Li Shangyin (813–858) was a poet from the late-Tang era famous for his dense and cryptic poetic imagery.

 

龙池

龙池[1]赐酒敞云屏,

羯鼓[2]声高众乐停。

夜半宴归宫漏永[3],

薛王[4]沉醉寿王[5]醒。

这是一首咏史诗,表达了作者对封建帝王骄奢淫逸的不满和嘲讽。

注释:

[1]龙池:既是地名,也是舞曲名。这里指皇帝的宫殿。

[2]羯鼓:一种出自外夷的乐器,据说来源于羯族。

[3]漏永:形容漫漫长夜。漏,古代的计时器。

[4]薛王:唐玄宗弟弟李业之子。

[5]寿王:唐玄宗的儿子李瑁。

Dragon Pool Feast

At Dragon Pool feast spread screens embroidered with cloud,

All music drowned in the emperor’s drumbeats loud.

Come back at midnight to hear the waterclock’s song,

The prince not drunken lay awake all the night long.

Note:Lady Yang(杨贵妃),former wife of the prince(寿王)became the emperor’s(唐玄宗)favorite concubine,so the prince could not fall asleep after the emperor’s feast.