垓下歌(項羽)
力拔山兮氣蓋世,
時不利兮騅不逝.
騅不逝兮可奈何,
虞兮虞兮奈若何!
The Last Song
I could pull down a mountain with my might,
My fortune wanes and e'en my steed won't fight,
Whether my steed will fight, I do not care.
What can I do with you, my lady fair?
大風歌(劉邦)
大風起兮云飛揚,
威加海內兮歸故鄉,
安得猛士兮守四方!
Song Of The Big Wind
A big wind rises, clouds are driven away.
Home am I now the world is under my sway.
Where are brave men to guard the four frontiers today!
古詩十九首(Nineteen Old Poems)
之一
行行重行行，
與君生別離。
相去萬余里，
各在天一涯。
道路阻且長，
會面安可知。
胡馬依北風，
越鳥巢南枝。
相去日已遠，
衣帶日已緩。
浮云蔽白日，
游子不顧返。
思君令人老，
歲月忽已晚。
棄捐勿復道，
努力加餐飯。
(I)
You travel on and on
And leave me all alone.
Away ten thousand li,
At the end of the sea
Servered by hard, long way,
Oh, can we meet someday?
Northern steeds love cold breeze,
and southern birds warm trees.
The farther you are away,
The thinner I am each day.
The cloud has veiled the sun;
You won't come back, dear one.
Missing you makes me old;
Soon comes the winter cold.
Alas! Of me you're quit.
I hope you will keep fit.
之二
青青河畔草，
郁郁園中柳。
盈盈樓上女，
皎皎當窗牖。
娥娥紅粉妝，
纖纖出素手。
昔為娼家女，
今為蕩子夫。
蕩子行不歸，
空床難獨守。
(II)
Green, green, the riverside grass,
Fair, fair, the embowered lass.
White, white, from the windows she sees
Lush, lush, the garden's willow trees.
In rosy, rosy, dress she stands;
She puts forth slender, slender hands.
A singing girl in early life,
Now she is a deserted wift.
Her husband's gone far, far away.
How can she bear her lone, lone day!
之六
涉江采芙蓉，
蘭澤多芳草。
采之欲遺誰，
所思在遠道。
還顧望舊鄉，
長路漫浩浩。
同心而離居，
憂傷以終老。
(VI)
I gather lotus blooms across the stream,
In orchid swamps the fragrant flowers teem.
To whom am I to send this sweet bouquet?
The one I love is living far away.
Towards our old abode I turned my eyes
To find a long, long way between us lies.
We have same heart but live still far apart;
This grief can't be consoled e'en when I'm old.
之十三
驅車上東門，
遙望郭北墓。
白楊何蕭蕭，
松柏夾廣路。
下有陳死人，
杳杳即長暮。
潛寐黃泉下，
千載永不寤。
浩浩陰陽移，
年命如朝露。
人生忽如寄，
壽無金石固。
萬歲更相送，
賢圣莫能度。
服食求神仙，
多為藥所誤。
不如飲美酒，
被服紈與素。
(XIII)
I drive my chariot up to Eastern Gate
And see the northern graveyard from afar.
It's shaded by rustling aspens antiquate;
Flanked with pines and yews the pathways are.
Beneath lie those who died long, long ago,
Buried in eternal darkness they remain.
They sleep beside the Yellow Spring below,
From year to year they never wake again.
How many days and nights have come and gone!
Like morning dew our fleeting life will pass.
Man is an ephemeral phenomenon,
While fore'er last metals, stone and brass.
Do you want to enjoy longevity?
But in the end e'en saints and sages die.
If you by food seek immortality,
There's no elixir on which you can rely.
It's better to drink good wine while you may
And dress in silk and satin every day.
之十五
生年不滿百，
常懷千歲憂。
晝短苦夜長，
何不秉燭游！
為樂當及時，
何能待來茲？
愚者愛惜費，
但為後世嗤。
仙人王子喬，
難可與等期。
(XV)
Few live to a hundred years,
Their sorrow longer still appears.
Whey day grows short and long grows night,
Why not go out in candlelight?
Enjoy the present time with laughter!
Why worry about the hereafter?
If you won't spend the wealth you've got,
Posterity will call you sot.
We cannot hope to rise as high
As an immortal in the sky.
十五從軍征
十五從軍征,
八十始得歸.
道逢鄉里人,
家中有阿誰.
