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The fifth night-watch—drips push the water-clock to point to dawn.
Within the palace walls, the spring seems drunk on Immortal Peaches.
The sun is warm on feathered banners—snakes and dragons flutter.
Wind’s gentle in the hall—swallows and sparrows fly aloft.
Court finishes, the smoke of incense carried off fills sleeves.
Your poem’s complete, like pearls and jades beneath a moving brush.
I long to hear that generations wear your fine silk tassels—
Henceforth will always be above that pool your phoenix feathers.
奉和贾至舍人早朝大明宫
五夜漏声催晓箭，
九重春色醉仙桃。
旌旗日暖龙蛇动，
宫殿风微燕雀高。
朝罢香烟携满袖，
诗成珠玉在挥毫。
欲知世掌丝纶美，
池上于今有凤毛。
(Okay, fine, I translated this one too. Shut up.)
Not in 3TP. Wang and Du both include details not in Jia’s (or Cen’s), which makes me wonder whether one knew about and was responding to the other’s. However, I’ve not been able to suss out whether we know who wrote theirs first.
Water-clocks with dials were used to tell time since at least the Han Dynasty. The Peaches of Immortality were grown and eaten by the gods. Idiom: the palace walls are literally “nine-layered.” The dragons and snakes are designs on the imperial banners. The silk tassels are part of Jia’s uniform of office, and Du is loading up the flattery with a wish that he’ll be able to pass his office to his descendants.
—L.
Within the palace walls, the spring seems drunk on Immortal Peaches.
The sun is warm on feathered banners—snakes and dragons flutter.
Wind’s gentle in the hall—swallows and sparrows fly aloft.
Court finishes, the smoke of incense carried off fills sleeves.
Your poem’s complete, like pearls and jades beneath a moving brush.
I long to hear that generations wear your fine silk tassels—
Henceforth will always be above that pool your phoenix feathers.
奉和贾至舍人早朝大明宫
五夜漏声催晓箭，
九重春色醉仙桃。
旌旗日暖龙蛇动，
宫殿风微燕雀高。
朝罢香烟携满袖，
诗成珠玉在挥毫。
欲知世掌丝纶美，
池上于今有凤毛。
(Okay, fine, I translated this one too. Shut up.)
Not in 3TP. Wang and Du both include details not in Jia’s (or Cen’s), which makes me wonder whether one knew about and was responding to the other’s. However, I’ve not been able to suss out whether we know who wrote theirs first.
Water-clocks with dials were used to tell time since at least the Han Dynasty. The Peaches of Immortality were grown and eaten by the gods. Idiom: the palace walls are literally “nine-layered.” The dragons and snakes are designs on the imperial banners. The silk tassels are part of Jia’s uniform of office, and Du is loading up the flattery with a wish that he’ll be able to pass his office to his descendants.
—L.