二十弹冠仕。
楚王赐颜色，
At twenty I accept a post with hopeful looks. As I have won favour from the king,
出人章华里。
作赋凌屈原，
In the palace I have my full swing. I write some better verse prose than Qu Yuan;
读书夸左史。
数从明月宴，
I read more books than Yi Xiang the historian. With the king I attend the feast at night
或侍朝云祀。
登山摘紫芝，
Or go to temples and join the royal rite. I go and pick select herb on the hill
泛江采绿芷。
歌舞未终曲，
And gather angelica on the rill. Howe'er, before the end of our grand fete,
风尘暗天起。
吴师破九龙，
The north aggressors come to grab our state. Their savage army overthrows our crown
秦兵割千里。
And run rampant, annexing town by town.