观公孙大娘弟子舞剑器行-Watching a Sword Dance Performed by the Pupil of the Elder Sister of Gongsun
观公孙大娘弟子舞剑器行
杜甫
昔有佳人公孙氏，一舞剑器动四方。
观者如山色沮丧，天地为之久低昂。
如羿射九日落，矫如群帝骖龙翔。
来如雷霆震怒，罢如江海凝清光。
绛唇珠袖两寂寞，晚有弟子传芬芳。
临颍美人在白帝，妙舞此曲神扬扬。
与余问答既有以，感时抚事增惋伤。
先帝侍女八千人，公孙剑器初第一。
五十年间似反掌，风尘洞昏王室。
梨园子弟散如烟，女乐余姿映寒日。
金粟堆南木已拱，瞿塘石城草萧瑟。
玳筵急管曲复终，乐极哀来月东出。
老夫不知其所往，足茧荒山转愁疾。
Watching a Sword Dance Performed by the
Pupil of the Elder Sister of Gongsun
Du Fu
Formerly there was a beauty， Gongsun surnamed，
For whose wonderful sword dance she was far and wide famed.
Her dance struck a mountain of audience with dismay
And made heaven and earth rise and fall all the day.
Her sword flashed like the nine suns by Archer Yi shot down.
She moved with vigour of soaring dragons by gods flown.
She danced on like rumbling thunder with furious might
Till she finished with a sea calmed down in limpid light.
Both her ruby lips and pearled sleeves have long been gone.
By her pupil her fine art is lately passed on.
The Linying fair is now in White Emperor City，
Who plays the sword dance with grace and dexterity.
From her answers to my questions I know her story.
For the changes of times and world affairs I feel sorry.
The late Emperor had eight thousand attendant maids，
Among whom Gongsun could play sword dance at top grade.
Fifty years have passed swiftly like a turn of palm；
Great was the turmoil that brought Royal House no calm.
Like passing smoke， the imperial players have dispersed；
Dancers’ remnant grace has been in cold sunbeams immersed.
On the south of Jinsu Tombs， trees have to arch grown；
Near Qutang Gorge， Stone City grass its bleakness has shown.
Music played on pipes o’er sumptuous feasts is ended soon；
Grief comes after o’erjoy when east rises the moon.
I don’t know where to go， but on the barren hill
Treading with callus feet， I can’t help feeling ill.
