I will build you a house

我將為你建造一座屋宇

of limited chambers

房間有限

but it shall last

但將屹立

forever: four rooms

永世：四個空間

hewn in the side of stone

從石壁中鑿出

for you, my

為你受用，我的

only conqueror.

唯一的征服者。

In the south room all

南耳室配備一切

you will need for the journey

你出行的需要

—a chariot, a

——一架車輦，

dozen horses—

一隊馬匹——

opposite,

對面，

a figurine household

一個陶傭

posed in servitude

隨時侍奉，

and two bronze jugs, worth more

兩只銅壺，比一家人

than a family pays in taxes

用於活命和短暫安定

for the privilege to stay

所繳付的稅金

alive, a year, together…

更為昂貴……

but you’re bored.

然而你不知足。

Straight ahead then, the hall

往前，甬道

leading to you, my

通向你，我的

constant

每時每刻的

emperor. Here

君王。你

when the stench of your

在這裏分解

own diminishing

散發的惡臭

drives you to air (but

把你驅向空氣（卻無處

you will find none), here

可尋），還有

an incense burner

一盞香爐

in the form of the mountain

形如環繞你的

around you, where hunters pursue

博山，獵人在此

the sacred animal

and the peaks are drenched

追捕神獸

in sun.

而群峰在陽光中

沐浴。

For those times

in your niche when darkness

想到那漫長的

oppresses, I will set you

壁龕中黑暗的

a lamp. (And a statue

壓迫，我將為你

of the palace girl you most

置一盞燈。（執燈人

frequently coveted.)

是你最為垂涎的

宮女的形象。）

And for your body,

two thousand jade wafers

至於你的軀體，

with gold thread puzzled

兩千玉片

to a brilliant envelope,

用金縷編綴

a suit to keep

一個奇妙的口袋，

the shape of your death—

一件衣服

保存你死亡的形狀——

when you are long light and clouds

over the earth, just as the legends prophesy.

你將成為大地上永恒的

光和雲，如傳說中所預言。