English中文
Pusa Man: That Melancholy Night of Parting
红楼别夜堪惆怅，
香灯半卷流苏帐。
残月出门时，
美人和泪辞。
The night of parting in the red chamber was heavy with sorrow; by the scented lamp, the tasseled bed-curtain was half rolled up. As I went out beneath the waning moon, the fair one took her leave in tears.
琵琶金翠羽，
弦上黄莺语。
劝我早归家，
绿窗人似花。
Her pipa, with gold and kingfisher ornament; upon the strings, the voice of an oriole. She urged me to come home soon — the one beside the green window is lovely as a flower.
Reading notes
Pusa Man is the tune name. 残月出门时 describes the speaker leaving beneath the waning moon. 似 in 人似花 is read sì. 金翠羽 evokes the pipa’s decoration, while the oriole’s voice describes its sound.