3月15日

延平王祠古梅歌
連橫 ( 1878~1936 )

我聞諸葛廟前古柏柯如銅，
堅貞不拔回天工。
又聞岳王墳上古檜高摩空，
萬枝南向表臣衷。
我謂古木無知何得人推崇？
千古見者猶思二人之精忠。
諸葛存漢岳驅戎，
繼其武者唯我延平真英雄。
延平祠宇凌穹窿，中有古梅繽紛開花重，
巨幹槎枒葉蒼蘢，暗香浮動度春風。

延平義憤起孤童，登天直欲跨飛熊。
手提萬劍倚崆峒，不能揮戈魯陽日再中，
亦當立馬天山早掛弓，
如何北征南渡半挫功？
闢地開天乃在東海東，神鯨一去水濛濛。
毘舍江山漲妖烽，桑田滄海幾度難尋蹤。
唯見古梅歲歲開花花愈濃，
相傳已歷二百餘春冬，
盤根錯節生氣充，下有雪凍上雲封，
紅牆一角月玲瓏，中宵夜冷劍光衝。
我來歌嘯尤無窮，放眼九州心沖沖。
但見梅花如海春溶溶。

──選自《連雅堂先生全集》

March 15th

Song of the Old Plum Tree Before the Shrine of Yanping
Lian Heng (1878 - 1936)
English translation: Miao Guang and Hsin-Yu Huang

I've heard that the old cypress trees before the Shrine of
Zhuge Liang have bronze-like branches; their steel-like spirit of
righteousness is a craftsmanship of nature. I've also heard that the
old Chinese Juniper trees above Yue Fei's mausoleum are so tall that
they scrape the sky; their lush branches bend towards the South,
in sign of their loyalty. Assuming that these old trees are insentient,
I wonder why they are revered by many? Witnesses of history are still
able to sense the loyalty of Zhuge Liang, who prolonged the reign of
Han, and Yue Fei, who drove out the barbarians.

Likewise, there is no true hero but Yanping*, who solely inherited
the spirit of chivalry. The roof of his shrine reaches for the heavens,
while the old plum tree inside is in full bloom. New branches
sprouting from the giant trunk are covered in exuberant leaves,
while its subtle fragrance spreads through the warm spring breeze.

Out of anger, Yanping rose, calling himself an orphan, and soared
into the sky riding the flying bear*. With a long sword in hand and
Mount Kongtong behind him, he was still unable to end the crisis of
Luyang or revitalize the place. Supposedly having ridden towards
Mount Tian on a horse and having hung up his bow, how could he
have given up halfway on his Northern expedition and Southern
voyage? The pioneering endeavors were nevertheless aimed at the
East of the Eastern Sea. Although the legendary whale** had gone
forth, the waters still remained turbid. As the beacons rose over
neighboring rivers and mountains, he remained untraceable amidst
the changes of time.

Now, what can only be seen is the plum tree that blossoms year
after year, with its bloom even more lush. According to legend,
the tree has lived over two hundred springs and winters. With vigor
coming from its intertwined roots, the tree stands frozen with its
origins buried in snow and its branches sealed off by the clouds
above. The bright and clear moon appears in the corner against the
red wall, while icy reflections of the sword shine at midnight.

Though I enjoy singing and howling over such facts, my heart
remains concerned as I think about the nine states. What I see is
but a sea of plum blossoms in the lush spring.

── from Lian Yatang Xiansheng Quanji (Complete Works of Mister Lian Yatang)

* The flying bear refers to a dream by Xibohou (Duke of the West) in which
he saw a bear flying towards his shrine. This bear was then interpreted as one of
eminence─in other words, a hero.