梦泽

梦泽悲风动白茅[1],

楚王[2]葬尽满城娇。

未知歌舞能多少,

虚减宫厨为细腰。

本篇是诗人途经梦泽时所作,一望无际的白茅,好似被埋葬的嫔妃宫娥采女的哀旗。楚灵王喜欢女子细腰,宫嫔们为投其所好饥饿节食,却消瘦而死,不禁让人惋惜。

注释:

[1]白茅:茅草。春夏间抽生有银白色丝毛状花穗。

[2]楚王:指楚灵王。《韩非子·二柄》:“楚灵王好细腰,而国中多饿人”。《后汉书马廖传》:“楚王好细腰。宫中多(遍)饿死(殍)。”

The Dreaming Lake

On Dreaming Lake in biting wind pale grasses shiver;

Like slender dancers buried like waves in the river.

How long could they delight the monarch in the South?

The royal cook might give less food to rosebud mouth.

Note:The King of Chu(楚王)loved the slender waist of dancers and many Chu dancers died of hunger.