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The Chinese Ballad Southeast Fly The Peacocks

孔雀东南飞
五里一徘徊
十三能织素
十四学裁衣
十五弹箜篌
十六诵诗书
十七为君妇
心中常苦悲
君既为府吏
守节情不移
贱妾留空房
相见常日稀
鸡鸣入机织
夜夜不得息
三日断五疋
大人故嫌迟
非为织作迟
君家妇难为
妾不堪驱使
徒留无所施
便可白公姥
及时相遣归

府吏得闻之
堂上启阿母
儿已薄禄相
幸复得此妇
结发同枕席
黄泉共为友
共事二三年
始而未为久
女行无偏斜
何意致不厚

阿母谓府吏
何乃太区区
此妇无礼节
举动自专由
吾意久怀忿
汝岂得自由
东家有贤女
自名秦罗敷
可怜体无比
阿母为汝求
便可速遣之
遣去慎莫留

府吏长跪告
伏惟启阿母
今若遣此妇
终老不复娶
阿母得闻之
槌床便大怒
小子无所畏
何敢助妇语
吾已失恩意
会不相从许

府吏默无声
再拜还入户
举言谓新妇
哽咽不能语
我自不驱卿
逼迫有阿母
卿但暂还家
吾今且报府
不久当归还
还必相迎取
以此下心意
慎勿违我语

新妇谓府吏
勿复重纷纭
往昔初阳岁
谢家来贵门
奉事循公姥
进止敢自专
昼夜勤作息
伶俜萦苦辛
谓言无罪过
供养卒大恩
仍更被驱遣
何言复来还
妾有绣腰襦
葳蕤自生光
红罗复斗帐
四角垂香囊
箱帘六七十
绿碧青丝绳
物物各具异
种种在其中
人贱物亦鄙
不足迎后人
留待作遣施
于今无会因
时时为安慰
久久莫相忘

鸡鸣外欲曙
新妇起严妆
著我绣夹裙
事事四五通
足下蹑丝履
头上玳瑁光
腰若流纨素
耳著明月当
指如削葱根
口如含珠丹
纤纤作细步
精妙世无双
上堂谢阿母
母听怒不止
昔作女儿时
生小出野里
本自无教训
兼愧贵家子
受母钱币多
不堪母驱使
今日还家去
念母劳家里

却与小姑别
泪落连珠子
新妇初来时
小姑始扶床
今日被驱遣
小姑如我长
勤心养公姥
好自相扶将
初七及下九
嬉戏莫相忘

出门登车去
涕落百余行
府吏马在前
新妇车在后
隐隐何甸甸
俱会大通口
下马入车中
低头共耳语
誓不相隔卿
且暂还家去
吾今且赴府
不久当还归
誓天不相负

新妇谓府吏
感君区区怀
君既若见录
不久望君来
君当作磐石
妾当作蒲苇
蒲苇韧如丝
磐石无转移
我有亲父兄
性行暴如雷
恐不任我意
逆以煎我怀
举手长劳劳
二情同依依

入门上家堂
进退无颜仪
阿母大拊掌
不图子自归
十三教汝织
十四能裁衣
十五弹箜篌
十六知礼仪
十七遣汝嫁
谓言无誓违
汝今何罪过
不迎而自归
兰芝怼阿母
儿实无罪过
阿母大悲摧

还家十余日
县令遣媒来
云有第三郎
窈窕世无双
年始十八九
便言多令才
阿母谓阿女
汝可去应之
阿女含泪答
兰芝初还时
府吏见叮咛
结誓不别离
今日违情义
恐此事非奇
自可断来信
徐徐更谓之
阿母白媒人
贫贱有此女
始适还家门
不堪吏人妇
岂合令郎君
幸可广问讯
不得便相许

媒人去数日
寻遣丞请还
说有兰家女
丞籍有宦官
云有第五郎
娇逸未有婚
遣丞为媒人
主簿通语言
直说太守家
有此令郎君
既欲结大义
故遣来贵门
阿母谢媒人
女子先有誓
老姆岂敢言

阿兄得闻之
怅然心中烦
举言谓阿妹
作计何不量
先嫁得府吏
后嫁得郎君
否泰如天地
足以荣汝身
不嫁义郎体
其往欲何云

兰芝仰头答
理实如兄言
谢家事夫君
中道还兄门
处分适兄意
那得自任专
虽与府吏约
后会永无缘
登即相许和
便可作婚姻

媒人下床去
诺诺复尔尔
还部白府君
下官奉使命
言谈大有缘
府君得闻之
心中大欢喜
视历复开书
便利此月内
六合正相应
良吉三十日
今已二十七
卿可去成婚
交语速装束
络绎如浮云
青雀白鹄舫
四角龙子幡
婀娜随风转
金车玉作轮
踯躅青骢马
流苏金缕鞍
斋钱三百万
皆用青丝穿
杂采三百疋
交广市鲑珍
从人四五百
郁郁登郡门