遙看是君家,
松柏冢壘壘.
兔從狗竇入,
雉從梁上飛.
中庭生旅谷,
井上生旅葵.
舂谷持作飯,
采葵持作羹.
羹飯一時熟,
不知貽阿誰.
出門東向看,
淚落沾我衣.
Homecoming After War
At fifteen I left home to fight the foe
And could not go back till I was four-score.
On the way I meet a countryman I know;
I ask him who remains within my door.
"Seen from afar, your house is over there,
'Mid graves where pine and cypress stand aloof."
Arrived, I see in dog hole run a hare
And a pheasant fly from beam of roof.
In middle courtyard grows only wild grain
And by the well grows mallow I can eat.
I pluck the grain and boil it as food plain
And put the mallow in the soup I heat.
When I have cooked the simple, homely fare,
Who will eat it with me? No one appears.
I go outdoors and eastwards fix my stare,
My furrowed face and clothes wet with tears.
上山采蘼蕪
上山采蘼蕪,
下山逢故夫.
長跪問故夫,
新人復如何.
新人雖言好,
未若故人姝.
顏色類相似,
手爪不相如.
新人從門入,
故人從闔去.
新人工織縑,
故人工織素.
織縑日以匹,
織素五丈余.
將縑來比素,
新人不如故.
The Old Wife And The New
She goes uphill where herbs appear;
Downhill, she meets her former husband dear.
She kneels and asks him, "How do you...
How do you find your young wife new?"
"Though my new wife is no less fair,
My old wife is beyond compare.
In looks by your side she may stand,
But she's less clever with her hand.
Since she came in through the front door,
At home I can find you no more.
She's good at embroidering skein,
While you are good at sewing plain.
She weaves one foot of silk a day;
You weave five feet without delay.
Her work compared with yours, all told,
The new is not up to the old."
陌上桑
日出動南隅,
照我秦氏樓.
秦氏有好女,
自名為羅敷.
羅敷喜蠶桑,
采桑城南隅.
青絲為籠系,
桂枝為籠鉤.
頭上倭墮髻,
耳中明月珠.
湘綺為下裙,
紫綺為上襦.
行者見羅敷,
下擔捋髭須.
少年見羅敷,
脫帽著鞘頭.
耕者忘綺犁,
鋤者忘綺鋤.
來歸相怒怒,
但坐觀羅敷.
使君從南來,
五馬立踟躕.
使君遣吏往,
問是誰家姝.
秦氏有好女,
自名為羅敷.
羅敷年幾何.
二十尚不足,
十五頗有余.
使君謝羅敷,
寧可共載不.
羅敷前置詞,
使君一何愚.
使君自有婦,
羅敷自有夫.
東方千余騎,
夫婿居上頭.
何用識夫婿,
白馬從驪駒.
青絲系馬尾,
黃金絡馬頭.
腰中鹿盧劍,
可值千萬余.
十五府小史,
二十朝大夫.
二十侍中郎,
四十專城居.
為人潔白皙,
鬑鬑頗有須.
盈盈公府步,
冉冉府中趨.
坐中數千人,
皆言夫婿殊.
The Roadside Mulberry
The rising sun from southeast nooks
Shines on the house of Qin, who
Has a daughter of lovely looks;
She calls herself Luo-fu.
She picks mulberry leaves still new
To feed silkworms in southern nook,
Her basket's bound with silk thread blue,
Of laurel bough is made a hook.
Her hair is dressed in pretty braid,
Like moonbeams her pearl earrings shine,
Of yellow silk her apron's made,
Her cloak of purple damask fine.
When she is seen by passers-by,
The stroke their beards and there take root;
When she appears in young men's eye,
They doff their caps and make salute.
The ploughman thinks not of his plough,
The hoer leaves in field his hoe.
Back, they find fault with their wives now,
For they have seen Luo-fu aglow.
From the south comes the governor,
Whose carriage and five stop and stay.
He sends men to inquire of her.
"Who are you, pretty maid?" ask they.
"I call my humble self Luo-fu."
"Pretty Luo-fu, how old are you?"
"My age is still less than a score,
But much more than fifteen, much more."
"Our lord bids us to ask Luo-fu,
Will you ride with our lord, will you?"
Luo-fu steps forth and makes reply:
"What nonsense you are talking! Why,
Your Excellency has his wife;
I have my husband dear for life.
