秦韬玉: 贫女/ qin taoyu: a poor girl

贫女

秦韬玉

蓬门未识绮罗香， 拟托良媒益自伤。

谁爱风流高格调， 共怜时世俭梳妆。

敢将十指夸针巧， 不把双眉斗画长。

苦恨年年压金线， 为他人作嫁衣裳。

　

a poor girl

qin taoyu

living under a thatch roof, never wearing fragrant silk,

she longs to arrange a marriage, but how could she dare?

who would know her simple face the loveliest of them all

when we choose for worldliness, not for worth?

her fingers embroider beyond compare,

but she cannot vie with painted brows;

and year after year she has sewn gold thread

on bridal robes for other girls.