马嵬[1]

(二首其一)

冀马[2]燕犀[3]动地来,

自埋红粉自成灰。

君王若道能倾国,

玉辇[4]何由过马嵬。

马嵬事变发生于唐玄宗天宝十四载(755年)安史之乱爆发之后。天宝十五载六月,安禄山攻破潼关,唐玄宗弃长安奔蜀,行至距长安百余里的马嵬坡时,守护皇帝的禁军启请诛杨国忠父子,之后,禁军仍不散,迫使玄宗诛死杨贵妃。如果玄宗能一早知道好色荒政有亡国的危险,那么后来的悲剧又从何谈起呢?

注释:

[1]马嵬:即马嵬坡,杨贵妃陨落之地,在今陕西省兴平市西。

[2]冀马:古冀州之北所产的马,泛指马。

[3]燕犀:燕地制造的犀甲,泛指坚固的铠甲。

[4]玉辇:天子所乘之车,以玉为饰。

On Lady Yang’s Death

(I)

When rebels came from north,trembled the western land;

The Beauty’s ashes were buried by Royal hand.

If the emperor had foreseen his own downfall,

He’d not have lost his throne and his Beauty at all.