Li Bai has both a proud side and a secular side. His ideals and freedom can only be sought in the mountains and forests, fairyland, and drunk country. Therefore, he has flowed in poems such as “Jiang Jinjiu”, “Jiangshang Yin”, “Xiangyang Song” and other poems. Revealing the thoughts of life as a dream, having fun in time, escaping from reality, etc., are also representative of the upright and arrogant literati in feudal society.

 

金陵酒肆[1]留别

风吹柳花满店香,

吴姬压酒劝客尝。

金陵子弟[2]来相送,

欲行[3]不行[4]各尽觞[5]。

请君试问东流水,

别意与之谁短长?

公元726年暮春时节,柳絮飘飞,李白离开金陵到扬州去。青年朋友到酒店来送行,店中女郎从酒糟中压出酒来,劝客人多喝几杯。将行的人和送行的人都开怀畅饮,于是李白就写下了这首小诗。他要问问长江的流水,到底是江水更高兴流走,还是他更高兴留下呢?全诗没有一个“愁”字,因为生活中没有愁,所以诗中就只有别情,无怪乎沈德潜说“语不必深,写情已足”。

注释:

[1]酒肆:酒店。

[2]子弟:指李白的朋友。

[3]欲行:即将离开的人,指诗人自己。

[4]不行:不走的人,指送别的人。

[5]尽觞(shānɡ):一口喝完杯中的酒。觞,酒杯。

Parting at a Tavern in Jinling[1]

The tavern’s sweetened when wind blows in willow-down;

A Southern maiden bids the guests to taste the wine.

My dear young friends have come to see me leave the town;

They drink their cups and I,still tarrying,drink mine.

Oh!Ask the river flowing to the east,I pray,

If he is happier to go than I to stay!

注释:

[1]Present-day Nanjing,capital of Jiangsu Province.