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The Maiden of Luoyang
English Poetic Translation
A maiden dwells across the street in Luoyang city,
Barely past fifteen, a peerless flower and a pity.
Her noble husband curbs a steed with jade-trapped bit;
maidens serve sliced carp on golden platters fit.
Painted chambers and red towers face each other round,
While peach in bloom and weeping willow shade the ground.
Her silken carriage starts out with its fragrant scent,
And jeweled fans welcome her to the brocaded tent.
So young, so rich, so wild in all his high estate,
His haughty pride leaves ancient nabobs desolate.
Like Biyu, she was taught her dances by her lord;
Coral he gives away without a single word.
Spring dawn puts out the candles with their nine-fold wick,
As waxen petals fall where lattice carvings stick.
Her music laid aside, she practices no more,
Sitting perfumed and dressed behind her chamber door.
In this great capital where all is dazzling show,
Day and night the retinues past the grand estates go.
Yet who will spare a tear for the maid of Yue afar,
Washing silk by the impoverished river bar?
Barely past fifteen, a peerless flower and a pity.
Her noble husband curbs a steed with jade-trapped bit;
maidens serve sliced carp on golden platters fit.
Painted chambers and red towers face each other round,
While peach in bloom and weeping willow shade the ground.
Her silken carriage starts out with its fragrant scent,
And jeweled fans welcome her to the brocaded tent.
So young, so rich, so wild in all his high estate,
His haughty pride leaves ancient nabobs desolate.
Like Biyu, she was taught her dances by her lord;
Coral he gives away without a single word.
Spring dawn puts out the candles with their nine-fold wick,
As waxen petals fall where lattice carvings stick.
Her music laid aside, she practices no more,
Sitting perfumed and dressed behind her chamber door.
In this great capital where all is dazzling show,
Day and night the retinues past the grand estates go.
Yet who will spare a tear for the maid of Yue afar,
Washing silk by the impoverished river bar?
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
洛陽女兒對門居，纔可容顏十五餘。
良人玉勒乘驄馬，侍女金盤鱠鯉魚。
畫閣朱樓盡相望，紅桃綠柳垂簷向。
羅幃送上七香車，寶扇迎歸九華帳。
狂夫富貴在青春，意氣驕奢劇季倫。
自憐碧玉親教舞，不惜珊瑚持與人。
春窗曙滅九微火，九微片片飛花璅。
戲罷曾無理曲時，妝成秪是薰香坐。
城中相識盡繁華，日夜經過趙李家。
誰憐越女顏如玉，貧賤江頭自浣紗。
良人玉勒乘驄馬，侍女金盤鱠鯉魚。
畫閣朱樓盡相望，紅桃綠柳垂簷向。
羅幃送上七香車，寶扇迎歸九華帳。
狂夫富貴在青春，意氣驕奢劇季倫。
自憐碧玉親教舞，不惜珊瑚持與人。
春窗曙滅九微火，九微片片飛花璅。
戲罷曾無理曲時，妝成秪是薰香坐。
城中相識盡繁華，日夜經過趙李家。
誰憐越女顏如玉，貧賤江頭自浣紗。
Philological Direct Translation
Luoyang daughter facing-gate lives,
just able appearance fifteen over.
husband jade-bit rides dappled horse,
maidservant golden-plate slices carp fish.
painted pavilions cinnabar towers all mutually gaze,
red peaches green willows hanging eaves toward.
silk curtains send up seven-fragrance carriage,
treasured fans welcome return nine-flowered tent.
wild man wealth and rank in youth,
spirit and bearing arrogant extravagance exceeding Jilun.
self-pitying Biyu personally taught dance,
not grudging coral holding out to others.
spring window dawn extinguished nine-micro fire,
nine-micro flakes-flakes flying flower carvings.
play finished once without practicing tune time,
makeup finished only is perfuming incense sitting.
city inside acquaintances all bustling prosperity,
day-night passing by Zhao-Li households.
who pities Yue maiden face like jade,
poor and lowly river head self washing silk.
just able appearance fifteen over.
husband jade-bit rides dappled horse,
maidservant golden-plate slices carp fish.
painted pavilions cinnabar towers all mutually gaze,
red peaches green willows hanging eaves toward.
silk curtains send up seven-fragrance carriage,
treasured fans welcome return nine-flowered tent.
wild man wealth and rank in youth,
spirit and bearing arrogant extravagance exceeding Jilun.
self-pitying Biyu personally taught dance,
not grudging coral holding out to others.
spring window dawn extinguished nine-micro fire,
nine-micro flakes-flakes flying flower carvings.
play finished once without practicing tune time,
makeup finished only is perfuming incense sitting.
city inside acquaintances all bustling prosperity,
day-night passing by Zhao-Li households.
who pities Yue maiden face like jade,
poor and lowly river head self washing silk.