<Header>
<Author: 王維>
<Title: 西施詠>
<Format: 五言古詩>
<Year: 1987>
<BookName: 300 Tang Poems: A New Translation>
<Translator: 許淵冲, 陸佩弦, 吳鈞陶>
<TranslatedTitle: A Song of Xi Shi>
<BookPage: 59>
<UsedPage: 1>
<Feature: 4>
<End Header>
<Poem>
豔色天下重，
西施寧久微。
朝仍越溪女，
暮作吳宮妃。
賤日豈殊衆，
貴來方悟稀。
邀人傅香粉，
不自著羅衣。
君寵益嬌態，
君憐無是非。
當時浣紗伴，
莫得同車歸。
持謝鄰家子，
效顰安可希。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
As all the world thinks highly of Beauty,
Could Xi Shi live long in obscurity?
The morn saw her by Ruoye Stream a lass;
A concubine in the night in Wu's Palace.
Any different from others when one's low staying?
Rarities are noted when outstanding!
She beckoned maids to deck her face and tress,
And never by herself donned a silk dress.
She became pamper'd more, being doted on,
And the King himself knew not right from wrong.
Lasses washing gauze with her in days of yore
Could not come now in the same coach with her.
To her plain vicinage it must be known –
Not try to imitate her charming frown!
<End Translation>