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美女篇
曹植
美女妖且闲[1]，采桑歧路[2]间。
柔条纷冉冉[3]，落叶何翩翩。
攘袖[4]见素手，皓腕[5]约金环[6]。
头上金爵钗[7]，腰佩翠琅玕[8]。
明珠交[9]玉体，珊瑚间[10]木难[11]。
罗衣何飘飖，轻裾[12]随风还。
顾盼遗光彩，长啸气若兰。
行徒用[13]息驾[14]，休者以忘餐。
借问女安居，乃在城南端。
青楼[15]临大路，高门结重关[16]。
容华[17]耀朝日，谁不希令颜[18]？
媒氏何所营？玉帛不时安。
佳人慕高义，求贤良独难。
众人徒嗷嗷，安知彼所观？
盛年处房室，中夜起长叹。
注释：
[1] 妖且闲：艳丽而且文静。
[2] 歧路：岔路。
[3] 冉冉：轻轻摇动的样子。
[4] 攘袖：捋起袖子。
[5] 皓腕：洁白的胳膊。
[6] 约金环：戴着金制的手镯。
[7] 金爵钗：一端饰有雀形的金钗。
[8] 翠琅玕：碧绿色的像玉的美石。
[9] 交：佩带。
[10] 间：夹杂。
[11] 木难：宝珠的名称。
[12] 轻裾：轻盈飘动的衣襟。
[13] 用：因。
[14] 息驾：停车。
[15] 青楼：以青漆为饰的楼，是富贵之家的闺阁。宋元以后始用青楼代指娼家。
[16] 重关：两道门栓，极言门户之严紧。
[17] 容华：容颜。
[18] 令颜：美好的容颜。
Song of a Beauty
Cao Zhi
A maiden fair is full of charm and grace;
She gathers mulberry leaves at crisscross place.
The tender branches rustle one and all;
How many mulberry leaves moan and fall!
Her arms so white are seen with sleeves uprolled;
Around her wrist a bracelet made of gold.
A golden sparrow pin adorns her hair;
A green jade pendant hangs at her waist fair.
Her lovely form encompassed with pearls bright
And carol and blue glass beads left and right.
How do her silken dresses flow with ease
And her light skirt flutter with gentle breeze!
Her melting glance reveals her shining eye;
In her sweet breath you hear the orchid sigh.
The travelers en route would halt their car;
Those resting would forget where their meals are.
If you ask where is her house of renown,
It stands at the southern end of the town.
Her house by the highway has floor on floor;
It’s green with a high gate and double door.
She looks as radiant as the morning sun.
Who’d not admire such a beautiful one?
Why are the busy go-between delayed?
Where are betrothal gifts of silk and jade?
The maiden fair longs for a worthy mate;
It’s hard to find one, so she has to wait.
People in vain may gossip a great deal.
What do they know of her lofty ideal?
She lives alone at her prime, fair and bright.
How can she not sigh at the dead of night!
