Li Bai was deeply influenced by the thoughts of Huang Lao Lie Zhuang, and his “Li Taibai Collection” was handed down to the world. Most of his poems were written when he was drunk. His representative works include “Wanglu Mountain Waterfall”, “Difficulties in Traveling”, “Difficulties in Shu Road”, “Jiang Entering Wine”, and “Mingtang” “Fu”, “Early Delivery of Baidi City” and many other poems.

 

行路难

(三首其三)

有耳莫洗颍川水,

有口莫食首阳蕨[1]。

含光混世贵无名[2],

何用孤高比云月?

吾观自古贤达人,

功成不退皆殒身。

子胥[3]既弃吴江上,

屈原终投湘水滨。

陆机[4]雄才岂自保?

李斯[5]税驾苦不早。

这应是诗人离京时,宽慰自己之作。做人像许由一般孤傲,像伯夷叔齐一样清高,自诩唯有云月可比有什么用呢,做人还须“含光混世”不务虚名。这既是诗人在长安期间得到的经验,也是对时局无奈的喟叹,因为他还未真正出世。诗人先后用伍子胥、屈原、陆机和李斯的事例说明,成功后贪恋名位不肯退隐的都殒丧了自己的性命。诗人或许是觉得,反正最后都要出世,又何必在乎早晚呢。

注释:

[1]有口莫食首阳蕨:反用伯夷、叔齐典故。《史记·伯夷列传》:“武王已平殷乱,天下宗周,而伯夷、叔齐耻之,义不食周粟,隐于首阳山,采薇而食之……遂饿死于首阳山。”《索引》:“薇,蕨也。”按薇、蕨本二草,前人误以为一。

[2]含光混世贵无名:言不露锋芒,随世俯仰之意。贵无名,以无名为贵。

[3]子胥:伍子胥,春秋末期吴国大夫。

[4]陆机:西晋文学家。《晋书·陆机传》载:陆机因宦人诬陷而被杀害于军中,临终叹曰:“华亭鹤唳,岂可复闻乎?”

[5]李斯:秦国统一六国的大功臣,任秦朝丞相,后被杀。

Hard Is the Way of the World

(III)

Don’t wash your ears on hearing something you dislike

Nor die of hunger like famous hermits on the Pike!

Living without high fame among the motley crowd,

Why should one be as lofty as the moon or cloud?

Of ancient talents who failed to retire,there’s none

But came to tragic ending after glory’s won.

The head of General Wu was hung o’er city gate;

In the river was drowned the Poet Laureate.

The highly talented scholar wished in vain

To preserve his life to hear the cry of the crane.

华亭鹤唳讵可闻?

上蔡苍鹰何足道[1]?

君不见,

吴中张翰称达生,

秋风忽忆江东行[2]。

且乐生前一杯酒,

何须身后千载名?

Minister Li regretted not to have retired

To hunt with falcon gray as he had long desired.

Have you not heard of Zhang Han who resigned,carefree,

To go home to eat his perch with high glee?

Enjoy a cup of wine while you’re alive!

Do not care if your fame will not survive!

注释:

[1]华亭鹤唳讵可闻?上蔡苍鹰何足道:用李斯典故。《史记·李斯列传》:“二世二年七月,具斯五刑,论腰斩咸阳市。斯出狱,与其中子俱执,顾谓其中子曰:‘吾欲与若复牵黄犬俱出上蔡东门逐狡兔,岂可得乎!’”《太平御览》卷九二六:《史记》曰:“李斯临刑,思牵黄犬、臂苍鹰,出上蔡门,不可得矣。”

[2]秋风忽忆江东行:用张翰典故。《晋书·张翰传》:“张翰,字季鹰,吴郡吴人也。……为大司马东曹掾。……因见秋风起,乃思吴中菰菜、莼羹、鲈鱼脍,曰:‘人生贵得适志,何能羁官数千里,以要名爵乎?’遂命驾而归。……或谓之曰:‘卿乃纵适一时,独不为身后名邪?’答曰:‘使我有身后名,不如即时一杯酒。’时人贵其旷达。”

 

In Li Bai’s poems, imagination, exaggeration, metaphors, and personification are often combined to create magical, magnificent, and moving artistic conceptions. This is why Li Bai’s romantic poems are bold, unrestrained, and elegant.