There are more than a thousand steeds
In the east that my husband leads."
"But how can I your husband know?"
"Ah, by his horse as white as snow,
Whose tail is tied with a blue thread,
With golden halters round its head;
By the sword with its hilt of jade,
For which its weight in gold he paid.
"At fifteen he was a junior clerk;
At twenty he did a courtier's work;
At thirty he wore chamberlain's gown;
At forty he was lord of a town.
"His face and skin are white and fair,
A rather long beard he does wear.
In the court he walks to and fro,
And goes to the palace with steps slow.
Among the thousands in the hall,
He's deemed the most distinguished of all."
落葉哀蟬曲
(劉徹)
羅袂兮無聲,
玉墀兮塵生
虛房冷而寂寞,
落葉依于重扃
望彼美之女兮安得,
感余心之未寧
The Fair Lady Li
Tune:"Fallen Leaves And Plaintive Cicada"
No Rustle of her silken sleeves,
On marble steps dust lies,
Her empty room is cold with sighs.
Against her locked door are heaped up fallen leaves.
In vain I'm longing for my lady fair,
My heart is aching, for she's gone for'er.
秋風辭
秋風起兮白云飛,
草木黃落兮雁南歸.
蘭有秀兮菊有芳,
懷佳人兮不能忘.
泛樓船兮濟汾河,
橫中流兮揚素波.
簫鼓鳴兮發棹歌,
歡樂極兮哀情多.
少壯幾時兮奈老何
Song Of The Autumn Wind
The Autumn wind rises and white clouds fly,
when leaves turn yellow, wild geese head for southern sky.
The orchids and chrysanthemums still sweeten the air.
Oh, how can I forget my lady sweet and fair!
I go aboard a bark to cross the river long;
It reaches midstream when I see the waves rise white.
The flutes ad drums keep time to the rowers' song,
But sorrow comes when pleasure reaches its height.
How long will youth endure when old age is in sight!
秋扇怨(班婕妤)
新裂齊紈素,
鮮潔如霜雪.
裁為合歡扇,
團團似明月.
出入君懷袖,
動搖微風發.
常恐秋節至,
涼飆奪炎熱.
棄捐篋笥中,
恩情中道絕.
Lament Of The Autumn Fan
Fresh from the weaver's loom, O silk so white,
As clear as frost, as winter snow as bright.
Fashioned into a fan, token of love,
You are as round as brilliant moon above.
In my lord's sleeve when in or out he goes,
You wave and shake and a light wind blows.
I fear when comes the autumn day,
And chilling wind drives summer heat away,
You'll be discarded to a lonely place,
And with my lord fall into disgrace.
別妻(蘇武)
結發為夫妻,
恩愛兩不疑.
歡娛在今夕,
燕婉及良時.
征夫懷往路,
起視夜何其.
參辰皆已沒,
去去從此辭.
行役在戰場,
相見未有期.
握手一長嘆,
淚為生別滋.
努力愛春華,
莫忘歡樂時.
生當復來歸,
死當長相思.
To My Wife
In wedlock we are man and wife,
Our love is never borken by doubt.
Let us enjoy once more such life,
Because tomorrow I'll set out.
Thinking of the long way I'll go,
I rise and see how old is night.
Dim in the sky all the stars grow;
I'll part from you before daylight.
Away to battlefield I'll hie,
I know not when we'll meet again.
Holding your hand, I give a sigh;
Letting it go, my teardrops rain.
Try to love spring's delightful view;
Do not forget our happy days!
Safe and sound, I'll come back to you;
E'en dead, my soul with you e'er stays.
觀滄海(曹操)
東臨碣石，
以觀滄海。
水何澹澹，
山島竦峙。
樹木叢生，
百草豐茂。
秋風蕭瑟，
洪波涌起。
日月之行，
若出其中；
星漢燦爛，
若出其里。
幸甚至哉！
歌以詠志。
The Sea
I come to view the boundless ocean
From Stony Hill on eastern shore.
Its water rolls in rhythmic motion,
And islands stand amid its roar.
Tree on tree grows from peak to peak;
Grass on grass looks lush far and nigh.
The autumn wind blows drear and bleak;
The monstrous billows surge up high.
The sun by day, the moon by night
Appear to rise up from the deep.
The Milky Way with stars so bright
Sinks down into the sea in sleep.
