漢末大亂,連年烽火,蔡文姬在逃難中被匈奴所擄,流落塞外,后來與左賢王結成夫妻,生了兩個兒女。在塞外她度過了十二個春秋,但她無時無刻不在思念故鄉(xiāng)。曹操平定了中原,與匈奴修好,派使節(jié)用
重金贖回文姬,于是她寫下了著名長詩《胡笳十八拍》,敘述了自己一生不幸的遭遇。
《胡笳十八拍·第十六拍》 蔡琰
十六拍兮思茫茫,我與兒兮各一方。
日東月西兮徒相望,不得相隨兮空斷腸。
對萱草兮徒想憂忘,彈鳴琴兮情何傷。
今別子兮歸故鄉(xiāng),舊怨平兮新怨長。
泣血仰頭兮訴蒼蒼,生我兮獨罹此殃。
Eighteen Songs of a Nomad Flute Song 16 Cai Yan
In my fifteenth song the tempo of the melody quickens,
The spirit which rises in my breast, who understands its song?
I lived in a yurt with the nomads, their customs so different and strange,
I longed to return to my home, and Heaven granted my wish,
My return to China should be enough to gladden my heart.
But my heart is full of memories that feed my ever-deepening sorrow,
The sun and moon are impartial, yet they fail to shine on me.
The thoughts of children and mother separated are hard to bear;
Though the same sky is our canopy, we are like distant constellations,
Not knowing if one or another lives or dies, or where we might find each other.