浣溪沙

ethan.wu

浣溪沙

毛文锡

七夕年年信不违，

银河清浅白云微，

蟾光鹊影伯劳飞。

每恨蟪蛄怜婺女，

几回娇妒下鸳机，

今宵嘉会两依依。



A Lyric to the Tune of Huanxisha

(Silk Washing)

Mao Wenxi

Year after year on the Seventh Night, they vow to meet

On the clear and swallow Milky Way in a wisp of cloud.

Across the Magpie Bridge in the bright moonlight shrikes fleet.

I can’t hear cicadas’ pity on the Maid by crying loud;

She’s moved with envy that several times she’s stopped the stitch.

Tonight, on the wonderful meet, their hearts beat each to each.

（谢艳明 译）

“Sand of Silk-Washing Stream” (Huan-ch’i sha), Two Lyrics

Mao Wen-hsi

2

Each year on the seventh night, they are always true.*

The bright Milky Way runs shallow in a wisp of cloud.

In the moonlight a shrike flies by the Magpie Bridge.

I hate the fleeting cicada and pity the Waiting-Maid.**

I am touched with envy as I sit and work at the loom.

Limitless love will fill their meeting on this night.

Notes:

* The seventh night of the seventh month is the night when the Herd Boy and the Weaving Maiden cross the Milky Way and come together.

** The “fleeting cicada” is the hui-ku, described in the Chuang-tzu, “The morning mushroom knows nothing of twilight and dawn; the summer cicada knows nothing of spring and autumn. They are short-lived.”

The “Waiting Maid” is a star in the constellation Aquarius, north of the Weaving Maiden star.