第一回: Chunk 33

derek

September 08, 2008, 03:42 AM posted in General Discussion

一日,早又中秋佳节.士隐家宴已毕,乃又另具一席于书房,却自己步月至庙中来 邀雨村. 原来雨村自那日见了甄家之婢曾回顾他两次,自为是个知己,便时刻放在心 上.今又正值中秋,不免对月有怀,因而口占五言一律云:
　　未卜三生愿,频添一段愁.
　　闷来时敛额,行去几回头.
　　自顾风前影,谁堪月下俦?
　　蟾光如有意, 先上玉人楼.

雨村吟罢,因又思及平生抱负,苦未逢时,乃又搔首对 天长叹,复高吟一联曰:

      玉在椟中求善价, 钗于奁内待时飞.

恰值士隐走来听见, 笑道:"雨村兄真抱负不浅也! " 雨村忙笑道:"不过偶吟前人之句,何敢狂诞至此."因问:"老先生何兴至此?" 士隐笑道:"今夜中秋,俗谓`团圆之节',想尊兄旅寄僧房,不无寂寥之感,故特具小酌 , 邀兄到敝斋一饮,不知可纳芹意否?"雨村听了,并不推辞,便笑道:"既蒙厚爱,何敢 拂此盛情."说着,便同士隐复过这边书院中来.须臾茶毕,早已设下杯盘,那美酒佳肴 自不必说. 二人归坐,先是款斟漫饮,次渐谈至兴浓,不觉飞觥献斝起来.当时街坊上 家家箫管,户户弦歌,当头一轮明月,飞彩凝辉,二人愈添豪兴,酒到杯干.雨村此时已 有七八分酒意,狂兴不禁,乃对月寓怀,口号一绝云:

　　时逢三五便团圆,满把晴光护玉栏.
　　天上一轮才捧出,人间万姓仰头看.

One day, earlier the Mid-autumn festival had come again. Shi Yin's family banquet had already finished, and he had another feast prepared in his study, then he walked in the moonlight to the Gourd Temple seeking Yu Cun. Yu Cun since that day he had seen the Zhen family servant girl looking back at him twice, [and knew she] certainly would be his intimate friend, as a result he was constantly thinking about [her]. Just now it was again Mid-autumn, and he could not avoid  [expressing] his yearning to the moon, as a result he composed a verse with each sentence containing five characters, saying:

The unpredictable desires of life, repeatedly increases worry.
Frowning in the time of low spirits, go out and look around a few times.Only seeing a shadow before the wind, who may be a companion under the moon.In the moonlight if having this desire, first go to the Jade Peoples Pavilion.

Yu Cun finished reciting, and because he had constantly been thinking of his life ambitions, and hardship had not met with opportunity, so [he] again scratched his head and sighed deeply to the sky, and once again recited aloud an antithetical couplet saying:

The jade in the casket demands a good price, the woman in the mirrored dressing room awaits the time to fly.

Just then Shi Yin walked over and hearing this, smiled saying: Brother Yu Cun's true ambition is not shallow. Yu Cun quickly smiled and replied: [I was] only by chance reciting some predecessor's words, who would dare to wildly boast in this way. Then Yu Cun asked: Old Sir, what desire brings you here? Shi Yin smiled saying: Tonight is the mid-autumn festival, commonly called the "Reunion Festival", thinking [that my] respected brother is living away from home in the temple, must be feeling lonely, therefore [i have] specially prepared a small meal, and request [my] brother to come to my shabby room for a drink, not knowing if [you] can accept this meager suggestion? Hearing this, Yu Cun certainly could not refuse, then smiling said: [i have] already received such generous affection, who would dare to oppose such great kindness. Having said this [he] returned with Shi Yin to his library/study.

The moment the tea was finished, already cups and plates had been set down, then of course it is not necessary to speak of that good wine and fine food. The two men sat together, at first [they] slowly poured the wine and drank, then gradually [they] began to talk very excitedly, and unconsciously the cups flew and the wine vessels were offered up. At this time in the neighborhood, in every household [could be heard] the song of flutes and strings, overhead a round bright moon, flying with splendid brightness, the two men became increasingly exuberant, their cups dry as soon as the wine arrived. By this time Yu Cun, already 7 or 8 parts tipsy, with unrestrained excitement, toward the moon expressed his yearning, saying the verse:

On the fifteenth is the time of the complete circle, fully shining upon the jade guardrail.The heavenly circle's brilliance is extolled, and the worlds ten thousand families look up with admiration.

Breakdown:

一日,早又中秋佳节.士隐家宴已毕,乃又另具一席于书房,却自己步月至庙中来邀雨村. ->
One day, earlier the Mid-autumn festival had come again. Shi Yin's (家宴已毕) family banquet had already finished, and he had (另具一席) another feast prepared in his study, then he (步月至庙) walked in the moonlight to the Gourd Temple seeking Yu Cun.

原来雨村自那日见了甄家之婢曾回顾他两次,自为是个知己,便时刻放在心上. ->
Yu Cun since that day he had seen the (甄家之婢) Zhen family servant girl (回顾) looking back at him twice, [and knew she] (自为是个知己) certainly would be his intimate friend, as a result he was (时刻放在心上) constantly thinking about [her].

