Translator
biography
Bradford
S. Miller is a Library Services Supervisor for the City of Thousand Oaks Library
and has been with the Library for twelve years. He graduated from the University
of California, Berkeley, with degrees in History [Chinese] and Political Science
in 1973. He also holds a Master of Library Science Degree in Information Science
from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Master of Public
Administration degree from California Lutheran University. In addition to
coursework at Berkeley, he studied Chinese at the Chinese University of Hong
Kong [1971-72] and literary Chinese at the University of Washington.
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On
failing the civil service examination Meng Jiao [751-814] A moon at dawn hardly gives light
a man in grief scarcely has heart who says that spring matters always prosper?
do they not see these frost-laden leaves? an osprey has lost its vigor in sickness
while wrens glide up on wings of pretense
cast aside and again put by
feelings sliced as if with a sword |
落第 孟郊 曉月難為光 愁人難為腸 誰言春物榮 獨見葉上霜 鵰鶚失勢病 鷦？假翼翔 棄置復棄置 情如刀劍傷 |
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On
passing the civil service examination Meng Jiao [751-814] Former days of squalor
are not worth going on about
this dawn’s joy has freed
my thoughts from all limits spring breezes of fulfillment
speed my horse’s hooves
in one day I have gathered up
all of Chang-an’s flowers |
登科後 孟郊 昔日齷齪不足誇 今朝放蕩思無涯 春風得意馬蹄疾 一日看盡長安花 |
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Jade
Steps disappointment Li Bai [701-762] The Jade Steps
have grown white with dew
a long night’s vigil
has soaked silken hose she has just let down
her crystal curtains
through tinkling beads
she gazes at the autumn moon |
玉階怨 李白 玉階生白露 夜久侵羅襪 欲下水晶簾 玲瓏望秋月 |
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Given
to a cloistered lady Zhang Hu [fl. 810] A forbidden door
a palace grove
a moonlit passage a seductive eye
a glance askance
a nesting egret an inclined head
a jade hairpin
a shadow in lamplight an open hand
a flaring taper
a moth on the wing |
贈內人 張祐 禁門宮樹月痕過 媚眼惟看宿鷺巢 斜拔玉釵燈影畔 剔開紅燄救飛蛾 |
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Bitter
spring Liu Fang-ping [8th century] Through the window silk
sunlight deepens into yellow dusk
in the golden chamber
no one can see the trail of tears stillness of solitude in an empty garden
as spring begs to depart
pear blossoms pile thick on the ground
before an unopened gate |
春怨 劉方平 紗窗日落漸黃昏 金屋無人見淚痕 寂寞空庭春欲晚 梨花滿地不開門 |