西施咏
王维
艳色天下重，西施宁久微？
朝为越溪女，暮作吴宫妃。
贱日岂殊众，贵来方悟稀。
邀人傅脂粉，不自著罗衣。
君宠益娇态，君怜无是非。
当时浣纱伴，莫得同车归。
持谢邻家子，效颦安可希？
A Song of Xi Shi
Wang Wei
All the people nice appearance esteem.
Could Xi Shi humbly herself long confine？
The morn saw her a girl by a Yue stream；
At dusk， she became King Wu’s concubine.
When poor， she wasn’t different from girls common；
When distinguished， she was found to be rare.
To dress her up she would her maids summon；
To put on clothes for her was other’s care.
With the king’s love， she looked more delicate；
With his favour， what she did was e’er right.
Washing gauze with her in old days， her mate
Couldn’t on way home share her chariot bright.
Her frowning how can they well imitate？
Tell her neighbour girls that’s beyond their might.
