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