How happy I feel at this sight!
I croon this poem in delight.
龜雖壽
神龜雖壽，
猷有竟時。
騰蛇乘霧，
終為土灰。
老驥伏櫪，
志在千里；
烈士暮年，
壯心不已。
盈縮之期，
不但在天；
養怡之福，
可得永年。
幸甚至哉！
歌以詠志。
The Indomitable Soul
Although long lives the tortoise wise,
In the end he cannot but die.
The dragon in the mist may rise,
But in the dust he too shall lie.
Although the stabled steed is old,
He dreams to run a thousand li.
In life's December heroes bold
Indomitable still will be.
It is not up to Heaven alone
To lengthen or shorten our days.
Let's cultivate our minds and live on
Through long years, if we know the ways.
How happy I feel at this thought!
I croon this poem as I ought.
短歌行(曹丕)
仰瞻帷幕,
俯察幾筵.
其物為故,
其人不存.
神靈倏忽,
棄我遐遷.
靡瞻靡恃,
泣涕漣漣.
呦呦游鹿,
銜草鳴麂.
翩翩飛鳥,
挾子巢棲.
我獨孤焚,
懷此百離.
猶心孔疚,
莫我能知.
人變有言,憂令人老.
嗟我白發,生一何早.
長吟永嘆,懷我對考.
曰仁考壽,胡不是保.
On The Death Of My Father
Raising my eyes, I see his screen;
Bending my head, his table clean.
These things are there just as before,
The man who owned them is no more.
Suddenly his spirit has flown
And left me fatherless, alone.
Who'd look to me? On whom rely?
Tear upon tear streams from my eyes.
The deer are bleating here and there,
They feed the young ones in their care.
The birds are flying east and west,
Feeding the nestlings in the nest.
Alone I'm desolate the drear,
Servered from the father I revere.
Deep in my heart grief overflows,
But no one knows, no one knows.
'Tis said that sorrow makes us old
And early grow white hair. Behold!
For the deceased I wail and sigh;
If the good live long, why should he die!
七步詩(曹植)
煮豆燃豆箕,
豆在釜中泣.
本是同根生,
相煎何太急.
Written While Taking Seven Paces
Pods burned to cook peas,
Peas weep in the pot:
"Grown from the same trees,
Why boil us so hot?"
七哀
明月照高樓,
流光正徘徊.
上有愁思婦,
悲嘆有余哀.
借問嘆者誰,
云是宕子妻.
君行逾十年,
孤妾常獨棲.
君若清路塵,
妾若濁水泥.
浮沉各異勢,
會合何時諧.
愿為西南風,
長逝入君懷.
君懷良不開,
賤妾當何依.
Lament
Softly on the tower streams of light play;
It seems the moon is loath to move away.
For here is beauty wilting, tender sighs,
Telling of a tender heart in pain, which cries.
May we ask who is there so full of ruth?
A wife in name, a widow, ah, in truth!
"You are far, far away for o'er ten years;
I am alone, alone and oft in tears.
"You're like the dust drawn upward on the way;
Like mud in dirty water still I stay.
One sinking, the other swimming we remain.
If ever, when are we to meet again?
"Would that I were the wind from the southwest,
That I could rush across the land to your breast!
From your embrace, if you should shut me out,
Where should I go? Where should I roam about?"