阿母谓阿女
适得府君书
明日来迎汝
何不作衣裳
莫令事不举
阿女默无声
手巾掩口啼
泪落便如泻
移我琉璃榻
出置前厅下
左手持刀尺
右手执绫罗
朝成绣夹裙
晚成单罗衫
暗暗日欲暝
愁思出门啼

府吏闻此变
因求假暂归
未至二三里
摧藏马悲哀
新妇识马声
蹑履相逢迎
怅然遥相望
知是故人来
举手拍马鞍
嗟叹使心伤
自君别我后
人事不可量
果不如先愿
又非君所详
我有亲父母
逼迫兼弟兄
以我应他人
君还何所望

府吏谓新妇
贺君得高迁
磐石方且厚
可以卒千年
蒲苇一时韧
便作旦夕间
卿当日胜贵
吾独向黄泉
新妇谓府吏
何意出此言
同是被逼迫
君尔妾亦然
黄泉下相见
勿违今日言

执手分道去
各各还家门
生人作死别
恨恨那可论
念与世间辞
千万不复全

府吏还家去
上堂拜阿母
今日大风寒
寒风摧树木
严霜结庭兰
儿今日冥冥
令母在后单
故作不良计
勿复怨鬼神
命如南山石
四体康且直

阿母得闻之
零泪应声落
汝是大家子
仕宦于台阁
慎勿为妇死
贵贱情何薄
东家有贤女
窈窕艳城郭
阿母为汝求
便复在旦夕

府吏再拜还
长叹空房中
作计乃尔立
转头向户里
渐见愁煎迫

其日牛马嘶
新妇入青庐
奄奄黄昏后
寂寂人定初
我命绝今日
魂去尸长留
揽裙脱丝履
举身赴清池
府吏闻此事
心知长别离
徘徊庭树下
自挂东南枝

两家求合葬
合葬华山傍
东西植松柏
左右种梧桐
枝枝相覆盖
叶叶相交通
中有双飞鸟
自名为鸳鸯
仰头相向鸣
夜夜达五更
行人驻足听
寡妇起彷徨
多谢后世人
戒之慎勿忘
A pair of peacocks southeast fly; 
At each mile they look back and cry. 
"I could weave," said Lan-zhi, "at thirteen 
And learned to cut clothes at fourteen; 
At fifteen to play music light; 
At sixteen to read and to write. 
At seventeen to you I was wed. 
What an austere life I have led! 
You’re an official far away; 
I toil as housewife night and day. 
At daybreak I begin to weave; 
At night the loom I dare not leave. 
I’ve finished five rolls in three days, 
Yet I am blamed for my delays. 
Not that my work is done too slow, 
But hard your housewife’s role does grow. 
If Mother thinks I am no good, 
What use to stay, although I would? 
Will you come and to Mother say, 
Send me back home without delay?"

Jiao Zhong-qing came home at her call 
And said to his mother in the hall, 
"I’m destined for a humble life; 
By fortune I have this good wife. 
We’ve shared the pillow, mat and bed, 
And we’ll be man and wife till dead. 
We’ve lived together but three years, 
Which not too long to me appears. 
She has done nothing wrong, I find. 
Why should you be to her unkind?" 

His mother said then in reply, 
"You are indeed shortsighted. Why, 
This wife of yours with me goes ill; 
She always does whate’er she will. 
I’ve been offended by her for long. 
How dare you say she’s done no wrong? 
In the east there’s a match for you, 
A maiden whose name’s Qin Luo-fu, 
A peerless beauty of this land. 
I’ll go for you to ask her hand. 
Now send your slut out of our door! 
She should not stay here anymore." 

Zhong-qing knelt down with trunk erect 
And said to her with due respect, 
"If you should send away my wife, 
I won’t remarry all my life." 
The mother was angry at his word; 
Her strumming on the stool was heard. 
"Has filial reverence come to nil? 
Defend your wife against my will! 
You are such an ungrateful son! 
Of your request I will grant none." 

Zhong-qing dared not speak anymore, 
But bowed and entered his own door. 
He tells his wife when she appears, 
His voice choked so with bitter tears, 
"Not that I would send you away, 
But Mother won’t allow you to stay. 
Return to your brother’s house, so 
That to my office I may go. 
When I have finished my work, then 
I’ll come and fetch you home again. 
Do not be grieved to say adieu, 
But keep in mind what I’’ve told you!" 

