孤館燈青，
The lamp burns with green flames in an inn's lonely hall,
野店鷄號，
The wayfarer's dream is broken by the cock's call.
旅枕夢殘。
Slowly the blooming moon rolls up her silk dress white,
漸月華收練，
The frost begins to shimmer in the soft daylight;
晨霜耿耿；
The cloud-crowned hills outspread their brocade
雲山攜錦，
And morning dews glitter like pearls displayed.
朝露漙漙。
As the way of the world is long,
世路無窮，
But our toilsome life short.
勞生有限，
So, for a man like me, joyless is oft my sort.
似此區區長鮮歡。
After humming this song,
微吟罷，
Silent, on my saddle I lean,
憑征鞍無語，
Brooding over the past scene after scene.
往事千端。
Together then to the capital we came,
當時共客長安，
Like the two Brothers Lu of literary fame.
似二陸初來俱少年。
A fluent pen combined
有筆頭千字，
With a widely-read mind,
致君堯舜，
Why could we not have helped the Crown
此事何難！
To attain great renown?
用舍由時，
As times require, I advance or retire,
行藏在我，
With folded arms I may stand by.
袖手何妨閒處看。
If we keep fit,
身長健，
We may enjoy life before we lose it.
但優游卒歲，
So drink the wine-cup dry!