All over the Capital catkins flew wantonly,
A scene of the spring so significant:
On "Cold Food" the east wind willfully
Made the imperial willows slant.
Now as the dusk approached quietly
Within the Han palace candles glowed
Towards the five mansions of nobility (2)
The silvery smoke of the tapers flowed.
(1)At the "Cold Food" festival which lasted three days in spring in ancient times, ordinary folks were told to take cold food without making any fire for cooking or other purposes.
(2)Both the catkins and the east wind allude to the "five mansions of nobility" or the emperor's favourite eunuchs who were in power during the Han Dynasty.
（胡壮麟 译）AFTER THE DAY OF NO FIRE
Petals of spring fly all through the city
From the wind in the willows of the Imperial River.
And at dusk， from the palace， candles are given out
To light first the mansions of the Five Great Lords
发表于 2018-8-14 08:17:31