何事添淒咽
但由他    天公簸弄
莫教磨涅
失意每多如意少
終古幾人稱屈
須知道  福因才折
獨臥藜床看北斗
背高城  玉笛吹成血
聽譙鼓
二更徹

丈夫未肯因人熱
且乘閑    五湖料理
扁舟一葉
淚似秋霖揮不四
灑向野田黃蝶
須不羨  承明班列
馬跡車塵忙未了
任西風  吹冷長安月
又蕭寺
花如雪

Comforting a Friend    Nalan Xingde  (1655-1685)                江紹倫譯
Tune:   Song of Golden Tread

Why reinforce misery
Leave it to the power on high in a wee
Insist not in being sully
Life is more disappointing than satisfactory
Most people complain not in history
Heaven dislikes the able and favours the ordinary
I relax on my rude couch to watch the Dipper
Beyond the city wall a flute laments its cadence bitter
A drum booms out the hour from the watchtower
The night is darkest in the small hours

A man ought not to seek patronage
On a boat light as a leave
I sail the five lakes in glee
‘Tis useless to waste tears copious like autumn rain
Let sad feelings loose on a wide plain for butterflies to wing
Do not envy people in government office
Trapped in the dizzy whirl of endless business
Let the west wind blow in the capital by moonlight
O solemn temples
Floral snow