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Women’s Quarters Complaint, Wang Changling (Tang Shi #265)
Thursday, 4 July 2019 18:48Within her quarters, a young bride knows no worries.
One spring day, I dress and climb the emerald tower—
Then catch sight of the forms of roadside willows
And regret I asked him to seek fame and glory.
闺怨
闺中少妇不知愁，
春日凝妆上翠楼。
忽见陌头杨柳色，
悔教夫婿觅封侯。
Willows are associated with parting: a branch was often given as part of sending off someone heading on a journey. Literally, she asked “[my] husband to seek appointment as a marquis,” and the means for this is to perform heroics as an army officer—so I ended up translating something between gloss and interpretation.
—L.
One spring day, I dress and climb the emerald tower—
Then catch sight of the forms of roadside willows
And regret I asked him to seek fame and glory.
闺怨
闺中少妇不知愁，
春日凝妆上翠楼。
忽见陌头杨柳色，
悔教夫婿觅封侯。
Willows are associated with parting: a branch was often given as part of sending off someone heading on a journey. Literally, she asked “[my] husband to seek appointment as a marquis,” and the means for this is to perform heroics as an army officer—so I ended up translating something between gloss and interpretation.
—L.