|
Now come the wine
O don't you see
The Yellow Stream's waters,
coming down from the sky?
Toward the ocean they race -
and will never return.
O don't you see,
The bright mirrors up in the hall?
Mourning o'er your hair of white,
still black silk in the dawn,
now on eve turned to snow.
So just live your life as you please
and drink its joy's cup to the dregs.
Never let your goblet of gold
be empty under the moon.
The gifts Heaven created in us,
he meant them all to be used.
A thousand pieces of gold,
if squandered, one day will return.
So let's boil a mutton, let's slaughter a bull,
for we're to be merry now!
Empty three hundred cups in one go!
O Master Tsen! My friend, 'Cinnabar-hill'!
Now come the wine, have it without delay!
I'll sing for you a song -
Please, bend your ears to me and hear!
The bells and drums, rare food and precious jade,
valuable all, and yet not worth to prize.
But all I ask: in drunkenness to fall,
forever drunk - and never ever rise!
The saints and wise men from antiquity,
long passed away and all so still!
As heavy drinkers they just left behind
a name of fame and ever will.
When the Prince of Chen once called to feast
in the hall of Calm Delight:
Ten thousand gallons of wine poured out,
with cheers of lust booming the night.
The host, what does he mean -
the money might run out?
Just go to buy more wine,
have my comrades' cups refilled!
My five-blossom-dappled steed!
My fur, worth thousand coins!
Go quick and call the boy
to barter them for wine!
Let's together wash away
ten thousand years of grief.
(Transl. by A.W. Tüting)
|
|