白居易的《卖炭翁》是中国唐代诗人白居易所作,描写了一位卖炭老人的故事。以下是对这首诗的简要翻译和解读:
卖炭翁,伐薪烧炭南山中。
This poem by Bai Juyi describes an old man who sells charcoal, chopping wood and burning charcoal in the southern mountains.
满面尘灰烟火色,两鬓苍苍十指黑。
His face is covered in dust and ashes, his temples are grey, and his fingers are black from hard work.
卖炭得钱何所营,身上衣裳口中食。
He earns money from selling charcoal, but what does he use it for? It goes towards his clothing and food.
可怜身上衣正单,心忧炭贱愿天寒。
His clothes are thin, and he worries about the low price of charcoal, hoping for colder weather.
夜来城外一尺雪,晓驾炭车辗冰辙。
One night, there is a foot of snow outside the city, and in the morning, he drives his charcoal cart through the icy ruts.
牛困人饥日已高,市南门外泥中歇。
The ox is tired, and he is hungry, but the sun is already high. He rests outside the south gate of the city in the mud.
斗鸡走狗皆老少,仰面无人空相识。
There are people of all ages bustling about, but no one recognizes him when he looks up.
雪压牛羊青枯草,路入鸡栖野老柴。
The snow weighs down the green grass where the oxen and sheep graze, and the road leads to the thatched cottages where the chickens roost.
归来饱饭黄昏后,不辞辛苦岂知年。
Returning home after a full meal, he does not regret his hard work, unaware of the passing years.
相看白刃血纷纷,死去青春佛寺中。
Looking at each other with swords drawn and blood flowing, they die in their youth in the Buddhist temple.
门前冷落鞍马稀,老大嫁作商人妇。
In front of the door, the horses are few and far between, and the eldest daughter marries a merchant's wife.
商人重利轻别离,前月浮梁买茶去。
Merchants value profit and lightly regard parting. Last month, they floated across the beams to buy tea.
去来江口守空船,绕船月明江水寒。
Going and coming at the river mouth, guarding the empty boat, they circle around the moonlit river with its cold water.
夜深忽梦少年事,梦啼妆泪红阑干。
Late at night, they suddenly dream of their youth, weeping in their dreams with tears staining their rouge-painted pillows.
夜长人卧愁悄悄,关门春去客不还。
The night is long, and people lie down in silent sorrow. As spring departs, guests do not return.
塞上长城空自许,镜中衰鬓已先斑。
On the Great Wall of the frontier, they make promises to themselves alone, but in the mirror, their aging temples are already streaked with grey.
出师一表真名世,千载谁堪伯仲间?
Leaving with great aspirations, they make a name for themselves in the world. But after a thousand years, who can tell the difference between them?
惟将迟暮供多病,未有涓埃答圣贤。
Only in old age, suffering from many illnesses, do they realize that they have not even contributed a grain of dust to the sages.