English Rendering
In 1179,before I was transferred from Hubei to Hunan,Wang Cheng-zhi,a colleague of mine,feasted me in the Little Hill Pavilion and I wrote the following lyric.
How much more can Spring bear of wind and rain?
Too hastily,I fear,'twill leave again.
Lovers of Spring would fear to see the flowers red
Budding too soon and fallen petals too wide spread
O Spring,please stay!
I've heard it said that sweet grass far away
Would stop you from seeing your backward way.
But I've not heard
Spring say a word,
Only the busy spiders weave
Webs all day by the painted eave
To keep the willow-down from taking leave.
Could a disfavoured consort again to favour rise?
Could Beauty not be envied by green eyes?
Even if favour could be bought back again,
To whom of this unanswered love can she complain?
Do not dance then!
Have you not seen
Both plump and slender beauties turn to dust?
Bitterest grief is just
That you can't do
What you want to.
o！do not lean
On overhanging rails where the setting sun sees
Heart-broken willow-trees!