孔雀東南飛
孔雀東南飛
五里一徘徊
十三能織素
十四學裁衣
十五彈箜篌
十六誦詩書
十七為君婦
心中常苦悲
君既為府吏, 守節情不移
賤妾留空房, 相見常日稀
雞鳴入機織
夜夜不得息
三日斷五疋
大人故嫌遲
非為織作遲
君家婦難為
妾不堪驅使
徒留無所施
便可白公姥
及時相遣歸
府吏得聞之
堂上啟阿母
兒已薄祿相
幸復得此婦
結發同枕席
黃泉共為友
共事二三年
始而未為久
女行無偏斜
何意致不厚
阿母謂府吏
何乃太區區
此婦無禮節
舉動自專由
吾意久懷忿
汝豈得自由
東家有賢女
自名秦羅敷
可憐體無比
阿母為汝求
便可速遣之
遣去慎莫留
府吏長跪告
伏惟啟阿母
今若遣此婦
終老不復娶
阿母得聞之
槌床便大怒
小子無所畏
何敢助婦語
吾已失恩意
會不相從許
府吏默無聲
再拜還入戶
舉言謂新婦
哽咽不能語
我自不驅卿
逼迫有阿母
卿但暫還家
吾今且報府
不久當歸還
還必相迎取
以此下心意
慎勿違我語
新婦謂府吏
勿復重紛紜
往昔初陽歲
謝家來貴門
奉事循公姥
進止敢自專
晝夜勤作息
伶俜縈苦辛
謂言無罪過
供養卒大恩
仍更被驅遣
何言復來還
妾有繡腰襦
葳蕤自生光
紅羅復斗帳
四角垂香囊
箱簾六七十
綠碧青絲繩
物物各具異
種種在其中
人賤物亦鄙
不足迎后人
留待作遣施
于今無會因
時時為安慰
久久莫相忘
雞鳴外欲曙
新婦起嚴妝
著我繡夾裙
事事四五通
足下躡絲履
頭上玳瑁光
腰若流紈素
耳著明月當
指如削蔥根
口如含珠丹
纖纖作細步
精妙世無雙
上堂謝阿母
母聽怒不止
昔作女兒時
生小出野里
本自無教訓
兼愧貴家子
受母錢幣多
不堪母驅使
今日還家去
念母勞家里
卻與小姑別
淚落連珠子
新婦初來時
小姑始扶床
今日被驅遣
小姑如我長
勤心養公姥
好自相扶將
初七及下九
嬉戲莫相忘
出門登車去
涕落百余行
府吏馬在前
新婦車在后
隱隱何甸甸
俱會大通口
下馬入車中
低頭共耳語
誓不相隔卿
且暫還家去
吾今且赴府
不久當還歸
誓天不相負
新婦謂府吏
感君區區懷
君既若見錄
不久望君來
君當作磐石
妾當作蒲葦
蒲葦韌如絲
磐石無轉移
我有親父兄
性行暴如雷
恐不任我意
逆以煎我懷
舉手長勞勞
二情同依依
入門上家堂
進退無顏儀
阿母大拊掌
不圖子自歸
十三教汝織
十四能裁衣
十五彈箜篌
十六知禮儀
十七遣汝嫁
謂言無誓違
汝今何罪過
不迎而自歸
蘭芝懟阿母 兒實無罪過
阿母大悲摧
還家十余日
縣令遣媒來
云有第三郎
窈窕世無雙
年始十八九
便言多令才
阿母謂阿女
汝可去應之
阿女含淚答
蘭芝初還時
府吏見叮嚀
結誓不別離
今日違情義
恐此事非奇
自可斷來信
徐徐更謂之
阿母白媒人
貧賤有此女
始適還家門
不堪吏人婦
豈合令郎君
幸可廣問訊
不得便相許
媒人去數日
尋遣丞請還
說有蘭家女
丞籍有宦官
云有第五郎
嬌逸未有婚
遣丞為媒人
主簿通語言
直說太守家
有此令郎君
既欲結大義
故遣來貴門
阿母謝媒人
女子先有誓
老姆豈敢言
阿兄得聞之
悵然心中煩
舉言謂阿妹
作計何不量
先嫁得府吏
后嫁得郎君
否泰如天地 足以榮汝身
不嫁義郎體
其往欲何云
蘭芝仰頭答
理實如兄言
謝家事夫君
中道還兄門
處分適兄意
那得自任專
雖與府吏約
后會永無緣
登即相許和
便可作婚姻
媒人下床去 諾諾復爾爾
還部白府君
下官奉使命 言談大有緣
府君得聞之 心中大歡喜
視歷復開書
便利此月內
六合正相應
良吉三十日
今已二十七
卿可去成婚
交語速裝束
絡繹如浮云
青雀白鵠舫
四角龍子幡 婀娜隨風轉
金車玉作輪 躑躅青驄馬
流蘇金縷鞍
齋錢三百萬 皆用青絲穿
雜采三百疋
交廣市鮭珍
從人四五百 郁郁登郡門
阿母謂阿女
適得府君書
明日來迎汝
何不作衣裳
莫令事不舉
阿女默無聲
手巾掩口啼
淚落便如瀉
移我琉璃榻
出置前廳下
左手持刀尺
右手執綾羅
朝成繡夾裙
晚成單羅衫
暗暗日欲暝
愁思出門啼
府吏聞此變
因求假暫歸
未至二三里
摧藏馬悲哀
新婦識馬聲
躡履相逢迎
悵然遙相望
知是故人來
舉手拍馬鞍
嗟嘆使心傷
自君別我后
人事不可量
果不如先愿
又非君所詳
我有親父母
逼迫兼弟兄
以我應他人
君還何所望
府吏謂新婦
賀君得高遷
磐石方且厚
可以卒千年
蒲葦一時韌
便作旦夕間
卿當日勝貴
吾獨向黃泉
新婦謂府吏
何意出此言
同是被逼迫
君爾妾亦然
黃泉下相見
勿違今日言
執手分道去
各各還家門
生人作死別
恨恨那可論
念與世間辭
千萬不復全
府吏還家去
上堂拜阿母
今日大風寒 寒風摧樹木
嚴霜結庭蘭
兒今日冥冥
令母在后單
故作不良計
勿復怨鬼神
命如南山石
四體康且直
阿母得聞之
零淚應聲落
汝是大家子
仕宦于臺閣
慎勿為婦死
貴賤情何薄
東家有賢女
窈窕艷城郭
阿母為汝求
便復在旦夕
府吏再拜還 長嘆空房中
作計乃爾立
轉頭向戶里
漸見愁煎迫
其日牛馬嘶
新婦入青廬
奄奄黃昏后
寂寂人定初
我命絕今日
魂去尸長留
攬裙脫絲履
舉身赴清池
府吏聞此事
心知長別離
徘徊庭樹下
自掛東南枝
兩家求合葬
合葬華山傍
東西植松柏
左右種梧桐
枝枝相覆蓋
葉葉相交通
中有雙飛鳥
自名為鴛鴦
仰頭相向鳴
夜夜達五更
行人駐足聽
寡婦起彷徨
多謝后世人
戒之慎勿忘
A Pair of Peacocks Southeast Fly
A pair of peacocks southeast fly;
At each mile they look back and cry.
"I could weave," said Lan-zhi, "at thirteen
And learned to cut clothes at fourteen;
At fifteen to play music light;
At sixteen to read and to write.
