李白

行路难之一

金樽清酒斗十千， 玉盘珍羞值万钱。

停杯投箸不能食， 拔剑四顾心茫然。

欲渡黄河冰塞川， 将登太行雪暗天。

闲来垂钓碧溪上， 忽复乘舟梦日边。

行路难！ 行路难！

多歧路， 今安在？

长风破浪会有时， 直挂云帆济沧海。

Folk-song-styled-verse

Li Bai

THE HARD ROAD

Pure wine costs, for the golden cup, ten thousand coppers a flagon,

And a jade plate of dainty food calls for a million coins.

I fling aside my food-sticks and cup, I cannot eat nor drink……

I pull out my dagger, I peer four ways in vain.

I would cross the Yellow River, but ice chokes the ferry；

I would climb the Taihang Mountains, but the sky is blind with snow……

I would sit and poise a fishing-pole, lazy by a brook ——

But I suddenly dream of riding a boat, sailing for the sun……

Journeying is hard,

Journeying is hard.

There are many turnings ——

Which am I to follow？……

I will mount a long wind some day and break the heavy waves

And set my cloudy sail straight and bridge the deep, deep sea.