Section Five of Part I
吟成赏月之诗，只愁月堕； 斟满送春之酒，惟憾春归。 Yín chéng shǎng yuè zhī shī ，zhī chóu yuè duò ； Zhēn mǎn sòng chūn zhī jiǔ ，wéi hàn chūn guī 。 (Literal translation of the line: Having composed a poem appreciating the moon, the only worry is that the moon may fall down soon; having filled the glass with wine to say farewell to the spring, the sole regret is that spring would soon depart.) The seventh character pronounces as “shī” and the last character pronounces as “guī”. There are the following pairs in the lines: having composed vs. having filled; appreciating moon vs. saying farewell to the spring; poem vs. wine; only vs. sole; to worry vs. to regret; moon vs. spring; to fall down vs. to depart.
Having composed a poem appreciating the moon, the only worry is that the moon may fall down soon; having filled the glass with wine to say farewell to the spring, the sole regret is that spring would soon depart.
声对色，饱对饥，虎节对龙旗。 Shēng duì sè ，bǎo duì jī ，hǔ jiē duì lóng qí 。 (Literal translation of the line: Sound vs. color; to be full vs. to be hungry; commander’s tally vs. dragon banner.) The sixth character pronounces as “jī” and the last character pronounces as “qí”. There are apparently four pairs in the line. The commander’s tally in China was usually made of copper, often in the shape of a tiger, was divided into two parts. The right part was kept in the hands of the central authorities and the left part was kept by the field general. When order comes to move the army, the envoy had to produce the right part of the tally, and the field general would accept the order when the right part dovetailed perfectly with the part he had.
Sound vs. color; to be full vs. to be hungry; commander’s tally vs. dragon banner.
杨花对桂叶，白简对朱衣。 Yáng huā duì guì yè ，bái jiǎn duì zhū yī 。 (Literal translation of the line: Catkin vs. laurel tree leaves; white bamboo slips vs. vermilion color coats.) The last character pronounces as “yī”. White bamboo slip was only used by high supervising officials to impeach somebody. Vermilion color coat was an official coat to be worn by the fourth or fifth ranking officials in the Táng and Sòng Dynasties. There are such pairs in the line: poplar vs. laurel tree; flower vs. leaves; white vs. vermilion; slips vs. coat.
Catkin vs. laurel tree leaves; white bamboo slips vs. vermilion color coats.
尨也吠，燕于飞，荡荡对巍巍。 Máng yě fèi ，yàn yú fēi ，dàng dàng duì wēi wēi 。 (Literal translation of the line: The first character pronounces as “máng”, which is a very hairy dog. The line says: the hairy dog barks while the swallow flies; vastness vs. towering.) The sixth character pronounces as “féi” and the last character pronounces as “weī”. There are such pairs in the line: a heavy hair dog vs. swallow; barking vs. flying; vastness vs. towering.
春暄资日气，秋冷借霜威。 Chūn xuān zī rì qì ，qiū lěng jiè shuāng wēi 。 (Literal translation of the line: The warm in the spring is provided by sun light; the coldness in autumn is caused by the frost.) The fifth character pronounces as “qì” and the last character pronounces as “weī”. There are such pairs in the line: spring vs. autumn; warmth vs. coldness; to add vs. to borrow; on the day vs. frost; air vs. sternness.
出使振威冯奉世，治民异等尹翁归。 Chū shǐ zhèn wēi féng fèng shì ，zhì mín yì děng yǐn wēng guī 。 (Literal translation of the line: Féng Fèngshì was so far-famed when he served as an envoy; Yǐn Wēngguī was extraordinary when governed the people of the prefecture.) The seventh character pronounces as “shì” and the last character pronounces as “guī”. Both of them were officials of the Western Hàn period. There are three pairs in the lines: out as an envoy vs. governing his people; far-famed vs. extraordinary; Féng Fèngshì vs. Yǐn Wēngguī.
Féng Fèngshì was so far-famed when he served as an envoy; Yǐn Wēngguī was extraordinary when governed the people of the prefecture.
燕我弟兄，载咏“棣棠韡韡”； 命伊将帅，为歌“杨柳依依”。 Yàn wǒ dì xiōng ，zǎi yǒng “dì táng wěi wěi ”； Mìng yī jiāng shuài ，wéi gē “yáng liǔ yī yī ”。 (Literal translation of the line: At the banquet in honor of my brothers, the song “splendid colorful birch-leaf pear tree” must be sung; you marshals and generals should take the order in singing “the tender poplar and willow trees.”) The tenth character pronounces as “wěi” and the last character pronounces as “yī”. There are following pairs in the lines: to dine vs. to order; my vs. your; brothers vs. marshals and generals; to recite vs. to sing; birch-leaf pear tree vs. poplar and willow trees; splendid and bright vs. tender.
At the banquet in honor of my brothers, the song “splendid colorful birch-leaf pear tree” must be sung; you marshals and generals should take the order in singing “the tender poplar and willow trees.”
