李白古风第四辑（46-59首）——信达雅英译传世典藏集
李白的诗歌达到盛唐诗歌艺术的巅峰。其晚年所作《古风》五十九首，更是其扛鼎之作，从中我们可以看到一个更成熟、更深邃、更具哲人睿智深沉气质的李白。本第四辑（46–59首）作为五十九首的收官之作，所选篇目将李白的诗学格局推向最深处。从“一百四十年”的盛世回望，到“战国何纷纷”的历史沉思；从“美人出南国”的孤芳自赏，到“恻恻泣路岐”的人世悲凉——十四首诗熔咏史、讽谕、游仙、感怀于一炉，既有对秦皇暴政的冷峻批判，也有对君子守拙的深情礼赞。以信达雅、功能对等、以诗译诗为准绳，英译以统一格律贯穿始终，精准还原了太白“藏悲愤于物象，寄讽谏于咏史”的独特诗风，让这套被西方汉学长期忽视的厚重篇章，首次以完整的韵译面貌走向世界。
其四十六
一百四十年，国容何赫然。
隐隐五凤楼，峨峨横三川。
王侯象星月，宾客如云烟。
斗鸡金宫里，蹴鞠瑶台边。
举动摇白日，指挥回青天。
当涂何翕忽，失路长弃捐。
独有扬执戟，闭关草太玄。
Old Airs, Poem No.46
By Li Bai (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
One hundred forty years—the reign how grand!
The state's majesticglory filled the land.
The Five PhoenixTowers loom through misty air;
Three rivers crossbeneath their towering stare.
Lords gleam like moonand stars in high array;
Retainers throng likemist and clouds astray.
They fight cocks inthe gilded palace bright;
Kick balls beside thejade terraces' height.
A single gestureshakes the sun's great light;
Their nod can turnthe azure sky from sight.
Power is brief—who stands on top mayfall;
Cast off forever,heeds no one's call.
Only Yang Xiong, thepalace guard obscure,
Shuts fast his gateto write his Great Mystery pure.
其四十七
桃花开东园，含笑夸白日。
偶蒙东风荣，生此艳阳质。
岂无佳人色，但恐花不实。
宛转龙火飞，零落早相失。
讵知南山松，独立自萧瑟。
Old Airs, Poem No.47
By Li Bai (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
Peach blossoms in the eastern garden bloom,
Smiling and boastingin the sun's full boom.
By chance the eastwind gives them transient grace,
To bear this brightand sun-illumined face.
They have a beautyfair as any maid's,
Yet fear theirflowers bear no fruit in shades.
When the Fire Starmoves on its western flight,
They fade and wither,lost to mortal sight.
They do not know thepine on southern hill,
Stands lone and greenthrough wintry blasts and chill.
其四十八
秦皇按宝剑，赫怒震威神。
逐日巡海右，驱石驾沧津。
征卒空九寓，作桥伤万人。
但求蓬岛药，岂思农扈春。
力尽功不赡，千载为悲辛。
Old Airs, Poem No.48
By Li Bai (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
The First Emperor grasped his sword of might;
His wrathful aweshook heaven's very height.
He chased the sunalong the eastern shore,
And drove the stonesto bridge the ocean's roar.
He drained the landof conscripts far and near;
The bridge cost
myriad lives—a thousand tear.
He sought the elixiron Penglai's isle,
Nor gave a thought tospring and the farmer's toil.
His strength was
spent, his great work incomplete—
A thousand years ofgrief and bitter defeat.
其四十九
美人出南国，灼灼芙蓉姿。
皓齿终不发，芳心空自持。
由来紫宫女，共妒青蛾眉。
归去潇湘沚，沉吟何足悲。
Old Airs, Poem No.49
By Li Bai (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
A lovely maiden comesfrom southern shores,
Her grace like lotusbloom that sun adores.
Her pearly teeth insilence still remain;
Her fragrant heartrestrains its own sweet pain.
The palace ladies inthe purple hall
Have ever enviedbrows so beautiful.
She'll wander back to
Xiao-Xiang's isles of rest—
Why drown in griefupon this mournful quest?
其五十
宋国梧台东，野人得燕石。
夸作天下珍，却哂赵王璧。
赵璧无缁磷，燕石非贞真。
流俗多错误，岂知玉与珉。
Old Airs, Poem No.50
By Li Bai (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Wang Yongli
East of the Wu Terrace in Song's old plain,
A rustic found a
stone—and thought it gain.
He praised it as therarest jewel of earth,
And mocked the jadeof Zhao's imperial worth.
True jade resists alltarnish and decay;
The Yan stone holdsno steadfast truth to sway.
The vulgar crowd
mistakes all things they see—
How can they telltrue jade from stony debris?
