黃金散盡交不成，
No friendship will be made when I’ve spent all my gold;
白首為儒身被輕。
Though my hair turns white, I receive but glances cold.
一談一笑失顏色，
My face has lost color when I speak in low voice;
蒼蠅貝錦喧謗聲。
For slanderers like flies make a deafening noise.
曾參豈是殺人者？
The sage’s a murderer, how could that be believed?
諛言三及慈母驚。
The rumor thrice heard, the sage’s mother was deceived
與君論心握君手，
We speak our bosom hand in hand and face to face.
榮辱於余亦何有？
What do I care about vain glory or disgrace?
孔聖猶聞傷鳳麟，
Confucius only grieved no phoenix would appear.
董龍更是何雞狗！
Why should we hold these lower animals in fear?
一生傲岸苦不諧，
Proud all my life long, with them I’m not in accord;
恩疏媒勞志多乖。
In disfavor, I’m aliened from the lord.
嚴陵高揖漢天子，
The hermit said to the emperor goodbye.
何必長劍拄頤事玉階！
Why should he serve with his long sword in palace high?
達也不足貴，
The successful are not those we adore,
窮也不足悲。
Nor the unsuccessful those we deplore.
韓信羞將絳灌比，
General Han was ashamed of his compeers;
祢衡耻逐屠沽兒。
A loyal man dispises one at whom he jeers.
君不見李北海，
Have you not seen Li of North Sea?
英風豪氣今何在？
Brave as he was, where now is he?
君不見裴尚書，
Have you not seen Secretary Pei
土坟三尺蒿棘居？
Buried among thorns?
What to say?
少年早欲五湖去，
While young, I wished to wander on the lake;
見此彌將鐘鼎疏。
Now older, from the dreams of glory I’m awake.