9月22日

〈西江月〉錢塘江秋香亭壁詩
明 馮夢龍 ( 1574~1646 )

酒是燒身硝燄，色為割肉鋼刀，
財多招忌損人苗，氣是無煙火藥。
四件將來合就，相當不欠分毫，
勸君莫戀最為高，才是修身正道。

──選自《三言 ‧ 警世通言》

September 22

Poem on the Wall of Qiuxiang Pavilion in Qiantangjiang
Tune: West River Moon
Feng Menglong (1574 - 1646, Ming Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

Wine torches the body like fire, while lust slices the body
like a mountain of steel; excessive wealth evokes jealousy
and severs personal relations, while anger explodes without fire.

The four come together as one, lacking much difference;
I urge you to take the high road by refraining from clinging.
Such would be the right way to a well-cultivated form.

── from Sanyan-Jingshi Tongyan (Three Words: Stories to Caution the World)