许渊冲先生在《诗书人生》中谈到自己对诗词的翻译。
许先生香港出版的《唐宋词一百首》中《长相思》译文如下：
See the Bian River flow
And the Si River flow!
By Ancient Ferry, mingling waves, they go;
The Southern hills reflect my woe.
My thought stretches endlessly;
My grief wretches endlessly.
Oh, when wil my husband come back to me?
Alone I lean on moonlit balcony.
许先生在《唐宋三百首》中《长相思》改译：
See Northern River flow
And Western River flow!
By Melon Islet, mingling waves, they go.
The Southern hills dotted with woe.
O how can I forget?
How can I not regret?
My deep sorrow will last till with you I have met.
Waiting from moonrise to moonset.
“李煜的“剪不断，理还乱，是离愁。别是一般滋味在心头”
Cut, it won’t break;
Ruled, it will make
A mess and wake
An unspeakable taste in the heart.
Such is the grief to part.
《临江仙》译文
Wave on wave the long river eastward falls away;
Gone are all heroes with its spray on spray.
Success or failure, right or wrong, all turn out vain;
Only green mountains still remain
To se the setting sun’s departing ray.
The white-haired fishermen sail on the stream with ease，
Accustomed to the autumn moon and vernal breeze.
A pot of wine in hand, they talk as they please.
How many things before and after
All melt into gossip and laughter!