Please Drink Wine

Please Drink Wine
By Li Bai (Tang Dynasty)
Translated by Laijon Liu

Don’t you see, the Yellow River comes from heaven,
Streams into the ocean and does not return?
Don’t you see, in front of the bright mirror of high chamber
We grieve for our white hair, that the grey threads of dawn
Become snow by dusk?
If life pleases, then have all the fun;
Don’t drink to the moon with your empty gold cup;
For heaven blessed us talents for a helpful purpose;
Even thousands gold were spent we’d still earn back.
So cook lamb, cut beef and just fill with joy,
And we must drink three hundred cups in one breath.
Master Yin! Scholar Danqiu!
Please drink wine! And don’t stop!
Let me sing you a song,
Please offer your ear to hear.
Bells, drums, dishes and jade are not worthy;
I’d rather be drunk forever and never awake;
Since ancient, the wise and holy are all lonesome;
And only the names of drinkers are remained.
King Chen of old days feasted in peace and joy,
Ten thousand coins for a cask of wine, to warm up his jokes.
Five dapple horse, a thousand gold piece furs,
Call the boy to trade them for good wine,
With you we dissolve all ancient sorrows.

Note:
This poem is one of the poems that was done by Li Bai while drunk, I believe, which tells much about his feeling at the time when he drinking with his friends master Yin and scholar Danqiu. Li Bai was a poet that he wrote with his rare talents, he did not have to work hard. Readers could smell his wine from the verses from this poem, the way he opened up his inner feeling, his sorrow, and positive self-view about his ability, his non-material valued life view, a little pessimistic view about the world.

Master Yin and Scholar Danqiu: Li Bai’s friends.
King Chen: a talented poet of Han Dynasty, the second son of Minister Cao Cao.


Chinese:

将进酒
李白

君不见，黄河之水天上来，
奔流到海不复回.
君不见，高堂明镜悲白发，
朝如青丝暮成雪。
人生得意须尽欢，
莫使金樽空对月。
天生我材必有用，
千金散尽还复来。
烹羊宰牛且为乐，
会须一饮三百杯。
岑夫子! 丹丘生!
将进酒! 君莫停!
与君歌一曲，
请君为我侧耳听。
钟鼓馔玉不足贵，
但愿长醉不愿醒。
古来圣贤皆寂寞，
惟有饮者留其名。
陈王昔时宴平乐，
斗酒十千恣欢谑。
主人何为言少钱，
径须沽取对君酌。
五花马，千金裘，
呼儿将出换美酒，
与尔同销万古愁.