《折桂令·咏蟠梅》见《乐府群玉》卷三。蟠梅,一种根干如龙盘蛇曲的梅树。在这首《咏蟠梅》小令中,周文质通过表现蟠梅耐寒的性能及其独特的造型,歌颂了它的高洁品格,从而使本曲成为蟠梅的礼赞。
周文质·《折桂令·咏蟠梅》
梨雪旋绕东风,
谁屈冰梢,
怪压苍松?
绿萼含香,
枯根层结,
春信重封。
清味远嫌蝶妒蜂,
老枝寒舞凤蟠龙。
夜月朦胧,
疏蕊纵横;
瘦影交加,
碎玉玲珑。
Ode to the Gnarled Plum
To the tune of Plucking Laurel
Zhou Wenzhi
Dancing with wind are clouds like pear flowers,
Ice of various shapes,
Cover the pines green.
Sweet is calyx green,
Roots twist and turn,
No sign shows the advent of spring.
The sweet scent keeps the butterflies and bees away,
The old branches dance like phoenix and dragon play.
Dim is the moonlit night,
Sparse flowers scattering about,
The ground dotted with thin shadows,
Like flowers of jade mallows.
(周方珠 译)