元稹: 遣悲怀（之二）/ yuan zhen: an elegy ii

遣悲怀（之二）

元稹

昔日戏言身后事， 今朝都到眼前来。

衣裳已施行看尽， 针线犹存未忍开。

尚想旧情怜婢仆， 也曾因梦送钱财。

诚知此恨人人有， 贫贱夫妻百事哀。

　

an elegy ii

yuan zhen

we joked, long ago, about one of us dying,

but suddenly, before my eyes, you are gone.

almost all your clothes have been given away;

your needlework is sealed, i dare not look at it....

i continue your bounty to our men and our maids --

sometimes, in a dream, i bring you gifts.

...this is a sorrow that all mankind must know --

but not as those know it who have been poor together.