其五十一
殷后乱天纪，楚怀亦已昏。
夷羊满中野，菉葹盈高门。
比干谏而死，屈平窜湘源。
虎口何婉娈，女媭空婵媛。
彭咸久沦没，此意与谁论。
Old Airs, Poem No.51
By Li Bai (TangDynasty)
Translated by WangYongli
Yin’s last king wrecked
the heavens’righteous way;
King Huai of Chu wasblinded in his sway.
Strange portentscrowded all the wild domain;
Base weeds o’errran the nobles’high domain.
Bi Gan reproved hislord and met his doom;
Qu Yuan was banished
by the Xiang’s sad gloom.
Why flatter and
beguile the tiger’s jaw?
His sister’s pleading proved afruitless law.
Peng Xian has long
been sunken in the tide—
To whom shall I thisinmost grief confide?
其五十二
青春流惊湍，朱明骤回薄。
不忍看秋蓬，飘扬竟何托。
光风灭兰蕙，白露洒葵藿。
美人不我期，草木日零落。
Old Airs, Poem No.52
By Li Bai (TangDynasty)
Translated by WangYongli
Spring’s green prime rushes
like a torrent’s race;
Bright summer turnsand hastens from its place.
I cannot bear towatch the autumn thistle stray,
Adrift upon the wind,with nowhere to stay.
The sunlit breeze
destroys the orchid’s bloom;
White dew descends on
mallow’s humble tomb.
My noble friend nolonger keeps our tryst;
All herbs andblossoms perish, dismissed.
其五十三
战国何纷纷，兵戈乱浮云。
赵倚两虎斗，晋为六卿分。
奸臣欲窃位，树党自相群。
果然田成子，一旦杀齐君。
Old Airs, Poem No.53
By Li Bai (TangDynasty)
Translated by WangYongli
The Warring Stateswere torn by strife and cries;
Swords clashed andspears obscured the sunlit skies.
Zhao let two tigers
fight—a fatal game;
Six lords split Jin,and tore its royal frame.
Treacherous ministersthe throne would seize,
Formed their ownfactions, scheming with vile ease.
And so Lord Tian, ashistory has unfurled,
Rose up and slew thesovereign of the world.
其五十四
倚剑登高台，悠悠送春目。
苍榛蔽层丘，琼草隐深谷。
凤鸟鸣西海，欲集无珍木。
鸒斯得所居，蒿下盈万族。
晋风日已颓，穷途方恸哭。
Old Airs, Poem No.54
By Li Bai (TangDynasty)
Translated by WangYongli
Leaning on my sword,I climb the terrace high,
And gaze afar asspring slips from the sky.
Dark brambles shroudthe layered hills in night;
Rare herbs lie hidden
in the valley’s sight.
The phoenix singsbeside the western sea,
Yet finds no nobletree where it may be.
The common sparrowshave their sheltered nest,
In swarms beneath the
mugwort’s humble crest.
The mores of old Jin
sink day by day—
At the road’s end I weep my soulaway.
其五十五
齐瑟弹东吟，秦弦弄西音。
慷慨动颜魄，使人成荒淫。
彼美佞邪子，婉娈来相寻。
一笑双白璧，再歌千黄金。
珍色不贵道，讵惜飞光沈。
安识紫霞客，瑶台鸣素琴。
Old Airs, Poem No.55
By Li Bai (TangDynasty)
Translated by WangYongli
Qi zithers sound the
eastern music’s grace;
Qin strings resound
with western melody’s pace.
Stirring the soul,they rouse unholy fire,
And lure mankind toloose, unbridled desire.
Fair flattering
creatures draw near with a smile—
One wins twin jades;another song gains piles
Of yellow gold. They
prize vain beauty’s light,
But truth and virtueare cast from their sight.
They heed not how the
flying days are spent—
How could they know
the hermit’s intent,
Who on the JasperTerrace sits and plays
His plain zitherthrough the twilight haze?
其五十六
越客采明珠，提携出南隅。
清辉照海月，美价倾皇都。
献君君按剑，怀宝空长吁。
鱼目复相哂，寸心增烦纡。
Old Airs, Poem No.56
By Li Bai (TangDynasty)
Translated by WangYongli
A man from Yue foundpearls beneath the tide,
And brought theirradiance from the ocean side.
Their pure glowmatched the moon above the sea;
Their priceastonished all the royalty.
He offered them—the lord gripped his
sword’s hilt,
Suspecting fraud,with anger and with guilt.
He held his treasure,sighing all in vain;
False fish-eyesmocked his honest, bitter pain.
My inmost heart is
tangled with distress—
What weary soul canfind its peace and rest?
其五十七
羽族禀万化，小大各有依。
周周亦何辜，六翮掩不挥。
愿衔众禽翼，一向黄河飞。
飞者莫我顾，叹息将安归。
Old Airs, Poem No.57
By Li Bai (TangDynasty)
Translated by WangYongli
All feathered tribes
are shaped by Nature’s plan—
The great and smalleach has its destined span.
What wrong did thepoor Zhouzhou bird commit?