"Nay, make no care to come for me!" 
To her husband addresses she. 
"One early spring day, I recall, 
I left home for your entrance hall. 
I’ve done what Mother ordered me. 
Dare I be careless and carefree? 
I do hard labour day and night; 
Alone I toil with all my might. 
I think I have done nothing wrong, 
Still with Mother I can’t get along. 
To what avail to talk about 
Returning now I’m driven out! 
"I’ll leave my jacket of brocade, 
Whose lacings bright of gold are made, 
And my canopy of gauze red, 
Whose four corners with perfume spread, 
And sixty trunks and coffers tied 
With silken threads all in green dyed, 
Where different things you will find; 
Not two of them are of a kind. 
They are as cheap as I, it’s true, 
Not good enough for your spouse new. 
So as gifts you may share them out, 
As we can’t meet again, no doubt. 
Keep them in memory of me! 
Forgetful we can never be." 

At dawn she roses at the cockcrow 
And made up with care, ready to go. 
She put on an embroidered gown 
And checked it over, up and down. 
She put on shoes made of brocade, 
Of tortoise shell her hairpin’s made. 
Her waist was girt with girdle white, 
Her earrings shone like moonlight bright. 
She had tapering finger tips, 
Like rubies were her rouged lips. 
She moved at slow and easy pace, 
Unrivalled in the human race.
She came to his mother in the hall, 
Who said no tender words at all. 
"While young, before I was a spouse, 
I lived but in a country house. 
Not well instructed or wide read, 
For noble heir I was ill-bred. 
Though kindly you have treated me, 
Yet I’m not dutiful," said she, 
"So I must go back in despair, 
Leaving to you all household care." 

She said to his sister good-bye; 
Bitter tears trickled from her eye. 
"When your brother and I were wed, 
You came around our nuptial bed. 
You are as tall as I today, 
When I am to be driven away. 
Take good care of your mother old, 
And take good care of your household! 
When maidens hold their festive day, 
Do not forget me while you play." 

She went out and got on the cart; 
Tears streamed down, heavy was her heart. 
Jiao Zhong-qing rides before, his mind 
Turning to his wife’s cart behind. 
The cart’s rumble’s heard to repeat, 
The husband stops where four roads meet. 
He gets down from his horse, comes near 
His wife and whispers in her ear, 
"I swear not to leave you long, my spouse. 
Return now to your brother’s house. 
When I have finished my work, then 
I’ll come and fetch you home again. 
I swear to heaven high above." 

Lan-zhi says to her husband dear, 
"I’m touched by your love sincere. 
If I’m engraved deep in your mind, 
Come then in time and not behind! 
If as the rock your love is strong, 
Then mine as creeping vine is long. 
The vine’s resistant as silk thread; 
No one could lift a rock o’erhead. 
But my brother’s temper is hot, 
Look on me kindly he will not. 
I am afraid he’ll never care 
What I like, and it’s hard to bear." 
They wave their hands with broken heart, 
From each other they will not part. 

Lan-zhi came to her mother’s place, 
Feeling embarrassed in disgrace. 
Her mother clapped loud in surprise: 
"How can you come back in this guise! 
You were taught to weave at thirteen; 
To cut the clothes at fourteen; 
At fifteen to play music light; 
At sixteen to perform the rite. 
At seventeen you were a bride; 
By your husband you should abide. 
Had you done nothing wrong at all, 
Why come back alone to my hall?" 
Lan-zhi told her mother the truth, 
Who was moved to tears, full of ruth.
She had been back many a day, 
A go-between then came to say, 
"Our magistrate has a third son, 
Whose good looks are second to none. 
Though at eighteen or nineteen years, 
For eloquence he has no peers." 
Her mother said to her, "consent 
To this proposal benevolent!" 
But she only answered in tears, 
"Can I forget my married years? 
My husband vowed when we parted then, 
Never should we sever again. 
If I should break my word today, 
I would regret for e’er and aye. 
Will you please tell the go-between 
Gently and clearly what I mean?" 
Her mother told the messenger, 
"This humble daughter of mine, sir, 
Sent back by an official of late, 
Can’t match son of magistrate. 
Why not inquire another house 
Where may be found a better spouse?" 

No sooner had gone this messenger 
Than came one from the governor. 
"You have a daughter fair," said he, 
"Of an official’s family. 
Our governor has a fifth son, 
Unmarried, he’s a handsome one. 
My lord’s secretary asked me 
His lordship’s go-between to be. 
I was told to say openly 
I come for my lord’s family. 
His son will have your daughter for spouse. 
That’s why I’m sent to your noble house." 
Mother LIu thanked the messenger, 
But said she could not order her 
Who’d made a vow, to break her word. 

