TUNE: SLOW SONG OF ZHU YINGTAI

祝英台近

LATE SPRING

晚春

Ever since we parted

宝钗分，

At Ferry of Peach Leaf,

桃叶渡，

The willow-darkened southern bank’s been drowned in grief.

烟柳暗南浦。

I dread to go upstairs again;

怕上层楼，

Nine days in ten are filled with wind and rain.

十日九风雨。

So, broken-hearted,

断肠片片飞红，

I see red petals fall one by one,

都无人管，

Uncared for, and there’s none

更谁劝啼莺声住?

To plead with orioles singing all the day long

鬓边觑，

To still their song.

试把花卜归期，

Peering at flowered hairpin on my head,

才簪又重数。

I take it down to count the petals red

罗帐灯昏，

So that I may anticipate

哽咽梦中语：

His returning date,

是他春带愁来，

Till lamplight flickers on my curtained bed.

春归何处？

Words choked in my dream upon

却不解带将愁去！