The Latter Prose On The Red Cliff（1）（By Sushi）

胡骁 许敏

Abstract：In the Latter Prose On The Red Cliff， the great litterateur of Song Dynasty，Sushi，has vividly shown us the bleakness presented by the Red Cliff and the river in the night time of winter season.The authors emotion and thought combined with the scenery are so delicately delineated through his words that every one of us who have read it will be touched.This prose has been acknowledged as one of the most splendid literary works throughout ancient Chinese literature.

Key words：The Latter Prose On The Red Cliff； Sushi； ancient Chinese literature

Its October 15th（2）when I walked from the Snow Hall（3）homeward，heading towards my then dwelling situated in the Lingao Courtyard（4）.Two guests were by my side，together with whom I walked past the Huangni Hillside（5）. Now frost and dew，both having fallen down aground，while there were hardly leaves of trees coming into view，which had almost all fallen and left bareness all around； up head we saw the bright moon， reflecting our shadows on the ground； looking around we found the situation a source of fun，and not having our steps paused，we walked on and with poems sung and recited，by way of which we to each other mutually responded.

After a while，pitifully I pronounced：“With guests but no drinks，and drinks but no dishes；in such a night with clear moonlight，with our skin softly by breezes touched，how shall we enjoy the good time to the fullest？”One guest to my words responded：“Today I cast a net for fishing when its nearly sunset，after which some fish were caught；having big mouth and thin scales as the main character，the fish resemble perches in the Song River（6）.But where can we get our drinks？”When back in home I talked with my wife over this.She then answered me thus：“I have a dou（7）of drink in the house，which has been for long stored，in case you require it in times of need”.

So with our prepared drink and fish taken，to the place under the Red Cliff we took another excursion.What a scene now presenting before our eyes！In the river were purling streams，running without cessation and with sounds they thus made，the cliff being several thousand feet high from top to the ground；the mountain was so high that the moon seemed dwarfed，rocks being shown when the level of the river declined.Oh，how short it was the interval between now and we last met！yet we could no longer recognize everything in our front.Thus we began our way ashore after lifting our sleeves on foot，surmounting the cliff where the path was steep and abrupt，meanwhile passing through rampant thorns and rank grasses，after which I now squatted myself upon stones shaped tiger or leopard-wise，and now over trees with branches twisted dragon-like I scrambled，and now up unto rocks where there were perched hawks nests I climbed，looking down at Pingyis（8）palace，which ‘s deep down into the water with an air of stillness.The aforementioned scene was viewed only by me on the cliff which was so lofty，the height of which made me incapable of my two guests company.I then uttered a loud howl which cut sharply through the quiet air， the sound of which vibrated trees and grasses here and there； the mountain being responding to me，and echoes being made from the valley； winds being everywhere，undulating the surface of the river.Silent and even sepulchral，the bleak quietness struck me inwardly sorrowful，of whose solemnness I was in awe，making me dare not stay there any more.We rowed it to the river center after going back to board the boat，letting it stop anywhere as freely as it went.

To midnight the time being declined，a sensation of bleakness and desolation struck us as we looked around.There appeared in our view a solitary stork suddenly，flying across the river eastwardly. Having wings whose sizes were as big as wheels，the storks black feathers were skirt-like and white ones garment-like； flying across our boat with its long and screeching whines，then to the east gone with the stork.

A little time elapsed，the guests and I were back on shore and away they went，after which I also went back home and slept.There appeared a Taoist in my dream，who walked with a lithe gait and wore clothes feathers-weaved； after walking the path under the Lingao Courtyard，to me he came，then with hands folded in front（9）to me he bowed，by means of which greeting he asked，“Did the excursion to the Red Cliff give you much delight？”Surprised and wondered， I asked again and again his name，who was just bending his head down and kept silent all the time.“Alas，alas！Eureka！Wasnt it you that last night flew across us， making long and loud voices？”The said Taoist，who had now walked in my front，just said nothing and looked back to me and smiled，the act of which instantly made me awakened.By me the window being opened，and outdoors I looked around，yet no traces of him could be discovered.

【Annotation】

[1] A place whose location is in the southeastern part of Hubei Province，China，where the famous War of Red Cliff in the Three Kingdoms Time of Chinese history has ever taken place；at the time when this prose was written the author was politically degraded and transferred to Huangzhou County，a place near the aforementioned Red Cliff .This prose was written in AD 1082.

[2] The time here measured was according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

[3] The authors new dwelling in Huangzhou.

[4] A courtyard whose location the authors dwelling would be moved to the next.

[5] A hillside near where the author then lived.

[6] An important section of the Yangtze River which flows present Shanghai.

[7] A unit of measurement used in ancient China.

[8] The legendary River God living in the Yellow River，according to ancient Chinese mythology.

[9] A way of making greetings to each other which is widely used by ancient Chinese.

【译者简介】

胡骁（1990—），汉族，单位：西南科技大学外国语学院。