Excerpt from the Rhapsody on the Capital of Shu
壺蘆居士繙譯
Yang Xiong of the Han dynasty
Excerpt from the Rhapsody on the Capital of Shu
…Thus,
The Five Grains are abundant,
The squashes and gourds, aplenty, and
The many plants yield thatch and hemp.
Everywhere is ginger and gardenia,
Monkshood and great garlic,
Flowering shrubs and wormwood,
Pepper and riverweed.
The sundry gels, pastes, and sweet wines,
All gathered, presented, and stored.
In winter, the bamboo nurtures shoots
To accompany the daily dishes.
The Hundred Flowers burst forth in spring
Filling the air with gentle perfume.
Tendrils and tea, lushly profuse,
Jade green, russet, and celadon,
Glorious as luminous dragon scales,
Spread like rich embroidery and
Vast prospect without end…
漢 揚雄
蜀都賦
…爾乃
五穀馮戎
瓜匏饒多
卉㠯部麻
往往薑梔
附子巨蒜
木艾椒蘺
藹醬酴清
衆獻儲斯
盛冬育荀
舊菜增伽
百華投春
隆隱芬芳
蔓茗熒郁
翠紫青黃
麗靡螭燭
若揮錦布繡
望芒兮無幅…
Compare
Yang Xiong揚雄 (53 B.C.-A.D. 18), Shudu fu 蜀都賦 (Rhapsody on the Capital of Shu) in Yan Kejün嚴可均 (1762-1843 A.D.), comp., Qüan Hanwen 全漢文 (1894 A.D. ed.), ch. 51, pp. 1a-3b, esp. 2b.