Slow Tune of Yangzhou
- Poetry of Jiang Kui

淳熙丙申至日，予过维扬。夜雪初霁，荠麦弥望。入其城，则四顾萧条，寒水自碧，暮色渐起，戍角悲吟。予怀怆然，感慨今昔，因自度此曲。千岩老人以为有“黍离”之悲也。

淮左名都，竹西佳处，解鞍少驻初程。

过春风十里。尽荠麦青青。

自胡马窥江去后，废池乔木，犹厌言兵。

渐黄昏，清角吹寒。都在空城。

杜郎俊赏，算而今、重到须惊。

纵豆蔻词工，青楼梦好，难赋深情。

二十四桥仍在，波心荡、冷月无声。

念桥边红药，年年知为谁生。

On Winter Solstice in 1127,I passed Yangzhou.It turned fine after one night of snow.I saw the fieldsovergrown with wild wheat and weeds.When I entered the ruined town,I looked around and was grieved to see green water cold and to hear sad horns blow at dusk.I felt sad and dreary to compare the present desolation with the past glory and composed the following tune which reveals the grief of a ruined country,as says my old uncle-in-law.

In the famous town east of River Huai 

And scenic spot of Bamboo West,

Breaking my journey,I alight for a short rest.

In breeze the splendid three-mile road did I pass by.

'Tis now o'ergrown with wild green wheat and weeds.

Since Southern shore was overrun by Jurchen steeds,

E'en the tall trees beside the pond have been war-torn.

As dusk is drawing near,

Cold blows the horn,

The empty town looks drear.

The place Du Mu the poet prized,

If he could come again today,

Would make him feel surprised.

His verse on the cardamon spray 

And on sweet dreams in Mansions Green 

Could not express 

My deep distress.

The Twenty-four Bridges can still be seen,

But the cold moon floating among 

The waves would no more sing a song.

For whom should the peonies near 

The Bridges grow red from year to year?