白居易诗选/编集拙诗

一篇長恨有風情，十首秦吟近正聲。

每被老元偷格律，苦教短李伏歌行。

Arthur Waley

I break up cypress and make a book-box; The box well-made,--and the cypress-wood tough. In it shall be kept what author’s works? The inscription says PO LO-T’IEN. All my life has been spent in writing books, From when I was young till now that I am old. First and last,--seventy whole volumes; Big and little,--three thousand themes.[89]

世間富貴應無分，身後文章合有名。

莫怪氣粗言語大，新排十五卷詩成。

Arthur Waley

Well I know in the end they’ll be scattered and lost; But I cannot bear to see them thrown away With my own hand I open and shut the locks, And put it carefully in front of the book-curtain. I am like Tēng Pai-tao;[90] But to-day there is not any Wang Ts’an.[91] All I can do is to divide them among my daughters To be left by them to give to my grandchildren.