潭  赋        ON A POOL

陈逸卿作         Written by    Chen Yiqing

张乾松译         Translated by  Zhang Qiansong

春开寒碧，      Spring drives away chills of the blue pool, then                                   

夏笼翠烟。      Summer veils it with thin mist which looks green.

摇树影于青岸，  The trees on the green bank dance with zephyrs.

落山光乎镜潭。  Its water mirrors hills without gofers.

明月朗照，      Over the pool the moon shines in the sky.

紫藤丽悬。      Chinese wistarias hang their charms so high.

芳林鸣鸟，      In the woods lives many a lovely bird;

深谷啸猿。      In the dale the cries of apes can be heard.

上接飞瀑，      Both of waterfalls from above and cool

下汇幽泉。      Springs from below are welcomed by the pool.

鱼跃绿藻，      Among waterweeds fishes jump upwards;

龙驻深渊。      In the deep water dragons dwell downwards.

风湍以气壮，    The pool is made stronger by the swift wind.

雨注而神闲。    Rainwater can’t disturb its tranquil mind.

处荒野而愈静，  Calmer it appears in the  barren wold;

合太虚以自清。  Clearer it gets in line with the great void.

于是霜落而引鹤，Cranes follow the frost here after the fall;

雪霁以观鹰。    Eagles are eye-catching after snowfall.

东冥以含日，    The dark of the dawn nurses the bright sun;

西霞而敛虹。    Sunset glows paint rainbows, which is well-done.

欣纳小流，      It’s happy to accept tiny rivers,

千秋不涸；      And has not been dry for thousands of years.

蕴蓄厚地，      The pool enjoys Mother Earth’s great kindness,

万古长盈。      Holds abundant water with emptiness.

侣潦水而有容，  It never refuses shallow water,

载大舟以无声。  Or big boats. It is a silent bearer.

任百川以归海，  It doesn’t stop rivers flowing seawards

自孤标而守空。  And suffers much to keep pure insides.

至如霓烟杳邈，  Occasionally it makes great waves when

偶作惊澜。        Both rainbows and rosy clouds can’t be seen,

蛟龙出水，      Dragons are flying out of the pool,

大月在天。      And full bright moon lies in the sky, looks cool.

寒涛舒卷，      All the cold waves come and go here and there

直送云岚。      To see off the mists floating in the air.