<Header>
<Author: 杜甫>
<Title: 佳人>
<Format: 五言古詩>
<Year: 1940>
<BookName: Selection from the Three Hundred Poems of the Tang Dynasty>
<Translator: Soame Jenyns>
<TranslatedTitle: The Beautiful Woman>
<BookPage: 53-54>
<UsedPage: 2>
<Feature: 4>
<End Header>
<Poem>
絕代有佳人，
幽居在空谷。
自云良家子，
零落依草木。
關中昔喪敗，
兄弟遭殺戮。
官高何足論，
不得收骨肉。
世情惡衰歇，
萬事隨轉燭。
夫壻輕薄兒，
新人已如玉。
合昏尚知時，
鴛鴦不獨宿。
但見新人笑，
那聞舊人哭。
在山泉水清，
出山泉水濁。
侍婢賣珠回，
牽蘿補茅屋。
摘花不插髮，
采柏動盈匊。
天寒翠袖薄，
日暮倚修竹。
<End Poem>
<Translation>
I, WHO was the flower of my day among the beauties,
Now dwell alone in a deserted valley;
I, who was well born,
Live desolate in a country retreat.
In past times there was ruin and turmoil in the frontier passes;
My brothers met with destruction;
What availed such high officials their lofty rank
When they could not protect their own flesh and blood?
It is the way of the world to turn in loathing from adversity and decay.
The affairs of men flicker like a guttering candle.
My husband holds me in light esteem,
But his new mistress seems as beautiful as jade.
Even the morning glory has its passing hour.
The Mandarin duck and drake do not roost apart,
But wrapt in his new favourite's smiles
How can he hear his old love's sighs?
In the hills the spring water runs clear,
But on leaving the hills it becomes muddy.
My servant girl sells my pearls and returns
To pull the creepers to patch my thatched roof.
Her mistress plucks flowers, but not to stick in her hair;
The cypress needles slide through her listless fingers.
The weather is cold and my kingfisher-blue sleeves are thin;
As day draws to dusk I lean against the tall bamboos (thinking of other days).
<End Translation>