众人闻得宝琴将素昔所经过各省内古迹为题，做了十首怀古绝句，内隐十物，皆说：“这自然新巧。”
When Bao-qin explained that the riddles she had composed were in the form of quatrains, each containing a clue to some well-known object, about famous places she had visited in the course of her travels, the cousins were greatly impressed, and waited with eagerness for her to copy them out.
都争着看时，只见写道是：§赤壁怀古 赤壁沉埋水不流，徒留名姓载空舟。
This is what they read when she had finished doing so : Red CliffThe river at Red Cliff was choked with the dead, And the ships without crew carried naught but their names.
喧阗一炬悲风冷，无限英魂在内游。
A clamour and shouting, a wind took the blaze, And a host of brave souls rode aloft in the flames.
交趾怀古 铜铸金镛振纪纲，声传海外播戎羌。
COCHIN CHINAHis rule is strengthened by great bells of bronze,Whose sound has spread to tribes beyond the seas;
马援自是功劳大，铁笛无烦说子房。
Ma Yuan assuredly achieved great deeds,And the iron flute of Zhang Liang needs no praise.
钟山怀古 名利何曾伴汝身，无端被诏出凡尘。
Mt Zhong-shanThough ambition had never been part of your natureAnd the call from retirement was none of your choosing,
牵连大抵难休绝，莫怨他人嘲笑频。
To sever all the strings attached is hard; Don't murmur, then, if taunts at you are hurled.
淮阴怀古 壮士须防恶犬欺，三齐位定盖棺时。
Huai-yinThe brave must beware of the vicious dog's bite: The gift of a throne on your fate set the seal.
寄言世俗休轻鄙，一饭之恩死也知。
Let us learn from your story the humble to prize, And due gratitude show for the gift of a meal.
广陵怀古 蝉噪鸦栖转眼过，隋堤风景近如何。
Guang-lingYour crows and cicadas no more you shall hearBy the old Sui embankment back home in the South;
只缘占得风流号，惹得纷纷口舌多。
But the scandalous story of those wanton timesWags in many an idle, unsavoury mouth.
桃叶渡怀古 衰草闲花映浅池，桃枝桃叶总分离。
Peach Leaf FordIn the waters a scene of decay is reflected; Long since from its bough did the last peach-leaf fall.
六朝梁栋多如许，小照空悬壁上题。
Many mansions stood here in the Six Dynasties, Only a portrait hangs on the bare wall now.
青冢怀古 黑水茫茫咽不流，冰弦拨尽曲中愁。
THE GREEN TOMB The dark stream is stagnant, choked, The icy strings of the lute all her grief proclaim;
汉家制度诚堪叹，樗栎应惭万古羞。
How absurd they were, the rules of the House of Han;Wood the carpenter scorns should feel eternal shame.
马嵬怀古 寂寞脂痕演汗光，温柔一旦付东洋。
MAWEI SLOPE Lonely traces of rouge and perspiration remain,But with the flowing water her beauty has gone;
蒲东寺怀古 小红骨贱最身轻，私掖偷携强撮成。
PUDONG MONASTERYA young maid, low-born and flippant,By stealth brings a couple together;
梅花观怀古 不在梅边在柳边，个中谁拾画婢娟。
PLUM-BLOSSOM NUNNERY Not by plum trees but by willows, Who will pick up the beauty's portrait here?”
团圆莫忆春香到，一别西风又一年。
Let not her full moon make you think that Spring's coming, For the cold parts her now till next year from her lover.
众人看了，都称奇道妙。
After reading these poems, the cousins all praised the remarkable ingenuity with which they had been constructed.
宝钗先说道:"前八首都是史鉴上有据的；后二首却无考，我们也不大懂得，不如另作两首为是。”
Baochai, however, commented, “The first eight deal with authenticated incidents in history, but it's harder for us to understand the last two fictitious ones.I think you ought to write two others instead.”
这两首虽于史鉴上无考，咱们虽不曾看这些外传，不知底里，难道咱们连两本戏也没见过不成?
It's true that the subjects of those last two poems can't be found in the history books, but how can you say that you don't know what they are?
Even if, as well-bred young ladies, we may not read the books in which they are to be found, we've all watched plenty of plays.
那三岁的孩子也知道，何况咱们。”
Why, even three-year-olds know them, not to say us.
李纨又道:"况且他原走到这个地方的。
‘In any case,' said Li Wan, ‘she has actually been to the places associated with the stories,