By Lan-zhi’s brother this was heard; 
As it troubled his worldly mind, 
He spoke to Lan-zhi words unkind. 
"Why don’t you, sister, think it o’er? 
You left then an official’s door; 
Now you may marry a noble son; 
Good luck comes when bad luck is done. 
If you refuse this honour great, 
I know not what will be your fate."
Lan-zhi replied, raising her head, 
"Brother, it’s right what you have said. 
I left you once to be a spouse 
Sent back, again I’m in your house. 
So I’m at your disposal now. 
Can I do what you don’t allow? 
Though I vowed to my husband dear, 
We cannot meet again, I fear. 
So you may marry me at will, 
My obligation I’ll fulfill." 

The go-between learned what they said, 
To his lord’s house he went ahead. 
He said his errand was well done; 
The lord rejoiced for his fifth son. 
He found in the almanac soon 
The auspicious date of that moon. 
He said to his subordinate, 
"The thirtieth day is the best date. 
That is only three days ahead. 
Arrange the marriage in my stead." 
The lord’s order was given loud; 
People bustled like floating cloud. 
They painted with bird designs the boat 
And with dragons the flag afloat. 
A golden cab with wheels trimmed with jade 
And golden saddles for steeds were made. 
Three thousand strings of coins were sent 
And silks to the bride with compliment. 
Delicacies from land and sea 
Were bought by two corteges or three. 

Mother Liu told her daughter, "Word 
Comes from the govrnor have you heard? 
Tomorrow is your wedding day. 
Put yourself in bridal array. 
Make your own dress ere it’s too late!" 
Lan-zhi sat in a pensive state. 
She sobbed ’neath her handkerchief, 
And streaming tears revealed her grief. 
She dragged a marble-seated chair 
Towards the windows in despair, 
In her left hand the scissors bright 
And silk and satin in her right. 
At noon a jacket new was made 
And at dusk a robe in brocade. 
Behind dark clouds the sun down crept, 
Grief-stricken, she went out and wept. 

Zhong-qing, at this news of his spouse, 
Asks leave and starts out for her house. 
After a short ride on his way, 
His horse makes an anguished neigh. 
This neigh is familiar to her ears; 
She comes out before he appears. 
She gazes afar, at a loss 
What to say when he comes across. 
She pats the horse when it comes nigh, 
And then says with a woeful sigh, 
"Alas! Since you parted with me, 
What’s happened we could not foresee, 
Our hope cannot be realized. 
On hearing this, you’ll be surprised. 
I was compelled by my own mother 
Together with my tyrant brother 
To wed another man at last. 
What can we do? The die is cast."

Jiao Zhong-qing tells his former wife, 
"I wish you a happier life! 
The lofty rock steadfast appears; 
It will stand for thousands of years. 
Howe’er resistant the vine may be, 
’Twill lose its toughness easily. 
May you live happier day by day! 
Alone to death I’ll go my way." 
"Why say such cruel things to me?" 
To her former husband says she, 
"We are compelled, both you and I 
How could I live if you should die? 
E’en dead, let us together stay! 
Forget not what we’ve said today!" 

They stand long hand in hand before 
They go each to his or her door. 
No lovers know a sharper pain 
Than to part till death joins them again. 
They’re willing to breathe their last breath; 
A severed life is worse than death. 


Jiao Zhong-qing went home full of gloom; 
He went straight to his mother’s room. 
"Today the cold wind blows down trees; 
Bitten by frost, the orchids freeze. 
I fear my life will end like the tree, 
Leaving you alone after me. 
That’s what such forebodings proclaim. 
Don’t lay on gods or ghosts the blame! 
May you like hillside rock live long 
With your four limbs both straight and strong!"

On hearing this, his mother shed 
Copious tears before she said, 
"As sone of noble family, 
A high official you should be. 
How could you die for such a wife? 
Don’t play down on your noble life! 
There’s a maiden in east neighborhood, 
Beside her no one else is good. 
I have wooed her to be your spouse; 
Soon the reply will come to our house." 

Zhong-qing retired to his empty room, 
Determined not to be a bridegroom. 
He sighed and glanced towards the hall, 
Seeing his tragic curtain fall. 

In the blue tent on her wedding day 
Lan-zhi heard cows low and steeds neigh. 
At dusk the ghostly twilight waned; 
The guests gone, lonely she remained. 
"My life," she thought, "will end today. 
My soul will go, but my body stay." 
She doffed her silken shoes to drown 
Herself in uprolled wedding gown. 

This news came to her Zhong-qing’s ear; 
He would not be severed from his dear. 
To and fro in the yard paced he, 
Then hanged himself beneath a tree. 

Their families, after they died, 
Buried them by the mountainside. 
Pine trees were planted left and right, 
And planes and cypresses on the site. 
Their foliage darkens the groud; 
Their branches intertwined are found. 
A pair of peacocks fly above; 
They are well known as birds of love. 
Heads up, they sing song after song, 
From night to night, and all night long. 
A passer-by would stand spellbound; 
A lonely widow would wake dumfound. 


Men of poserity, I pray, 

Do not forget that bygone day!
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