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孟浩然: 望洞庭湖赠张丞相/ Meng Haoran: A MESSAGE FROM LAKE DONGTIN TO PREMIER ZHANG

望洞庭湖赠张丞相

孟浩然

八月湖水平, 涵虚混太清。

气蒸云梦泽, 波撼岳阳城。

欲济无舟楫, 端居耻圣明。

坐观垂钓者, 空有羡鱼情。

 

A MESSAGE FROM LAKE DONGTIN TO PREMIER ZHANG

Meng Haoran

Here in the Eighth-month the waters of the lake

Are of a single air with heaven,

And a mist from the Yun and Meng valleys

Has beleaguered the city of Youzhou.

I should like to cross, but I can find no boat.

...How ashamed I am to be idler than you statesmen,

As I sit here and watch a fisherman casting

And emptily envy him his catch.