阉人吟

二段失陨，若千丈入冰，终期尽失，鸿鹄退已。

Twice brought low, as though falling a thousand fathoms into ice; every hope undone, the soaring swan retreats.

八百里秋沙落胡洲，九万里长空寂无人。

Autumn sand settles across eight hundred li of distant shoals; ninety thousand li of sky lie empty and still.

华山巍峨亭雀难立，孤林萧肃斥鴳何安？

Mount Hua towers too high for sparrows to perch; in the desolate grove, where can the little quail find peace?

空荡荡乎久不振，噫！

Hollow and listless, so long unable to rise—alas!

慢甸甸兮来者追，远。

I drag my steps as those behind draw closer, then far ahead.

自悉不就何去何从？

Knowing I have come to nothing, where am I to go?

蒙蒙离雾阴蔽孰离。

Parting’s murky mist shrouds the way—who can escape it?

历久长庚未见晓曙，看尽夕红不了阳炎。

Long watching the evening star, I have seen no dawn; through all the sunset’s red, I have not grasped the sun’s fierce heat.

愧己劳徒泯然湮灭，憾其倨守莫期徊旋。

Ashamed that all my toil dissolved into obscurity; regretful that stubborn pride left no hope of turning back.

凤翔涅槃余鹄归散，鹏适南溟凡鸟销还。

The phoenix rises through rebirth, the remaining swans disperse; the great Peng flies south, and common birds fade homeward.

浩宇芒星非冀吾摘，良辰晓梦毋眷王骸。

I do not ask to pluck the stars from the vast sky; let bright hours and dawn’s dreams linger no longer over a fallen king.

华胥不存冬风酒醒，南柯未竟遍地阑干。

The realm of Huaxu is gone; winter wind sobers the wine. The dream of Nanke unfinished, tears lie scattered everywhere.

悲摧苦恨繁霜烧尽，寥落难忍再罹他寒。

Grief and bitter regret burn through the heavy frost; desolation, hard to bear, meets yet another cold.

孤寒怎怨庭柯错落？

How can my loneliness blame the branches tangled in the courtyard?

孑穷不惜旁道伤残！

Alone and destitute, I heed no wounds along the byways!

吾既销损复立遗风，渡鸟又征孰滞其才？

Though worn away, I rise to carry what remains; when migrant birds set out again, who can hold their gifts in check?

沉眠久矣今道兀炯，蔓蔓长枝将不畏裁！

Long have I slept; now the path shines clear—the stretching branches shall no longer fear the shears!

倏尔消疏堤溃千里，蓦然回首余碎尽燔。

Suddenly all came apart, like a breached embankment; looking back, I found even the fragments burned.

踌躇满志风声鹤唳，胡卢乱语怎生酸寒？

Full of ambition, yet frightened by wind and cranes—how did my careless laughter turn so bitter and cold?

奉若圭臬不辩明是，受辛未及却误狂嗔。

I took a rule as sacred without asking whether it was true; before enduring hardship, I mistook wild anger for my answer.

忧愤未尽痛失前期，立心悔教谨此长吟。

Anxiety and anger linger; the time I hoped for is lost. I resolve to learn from regret, and set it down in this long song.