Matching the Rhymes of Chief Minister Yi's Further Reply on the Peony Poems, Which He Sent to Me (次韻李平章復和牡丹詩見寄)次韻李平章復和牡丹詩見寄
伏承盛作。辭語愈益妍麗。反覆吟詠不已。謹復和成四首。奉呈左右。此詩賦者多矣。莫不窮侈極靡。予恐溺於奢淫。故於第三第四篇。反之於正。亦詩人風雅之意也。
Having respectfully received your excellent work, whose language is lovelier and finer still, I could not stop chanting it over and over. I respectfully reply again with four poems, which I present to your attendants. Many have composed on this subject, and there is none who has not gone to the utmost in extravagance and splendor. Fearing to fall into extravagance and licentiousness, in the third and fourth pieces I have turned the matter back to what is right, and this too is the refined intent of a poet.
Interlinear notes 1
四首○幷序
Four poems. ○ The preface is appended as well.
幾人彫句極鉛丹。應被姚生嘔却欄。詩老登壇誰與抗。詞臣閣筆盡羞看。不於國色曾留意。肯向名花巧倣顔。我導非公詞獨妙。吳娃越艶慣相觀。
How many have polished their lines and used up all their red ink? They deserve to have Master Yao (姚生) retch at the railing over them. When the veteran of poetry mounts the altar, who can stand against him? The literary officials cap their brushes, all ashamed to look. Had he not long ago set his heart on the kingdom's beauties, could he have so deftly modeled their faces onto the famous flower? I say that none but you could make writing so exquisite: you have long been used to seeing the beauties of Wu and the lovely women of Yue.
Interlinear notes 3
姚嵓傑。狂士也。與盧肇唱和。肇吟一聯。傑憑欄嘔噦曰。凭欄一嘔。已覺喉空。
Yao Yanjie (姚嵓傑) was a mad scholar. He exchanged poems with Lu Zhao (盧肇), and when Lu Zhao chanted a couplet, Yao Yanjie leaned on the railing and retched, saying, "Having vomited once leaning on the railing, my throat already feels empty."
公未登第。
The gentleman had not yet passed the examination.
公稍有花柳之興。故云。
The gentleman has something of a taste for flowers and willows, and so I spoke thus.
詩人豈但矚霞丹。無限深情寄一欄。未及臉潮醺欲遍。已將肝錦炤相看。流年不駐紅紅面。好句唯留眄眄顔。若欠醉翁當日詠。殿前嬌艶後誰觀。
Would a poet gaze only at a red like sunset glow? He entrusts a feeling endlessly deep to a single railing. Before the wine has spread all through our cheeks, we already shine our silken hearts on each other and look. The flowing years do not linger on Honghong's (紅紅) face, and only fine lines leave behind the face that glanced aside. Had there been no chanting that day by the Drunken Old Man (醉翁), who in later days would see the lovely flower before the hall?
Interlinear notes 2
右一○專言公之盡情於此花。
The above is the first poem. ○ It speaks solely of how the gentleman gave his whole feeling to this flower.
妓名張紅紅。
The courtesan's name was Zhang Honghong (張紅紅).
憶昔西施醉頰丹。吳王殿裏倚紅欄。似聞隨得鴟夷去。何事今於鳳闕看。坐爾巧讒難解語。尙餘舊習好矜顔。吾皇勤儉稀遊幸。付與遊人自在觀。
I think back: long ago Xi Shi (西施), drunk and red of cheek, leaned on a red railing within the hall of the king of Wu. I seem to have heard she went off following Chiyizi (鴟夷子), so how is it that I see her now in the phoenix palace? Because you were so deft at slander, it is hard to make out your words, and the old habit still remains — you love to show off your face. Our sovereign is diligent and frugal, and his pleasure outings are rare, so he leaves it to those who roam there to look as they please.
Interlinear notes 2
右二○言詩人模狀之妙。
The above is the second poem. ○ It speaks of the exquisiteness with which the poet drew its likeness.
王軒牡丹詩。西子巧讒魂。
Wang Xuan's (王軒) poem "The Peony" speaks of "the soul of Xi Shi, so deft at slander."
年年何似此時丹。往日人空今日欄。暫可醉同賓友賞。不須栽到子孫看。但聞豪宅誇姚魏。未信妖姿誤孔顔。莫問數苞猶在否。任渠留待舍人觀。
Year by year, how could the red ever equal this moment's? The people of former days are gone, and today only the railing remains. One need only get briefly drunk and take pleasure with guests and friends; there is no need to plant it to be viewed down to one's children and grandchildren. I have heard it said that lavish houses boast of the Yaohuang and the Weizi, but I do not believe that a bewitching form led Confucius and Yan Yuan astray. Do not ask how many blossoms are still left; I leave that flower to wait for the Secretary (舍人) and let him see it.
Interlinear notes 5
右三○此篇反正。
The above is the third poem. ○ This piece turns the matter back to what is right.
韓公牡丹詩。今日欄邊。
Master Han's (韓公) poem "The Peony" has the line "today, beside the railing."
羅鄴牡丹詩云云。
Luo Ye's (羅鄴) poem "The Peony" says so.
古人牡丹詩云。顔巷安貧欠買錢。
An ancient's poem "The Peony" says, "In Yan Yuan's lane one is content with poverty, so there is no money to buy it."
右四○上同
The above is the fourth poem. ○ The same as above.