasure enough to me.
For intoxication alone I wish, that no wakening should impend.
Great saints and sages, throughout history, have suffered solitude;
Yet only the tipplers' names do we commend.
The Poet-Prince, in his day, had lavishly feasted – wilfully roistered – ,
Guzzling ten thousand cups in hauteur and jest.
So why, now, dear host – say not that your money is scarce!
Exchange it for good vintage; let us drink!
Splendid steeds do bring, and furs in gold entwine: trade them all for fine wine.
Together, we'll the sorrows of all aeons resign!