Its six strongpinions folded, powerless to flit.
It longs to grasp
another bird’s broad wing,
And toward the Yellow
River’s course to spring.
The passing flockpays no heed to its cry;
It sighs and wonders:where, O where, shall it fly?
其五十八
我到巫山渚，寻古登阳台。
天空彩云灭，地远清风来。
神女去已久，襄王安在哉。
荒淫竟沦替，樵牧徒悲哀。
Old Airs, Poem No.58
By Li Bai (TangDynasty)
Translated by WangYongli
I reach the shallows
of Wu Mountain’s stream,
And climb the Sun
Terrace—lost in ancient dream.
The sky is bare, therosy clouds have fled;
Cool breezes waftfrom distant lands ahead.
The Goddess left thismortal world long past;
Where now is KingXiang of Chu, who held her fast?
His wanton lustbrought ruin to his throne;
Now woodmen and
herdsmen grieve—and grieve alone.
其五十九
恻恻泣路岐，哀哀悲素丝。
路歧有南北，素丝易变移。
万事固如此，人生无定期。
田窦相倾夺，宾客互盈亏。
世途多翻覆，交道方嶮巇。
斗酒强然诺，寸心终自疑。
张陈竟火灭，萧朱亦星离。
众鸟集荣柯，穷鱼守枯池。
嗟嗟失权客，勤问何所规。
Old Airs, Poem No.59
By Li Bai (TangDynasty)
Translated by WangYongli
My heart aches sorewhere roads diverge and bend;
I mourn the silk thatany dye may rend.
The road forks north
and south—each has its way;
White thread takesall the colours that men lay.
All mortal things are
fashioned thus, in sooth—
No certain fateawaits our fleeting youth.
Tian and Dou strove,each grasping for the crown;
Their followersshifted as fortune rose or down.
The world’s way teems withsudden turns and fraud;
Friendship’s path is steep—a perilous road.
Men swear loud oathsover a cup of wine,
Yet in their heartssuspicion still entwine.
Zhang and Chen’s bond was burned infiery glare;
Xiao and Zhu partedlike stars in the air.
Birds throng theboughs where richest foliage grows;
Starved fish keep tothe pools where water slows.
Alas for those whosepower has slipped away!
What use is counsel—who knows what tosay?
明代朱谏《李诗选注》：按白《古风》五十九章，所言者世道之治乱，文辞之纯驳，人物之邪正，与夫游仙之术，宴饮之情，意高而论博，间见而层出，讽刺当乎理，而可以规戒者，得风人之体。汉魏晋以来，官诗之大家数者，必归于白，出于天授，有非人力所及也。——这是对李白《古风五十九首》最高的评价。
《古风五十九首》译稿至此收官。全套译文以统一格律承载太白复古诗心，不偏不倚，兼顾考据与文采。李白这组五言古体，藏悲愤于物象，寄讽谏于咏史，藏道、儒、济世之志于五十九篇之中，是读懂盛唐、读懂诗人一生的密钥。
长期以来，海外汉学译介偏重太白浪漫一面，缺失其直面乱世、体恤苍生、批判朝政的厚重篇章。本套韵译力求填补这一空白，以英文格律搭建跨文化桥梁，让域外读者看见诗仙完整的精神世界：有求仙问道的超脱，亦有忧国忧民的热忱；有怀才不遇的悲怆，亦有坚守风雅的文人气骨。
译事无穷，诗意无界。愿此卷英译远渡重洋，让千年前唐世的叹息、坚守与理想，在全球读者心中长久回响，推动中华古典诗歌经典完成真正意义上的传世出海。（翻译 王永利）
Afterword：
Thisrhymed translation of Li Bai’s *Fifty-Nine Old Airs* establishes a consistentpoetic standard faithful to the original’s retro aesthetic. Unlike Li Bai’sunrestrained yuefu ballads, this suite conceals profound grief within naturalimagery, wraps political satire in historical allusions, and weaves Confucianbenevolence, Taoist transcendence and patriotic aspiration into every verse—thekey to understanding both the flourishing Tang and the poet’s lifelong soul.
Forgenerations, Western translations of Li Bai overemphasize his romantic,free-spirited persona, neglecting these weighty poems that confront dynasticchaos, grieve common folk, and condemn corrupted court power. This completerhymed rendering fills that gap, building a cross-cultural bridge throughEnglish poetic meter. It reveals Li Bai’s full spiritual identity to globalreaders: a seeker of immortal transcendence, a patriot grieving for his nation,a talent crushed by unfair power, and a literatus unyielding in guardingclassical poetic virtue.
Thework of translation never ends, yet poetic resonance crosses all borders. Maythis volume sail across oceans, letting the sighs, perseverance and ideals ofTang China echo eternally in global hearts, fulfilling the lastinginternational legacy of China’s classical poetry.
（Translated
by Wang Yongli）
