Li Bai’s “A Present for Meng Haoran” (300 Tang Poems #100)

Year

Tue, 2012-04-24 12:00

This poem was written at farewell, when Meng decided to follow a secluded life in the South Mountain.

Translation

Li Bai (701-762)	李白
A Present for Meng Haoran	贈孟浩然

I adore Master Meng	吾愛孟夫子
The wind carries word of his talents under all the skies	風流天下聞
In his youthful time of rosy cheeks he threw away the carriage and ministry cap	紅顏棄軒冕
Now that his head is white he lounges by a pine beneath the clouds	白首臥松雲
Drunk under the moon he attains wisdom repeatedly	醉月頻中聖
Bewitched by flowers he doesn’t do the ruler’s work	迷花不事君
He is a lofty mountain peak, one I can admire in peace	高山安可仰
So I am his disciple, saluting his pure essence	徒此挹清芬

Original Chinese

Traditional	Simplified	Pronunciation

李白	李白	Lǐ Bái
贈孟浩然	赠孟浩然	zèng mèng hào rán

吾愛孟夫子，	吾爱孟夫子，	wú ài mèng fū zǐ,
風流天下聞。	风流天下闻。	fēng liú tiān xià wén.
紅顏棄軒冕，	红颜弃轩冕，	Hóng yán qì xuān miǎn,
白首臥松雲。	白首卧松云。	bái shǒu wò sōng yún.
醉月頻中聖，	醉月频中圣，	Zuì yuè pín zhōng shèng,
迷花不事君。	迷花不事君。	mí huā bù shì jūn.
高山安可仰？	高山安可仰？	Gāo shān ān kě yǎng?
徒此挹清芬。	徒此揖清芬。	Tú cǐ yì qīng fēn.

Literal Notes

李白	Plum White=Li Bai(701-762)
贈孟浩然	Give-as-a-present/repel/bestow/confer Meng Grand Correct [Meng Grand Correct=Meng Haoran, another famous poet in Tang.]

吾愛孟夫子，	I love/fond-of/like/adore Meng man child [man child = Master/(old form of address for)teachers-or-scholars)/pedant]
風流天下聞。	Wind/air/atmosphere flow/circulate sky/heaven under/below hear/well-known/famous/fame/reputation [Wind flow= distinguished and accomplished, talented in letters and unconventional in life, romantic, dissolute], [sky under = whole world]
紅顏棄軒冕，	Rosy/red cheeks/face/facial-appearance abandon/discard/relinquish/throw-away/reject chariot/carriage/high crown/ceremonial-cap [rosy cheeks=youth, at a young age, beautiful woman] [chariot crown= symbols of important persons, fig. royals and dignitaries]
白首臥松雲。	White head lie-down/crouch pine-tree/fir-tree clouds [White head= a saying, white hair, refers to seniors.] [pine clouds=pine and clouds are common allusions of a hermit life.]
醉月頻中聖，	Drunk/intoxicated moon/at-night frequently/repetitious/again-and-again hit/win/attain holy/sacred/sage [hit/win holy/sacred/sage= an old saying, means getting drunk.]
迷花不事君。	Crazy-about/enthusiast/fan/bewilder/bewitch/infatuate flowers/blossoms not serve/thing/affair/business emperor/lord/monarch/sovereign/ruler
高山安可仰？	High/tall/lofty mountain/alpine/hill/peak how/peaceful/tranquil/quiet able-to/can/may/to-suit/permit admire/face-upward/look-up/raise-head-to-look/look-up-to/admire [Note: This is an ancient saying in Chinese. Here depicts the noble virtues of Meng, which is compared to lofty mountains.]
徒此挹清芬。	Only/disciple/follower here/this-place/in-this-case/then salute/make-a-bow-with-hands(to-show-humbleness)/bale-out clear/distinct/pure/just-and-honest/quiet/peaceful/clean aroma/fragrance/perfume [clear/distinct/pure/just-and-honest/quiet aroma/fragrance/perfume= metaphor of Meng’s noble character.]

Note: Liane Rui of Shanghai, China assisted with the notes and character tables.

Posting a link at dVersePoets for 4/24/2012.

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