三生債

• 《三生債》 A debt of three lives

招子庸輯，金文泰譯

花花世界，問佢點樣子生埋。既係生埋在呢一處咯做乜又總總相乖？大抵紅粉與及青衫終會變改，所以情根唔肯向雪泥栽。點估話絲連藕斷結下三生債，致此牽纏風月在呢處柳巷花街。雖則你似野鶴我似閒鷗無乜俗態，縂係鴛鴦雲水兩兩相挨。我只話淡淡啫共你相交把情付與大海，點想心血一陣陣來潮呌我點樣子放開。到底舊受與及新歡我都唔會自觧。唉，真無了賴。罷咯，不若轉生來世共你海角天涯。

 In the world of flowers, aye of flowers, prithee, how were we twin-born?

And since we were twin-born in this place, why do we ever and ever turn one from the other?

In fine playthings of rouge and powder will, like green garments, alter at the last;

Therefore I am loth to plant passion’s root in the snow-frozen earth.

How could I think that fibre-tied, though root-broken, I should be bound through three lives to my love-debts,

Till thus I am entangled by wanton toils in yonder Willow Lane and Flower Street.

Albeit you like the wild stork, and I like the grey sea-gull, we bore ourselves in no vulgar wise?

‘Tis ever the teal that rely hen-bird on cock-bird, as the clouds on water.

Yet I have held but dull intercourse with you; my passion I have cast into the high seas.

How could I think that my heart’s blood would in a moment surge up as a flood? Tell me, how can I feel myself?

Withal, I cannot quit my old love and my new joy.

Ah! truly there is no ending.

Yes, ’twere best that reborn in the world to come, I stood beside you at corner of ocean and at verge of sky.