At seventeen to you I was wed.
What an austere life I have led!
You're an official far away;
I toil as housewife night and day.
At daybreak I begin to weave;
At night the loom I dare not leave.
I've finished five rolls in three days,
Yet I am blamed for my delays.
Not that my work is done too slow,
But hard your housewife's role does grow.
If Mother thinks I am no good,
What use to stay, although I would?
Will you come and to Mother say,
Send me back home without delay?"
Jiao Zhong-qing came home at her call
And said to his mother in the hall,
"I'm destined for a humble life;
By fortune I have this good wife.
We've shared the pillow, mat and bed,
And we'll be man and wife till dead.
We've lived together but three years,
Which not too long to me appears.
She has done nothing wrong, I find.
Why should you be to her unkind?"
His mother said then in reply,
"You are indeed shortsighted. Why,
This wife of yours with me goes ill;
She always does whate'er she will.
I've been offended by her for long.
How dare you say she's done no wrong?
In the east there's a match for you,
A maiden whose name's Qin Luo-fu,
A peerless beauty of this land.
I'll go for you to ask her hand.
Now send your slut out of our door!
She should not stay here anymore."
Zhong-qing knelt down with trunk erect
And said to her with due respect,
"If you should send away my wife,
I won't remarry all my life."
The mother was angry at his word;
Her strumming on the stool was heard.
"Has filial reverence come to nil?
Defend your wife against my will!
You are such an ungrateful son!
Of your request I will grant none."
Zhong-qing dared not speak anymore,
But bowed and entered his own door.
He tells his wife when she appears,
His voice choked so with bitter tears,
"Not that I would send you away,
But Mother won't allow you to stay.
Return to your brother's house, so
That to my office I may go.
When I have finished my work, then
I'll come and fetch you home again.
Do not be grieved to say adieu,
But keep in mind what I''ve told you!"
"Nay, make no care to come for me!"
To her husband addresses she.
"One early spring day, I recall,
I left home for your entrance hall.
I've done what Mother ordered me.
Dare I be careless and carefree?
I do hard labour day and night;
Alone I toil with all my might.
I think I have done nothing wrong,
Still with Mother I can't get along.
To what avail to talk about
Returning now I'm driven out!
