賣炭得錢何所營，身上衣裳口中食。
可憐身上衣正單，心憂炭賤願天寒。
The hair on his temples is streaked with gray: his ten fingers are black. The money he gets by selling charcoal, how far does it go? It is just enough to clothe his limbs and put food in his mouth. Although, alas, the coat on his back is a coat without lining. He hopes for the coming of cold weather, to send up the price of
夜來城上一尺雪，曉駕炭車輾冰轍。
牛困人飢日已高，市南門外泥中歇。
coal! Last night, outside the city,--a whole foot of snow; At dawn he drives the charcoal wagon along the frozen ruts. Oxen,--weary; man,--hungry: the sun, already high; Outside the Gate, to the south of the Market, at last they stop in the mud.
翩翩兩騎來是誰，黃衣使者白衫兒。
手把文書口稱敕，迴車叱牛牽向北。
Suddenly, a pair of prancing horsemen. Who can it be coming? A public official in a yellow coat and a boy in a white shirt. In their hands they hold a written warrant: on their tongues--the words of an order; They turn back the wagon and curse the oxen, leading them off to the north.
一車炭，千餘斤，官使驅將惜不得。
半匹紅紗一丈綾，繫向牛頭充炭直。
A whole wagon of charcoal, More than a thousand pieces! If officials choose to take it away, the woodman may not complain. Half a piece of red silk and a single yard of damask, The Courtiers have tied to the oxen’s collar, as the price of a wagon of coal!