《将进酒》唐·李白 Bring in the wine by Li Bai [Tang Dynasty]

Original Text

君不见，黄河之水天上来，奔流到海不复回。
君不见，高堂明镜悲白发，朝如青丝暮成雪。
人生得意须尽欢，莫使金樽空对月。
天生我材必有用，千金散尽还复来。
烹羊宰牛且为乐，会须一饮三百杯。
岑夫子，丹丘生，将进酒，杯莫停。
与君歌一曲，请君为我倾耳听。
钟鼓馔玉不足贵，但愿长醉不复醒。
古来圣贤皆寂寞，惟有饮者留其名。
陈王昔时宴平乐，斗酒十千恣欢谑。
主人何为言少钱，径须沽取对君酌。
五花马，千金裘，
呼儿将出换美酒，与尔同销万古愁。

Annotated

Translation

Translation by Stephen Owen, 
from An Anthology of Chinese Literature

Look there!
The waters of the Yellow River
coming down from Heaven,
rush in their flow to the sea,
never turn back again.
Look there!
Bright in the mirrors of mighty halls
a grieving for white hair,
this morning blue-black strands of silk,
and now with evening turned to snow.
For satisfaction in this life
taste pleasure to the limit,
And never let a goblet of gold
face the bright moon empty.
Heaven bred in me talents,
and they must be put to use.
I toss away a thousand in gold,
it comes right back to me.
So boil a sheep,
butcher an ox,
make merry for a while,
And when you sit yourselves to drink, always
down three hundred cups.
Hey, Master Cen,
Ho, Dan-qiu,
Bring in the wine!
Keep the cups coming!
And I, I'll sing you a song,
You bend me your ears and listen--
The bells and drums, the tasty morsels,
It’s not these that I love--
All I want is to stay dead drunk
and never sober up.
The sages and worthies of ancient days
now lie silent now forever,
And only the greatest drinkers
have a fame that lingers on!
Once long ago
the Prince of Chen
held a party in Ping-le Lodge.
A gallon of wine cost ten thousand cash,
all the joy and laughter they pleased.
So you, my host,
How can you tell me you're short on cash?
Go right out!
Buy us some wine!
And I'll do the pouring for you!
Then take my dappled horse,
take my furs worth a fortune,
Just call for the boy to get them,
and trade them for lovely wine,
And here together we'll melt the sorrows
of all eternity!