<Header>
<Author: 張繼>
<Title: 節婦吟>
<Format: 樂府>
<Year: 1919>
<BookName: Gems of Chinese Verse>
<Translator: W. J. B. Fletcher>
<TranslatedTitle: THE RETORT COURTEOUS>
<BookPage: 160-161>
<UsedPage: 2>
<Feature: 0>
<End Header>
<Poem>
君知妾有夫，
贈妾雙明珠。
感君纏綿意，
系在紅羅襦。
妾家高樓連苑起，
良人執戟明光裏。
知君用心如日月，
事夫誓擬同生死。
還君明珠雙淚垂，
恨不相逢未嫁時。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
That I am duly married, assuredly you know,
And yet to me you send as gift twin pearls of mystic glow.
For this your kind devotion my heart must grateful be.
I hung within my red silk vest those pearls I might not show.
My dwelling is a lofty one within a stately dome.
My husband is a soldier who guards the Emperor's home.
I recognize your love as bright as shining sun or moon:
Yet swear to serve my husband, and never from him roam.
With your bright pearls I send again twin tears as crystal clear,
Regretting that we had not met ere Fortune placed me here.
<End Translation>