"I'll leave my jacket of brocade,
Whose lacings bright of gold are made,
And my canopy of gauze red,
Whose four corners with perfume spread,
And sixty trunks and coffers tied
With silken threads all in green dyed,
Where different things you will find;
Not two of them are of a kind.
They are as cheap as I, it's true,
Not good enough for your spouse new.
So as gifts you may share them out,
As we can't meet again, no doubt.
Keep them in memory of me!
Forgetful we can never be."
At dawn she roses at the cockcrow
And made up with care, ready to go.
She put on an embroidered gown
And checked it over, up and down.
She put on shoes made of brocade,
Of tortoise shell her hairpin's made.
Her waist was girt with girdle white,
Her earrings shone like moonlight bright.
She had tapering finger tips,
Like rubies were her rouged lips.
She moved at slow and easy pace,
Unrivalled in the human race.
She came to his mother in the hall,
Who said no tender words at all.
"While young, before I was a spouse,
I lived but in a country house.
Not well instructed or wide read,
For noble heir I was ill-bred.
Though kindly you have treated me,
Yet I'm not dutiful," said she,
"So I must go back in despair,
Leaving to you all household care."
She said to his sister good-bye;
Bitter tears trickled from her eye.
"When your brother and I were wed,
You came around our nuptial bed.
You are as tall as I today,
When I am to be driven away.
Take good care of your mother old,
And take good care of your household!
When maidens hold their festive day,
Do not forget me while you play."
She went out and got on the cart;
Tears streamed down, heavy was her heart.
Jiao Zhong-qing rides before, his mind
Turning to his wife's cart behind.
The cart's rumble's heard to repeat,
The husband stops where four roads meet.
He gets down from his horse, comes near
His wife and whispers in her ear,
"I swear not to leave you long, my spouse.
Return now to your brother's house.
When I have finished my work, then
I'll come and fetch you home again.
I swear to heaven high above."
Lan-zhi says to her husband dear,
"I'm touched by your love sincere.
If I'm engraved deep in your mind,
Come then in time and not behind!
If as the rock your love is strong,
Then mine as creeping vine is long.
The vine's resistant as silk thread;
No one could lift a rock o'erhead.
But my brother's temper is hot,
Look on me kindly he will not.
I am afraid he'll never care
What I like, and it's hard to bear."
They wave their hands with broken heart,
From each other they will not part.
Lan-zhi came to her mother's place,
Feeling embarrassed in disgrace.
Her mother clapped loud in surprise:
"How can you come back in this guise!
You were taught to weave at thirteen;
To cut the clothes at fourteen;
At fifteen to play music light;
At sixteen to perform the rite.
At seventeen you were a bride;
By your husband you should abide.
Had you done nothing wrong at all,
Why come back alone to my hall?"
Lan-zhi told her mother the truth,
Who was moved to tears, full of ruth.
She had been back many a day,
A go-between then came to say,
"Our magistrate has a third son,
Whose good looks are second to none.
Though at eighteen or nineteen years,
For eloquence he has no peers."
Her mother said to her, "consent
To this proposal benevolent!"
But she only answered in tears,
"Can I forget my married years?
My husband vowed when we parted then,
Never should we sever again.
If I should break my word today,
I would regret for e'er and aye.
Will you please tell the go-between
Gently and clearly what I mean?"
Her mother told the messenger,
"This humble daughter of mine, sir,
Sent back by an official of late,
Can't match son of magistrate.
Why not inquire another house
Where may be found a better spouse?"
No sooner had gone this messenger
Than came one from the governor.
"You have a daughter fair," said he,
"Of an official's family.
Our governor has a fifth son,
Unmarried, he's a handsome one.
My lord's secretary asked me
His lordship's go-between to be.
I was told to say openly
I come for my lord's family.
His son will have your daughter for spouse.
That's why I'm sent to your noble house."
Mother LIu thanked the messenger,
But said she could not order her
Who'd made a vow, to break her word.
By Lan-zhi's brother this was heard;
As it troubled his worldly mind,
He spoke to Lan-zhi words unkind.
"Why don't you, sister, think it o'er?
You left then an official's door;
Now you may marry a noble son;
Good luck comes when bad luck is done.
If you refuse this honour great,
I know not what will be your fate."
Lan-zhi replied, raising her head,
"Brother, it's right what you have said.
