然而,我不会喝酒,
连一张做样子的琴也无有。
无有桐木,
无有弓藤,
无有马尾,
无有象牙一般熟透了的拨子,
无有琥珀一般凝固着的松油。
不会,不会,不会,
无有,无有,无有。
尽管我略懂一点点音律,
并且积蓄了不止一点点忧愁。
我不是陶渊明啊,
不曾在门前栽下五株柳。
我不是陶渊明啊,
也误了抚琴的时候。
Stringless Harp
Yuanming Tao didn't know music,but he kept a stringless harp.
When he was a bit high with liquor,he played the harp to express
his feelings. ——Xiao Tong: On Tao Yuanming
However, I never drink liquor.
And I do not even have a thing that can be called a harp.
I have neither tung wood,
Nor rattan bow,
Neither horse tail,
Nor ivory-like and weathered plectrum
Nor amber-like rosin.
No, no, no,
Never, never, never.
Though I know a little about music,
I have stored up not a little of worry.
I am not Yuanming Tao.
And I didn't plant five willows in front of the gate.
I am not Yuanming Tao,
So I miss the chance of playing the harp.