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Life not mutual see Act like Shen and Shang Today evening again which evening Share this candle light Young and vigorous able how long Temple hair each already grey Enquire old partly be ghosts Exclaim excited in intestines Didn't know twenty years Again at your hall Past part you not married Boys girls suddenly come Happy and contented respect father friend Ask I come what direction Question answer not in time already Boys girls spread out alcohol Night rain cut spring chives New kitchen golden millet Host say meet hard One cup repeat ten cups Ten cups also not drunk Thank your friendship long Tomorrow separate mountain mountain Human affairs two boundless and indistinct |
We've lived our lives and have not seen each other, We've been just like the stars of Shen and Shang. When had we last an evening like today's, Together in the light of this one lamp? Young and vigorous for so short a time, Already now we both have greying temples. We ask of old friends, half of them now dead, Your exclamation stirs up my own heart. We did not know it would be twenty years, Before we met again inside your hall. When we parted then, you were unmarried, Suddenly boys and girls come in a row. Happy and content, they respect their father's friend, Asking me from which direction I come. And even before the question has been answered, The boys and girls are setting out the wine. In the rain of night, they cut spring chives, And in the kitchen prepare fresh golden millet. My host says it's been hard for us to meet, One draught's repeated, now becomes ten cups. After ten cups, still we are not drunk, I'm thankful that your friendship's lasted long. Tomorrow we'll be sundered by the hills, Just two in a boundless world of human affairs. |