今又正值中秋,不免对月有怀,因而口占五言一律云: ->
Just now it was again Mid-autumn, and he could not avoid [expressing] his (对月有怀) yearning to the moon, (因而) as a result he (口占) composed (五言一律云) a verse with each sentence containing five characters, saying:

(对月有怀: literally, to express one's thoughts to the moon, wish upon the moon?)

未卜三生愿,频添一段愁. 闷来时敛额,行去几回头. 自顾风前影,谁堪月下俦? 蟾光如有意, 先上玉人楼. ->
The (未卜) unpredictable (三生愿) desires of life, (频添一段愁) repeatedly increases worry. (敛额) Frowning in the (闷来时) time of low spirits, (行去几回头) go out and look around a few times. (自顾风前影) Only seeing a shadow before the wind, (谁堪月下俦) who may be a companion under the moon. (蟾光如有意) In the moonlight if having this desire, (先上玉人楼) first go to the Jade Peoples Pavilion.

(三生: the three states of existence, past, present and future. 玉人楼: must be either metaphorical or a reference to some other story.)

雨村吟罢,因又思及平生抱负,苦未逢时,乃又搔首对天长叹,复高吟一联曰: ->
Yu Cun (吟罢) finished reciting, and because he had (思及平生抱负) constantly been thinking of his life ambitions, and (苦未逢时) hardship had not met with opportunity, so [he] again (搔首对天长叹) scratched his head and sighed deeply to the sky, and (复高吟一联) once again recited aloud an antithetical couplet saying:

玉在椟中求善价, 钗于奁内待时飞. ->
The (玉在椟中) jade in the casket (求善价) demands a good price, the (钗于奁内) woman in the mirrored dressing room (待时飞) awaits the time to fly.

恰值士隐走来听见, 笑道:"雨村兄真抱负不浅也! " ->
(恰值) Just then Shi Yin walked over and hearing this, smiled saying: Brother Yu Cun's (真抱负不浅) true ambition is not shallow! 

雨村忙笑道:"不过偶吟前人之句,何敢狂诞至此."因问:"老先生何兴至此?" ->
Yu Cun quickly smiled and replied: [I was] only (偶吟前人之句) by chance reciting some predecessor's words, (何敢狂诞至此) who would dare to wildly boast in this way. The Yu Cun asked: Old Sir, (何兴至此) what desire brings you here?

士隐笑道:"今夜中秋,俗谓`团圆之节',想尊兄旅寄僧房,不无寂寥之感,故特具小酌, 邀兄到敝斋一饮,不知可纳芹意否?" ->
Shi Yin smiled saying: Tonight is the mid-autumn festival, (俗谓) commonly called the (团圆之节) "Reunion Festival", thinking [that my] (尊兄) respected brother is (旅寄僧房) living away from home in the temple, (不无寂寥之感) must be feeling lonely, (故特具小酌) therefore [i have] specially prepared a small meal, and (邀兄到敝斋一饮) request [my] brother to come to my shabby room for a drink, (不知可纳芹意) not knowing if [you] can accept this meager suggestion?

雨村听了,并不推辞,便笑道:"既蒙厚爱,何敢拂此盛情."说着,便同士隐复过这边书院中来. ->
Hearing this, Yu Cun (并不推辞) certainly could not refuse, then smiling said: [i have] (既蒙厚爱) already received such generous affection, (何敢拂此盛情) who would dare to oppose such great kindness. Having said this [he] returned with Shi Yin to his library/study.

须臾茶毕,早已设下杯盘,那美酒佳肴自不必说. ->
(须臾) The moment the (茶毕) tea was finished, (早已) already (设下杯盘) cups and plates had been set down, then (自不必说) of course it is not necessary to speak of that (美酒佳肴) good wine and fine food.  

二人归坐,先是款斟漫饮,次渐谈至兴浓,不觉飞觥献斝起来. ->
The two men sat together, at first [they] (款斟漫饮) slowly poured the wine and drank, then (次渐谈至兴浓) gradually [they] began to talk very excitedly, and (不觉飞觥献) unconsciously the cups flew and the wine vessels offered up.

当时街坊上家家箫管,户户弦歌,当头一轮明月,飞彩凝辉,二人愈添豪兴,酒到杯干.
->
At this time (街坊上) in the neighborhood, in (家家...户户...) every household [could be heard] the (箫管弦歌) song of flutes and strings, (当头一轮明月) overhead a round bright moon, (飞彩凝辉) flying with splendid brightness, the (二人愈添豪兴)  two men became increasingly exuberant, their (酒到杯干) cups dry as soon as the wine arrived.

雨村此时已有七八分酒意,狂兴不禁,乃对月寓怀,口号一绝云: ->
By this time Yu Cun was (已有七八分酒意) already 7 or 8 parts tipsy, with (狂兴不禁) unrestrained excitement, (对月寓怀) toward the moon expressed his yearning, saying the verse:

时逢三五便团圆,满把晴光护玉栏.天上一轮才捧出,人间万姓仰头看. ->
(时逢三五) On the fifteenth is the time of the (团圆) complete circle, (满把晴光护玉栏) fully shining upon the jade guardrail. The (天上一轮才捧出) heavenly circle's brilliance is extolled, and the (人间万姓仰头看) world's ten thousand families look up with admiration.