Li Bai (701-762):
Written at the Summit Temple Mountain Temple
1 Lodged for the night at the Summit Temple
2 Can touch at arm’s reach the
stars so nigh;
3 Yet dare not raise my voice in
speech,
4 For fear might disturb the
beings up high.
Translated by Andrew W.F. Wong (Huang
Hongfa) 譯者: 黄宏發
Translated from the original - 李白: 題峰顶寺(夜宿山寺)
1 夜宿峰顶寺(危樓高百尺)
2 舉手捫(手可摘)星辰
3 不敢高聲語
4 恐驚天上人
2 舉手捫(手可摘)星辰
3 不敢高聲語
4 恐驚天上人
Notes:-
* This English
rendition is a tetrameter (4 metrical feet) while the original is in
5-character lines. The rhyme scheme is
XAXA as in the original.
* The 2 versions: There are two versions to this poem. I have chosen to translate the “题
Written” version over the “夜宿 Lodged for the Night” version (shown
here in parenthesis). The version chosen was, purportedly, written by Li Bai in
his mid years while the other by him as a young man.
* Line 2: I have interpreted the line not literally as “raise
my hand to touch the stars” which would contradict lines 3 and 4, but as “can
touch, at arm’s reach, the stars” (but shall refrain from doing so). I have taken the 2 commas away and it now reads "can touch at arm's reach the stars". I have also added “so nigh”, which is implied
and is the essence of this interpretation, so as to make the “nigh(2), high(4)”
rhyme.
* Line 3: I had considered “raise my voice when
speaking’ but have decided for “raise my voice in speech”.
* Line 4: I have translated 驚 as “disturb” in the 驚動 (not “wake” 驚醒) sense. I had used “of disturbing” but have now
decided for “might disturb”. I had
considered “gods”, “deities”, “immortals”, “fairies”, “souls”, “populace”, etc.
but have decided for “beings”, being closest to 人 “humans”. I had considered “beings in/of the sky”, but
have decided for “beings up high” with “up” covering 上 and “high” covering 天.