I left you once to be a spouse
Sent back, again I'm in your house.
So I'm at your disposal now.
Can I do what you don't allow?
Though I vowed to my husband dear,
We cannot meet again, I fear.
So you may marry me at will,
My obligation I'll fulfill."
The go-between learned what they said,
To his lord's house he went ahead.
He said his errand was well done;
The lord rejoiced for his fifth son.
He found in the almanac soon
The auspicious date of that moon.
He said to his subordinate,
"The thirtieth day is the best date.
That is only three days ahead.
Arrange the marriage in my stead."
The lord's order was given loud;
People bustled like floating cloud.
They painted with bird designs the boat
And with dragons the flag afloat.
A golden cab with wheels trimmed with jade
And golden saddles for steeds were made.
Three thousand strings of coins were sent
And silks to the bride with compliment.
Delicacies from land and sea
Were bought by two corteges or three.
Mother Liu told her daughter, "Word
Comes from the govrnor have you heard?
Tomorrow is your wedding day.
Put yourself in bridal array.
Make your own dress ere it's too late!"
Lan-zhi sat in a pensive state.
She sobbed 'neath her handkerchief,
And streaming tears revealed her grief.
She dragged a marble-seated chair
Towards the windows in despair,
In her left hand the scissors bright
And silk and satin in her right.
At noon a jacket new was made
And at dusk a robe in brocade.
Behind dark clouds the sun down crept,
Grief-stricken, she went out and wept.
Zhong-qing, at this news of his spouse,
Asks leave and starts out for her house.
After a short ride on his way,
His horse makes an anguished neigh.
This neigh is familiar to her ears;
She comes out before he appears.
She gazes afar, at a loss
What to say when he comes across.
She pats the horse when it comes nigh,
And then says with a woeful sigh,
"Alas! Since you parted with me,
What's happened we could not foresee,
Our hope cannot be realized.
On hearing this, you'll be surprised.
I was compelled by my own mother
Together with my tyrant brother
To wed another man at last.
What can we do? The die is cast."
Jiao Zhong-qing tells his former wife,
"I wish you a happier life!
The lofty rock steadfast appears;
It will stand for thousands of years.
Howe'er resistant the vine may be,
'Twill lose its toughness easily.
May you live happier day by day!
Alone to death I'll go my way."
"Why say such cruel things to me?"
To her former husband says she,
"We are compelled, both you and I
How could I live if you should die?
E'en dead, let us together stay!
Forget not what we've said today!"
They stand long hand in hand before
They go each to his or her door.
No lovers know a sharper pain
Than to part till death joins them again.
They're willing to breathe their last breath;
A severed life is worse than death.
Jiao Zhong-qing went home full of gloom;
He went straight to his mother's room.
"Today the cold wind blows down trees;
Bitten by frost, the orchids freeze.
I fear my life will end like the tree,
Leaving you alone after me.
That's what such forebodings proclaim.
Don't lay on gods or ghosts the blame!
May you like hillside rock live long
With your four limbs both straight and strong!"
On hearing this, his mother shed
Copious tears before she said,
"As sone of noble family,
A high official you should be.
How could you die for such a wife?
Don't play down on your noble life!
There's a maiden in east neighborhood,
Beside her no one else is good.
I have wooed her to be your spouse;
Soon the reply will come to our house."
Zhong-qing retired to his empty room,
Determined not to be a bridegroom.
He sighed and glanced towards the hall,
Seeing his tragic curtain fall.
In the blue tent on her wedding day
Lan-zhi heard cows low and steeds neigh.
At dusk the ghostly twilight waned;
The guests gone, lonely she remained.
"My life," she thought, "will end today.
My soul will go, but my body stay."
She doffed her silken shoes to drown
Herself in uprolled wedding gown.
This news came to her Zhong-qing's ear;
He would not be severed from his dear.
To and fro in the yard paced he,
Then hanged himself beneath a tree.
Their families, after they died,
Buried them by the mountainside.
Pine trees were planted left and right,
And planes and cypresses on the site.
Their foliage darkens the groud;
Their branches intertwined are found.
A pair of peacocks fly above;
They are well known as birds of love.
Heads up, they sing song after song,
From night to night, and all night long.
A passer-by would stand spellbound;
A lonely widow would wake dumfound.
Men of poserity, I pray,
Do not forget that bygone day!