深宮無人春日長，
North of the Fragrance Pavilion flowers smelt sweet.
沉香亭北百花香。
The lightly-dressed fair lady got up at the song
美人睡起薄梳洗，
Of orioles, her heart broke to see swallows fleet.
燕舞鶯啼空斷腸。
The painter tried to retain her infinite charm
畫工欲畫無窮意，
And paint'd her back when, awake, she stood in the east wind.
背立東風初破睡。
If she turned her head with a smile, she would disarm
若教回首卻嫣然，
A besieging army, however disciplined.
陽城下蔡俱風靡。
The hungry poet Du Fu with a longing eye,
杜陵飢客眼長寒，
In shabby hat and on lame ass, followed a horse.
塞駝破帽隨金鞍。
Sometime across the flowery stream he passed by,
隔花臨水時一見，
He saw but from the back her slender waist and torse.
只許腰肢背後看。
Fascinated, he came back to his thatched cot.
心醉歸來茅屋底，
And then believed on earth there was a lady fair.
方信人間有西子。
Don't you know man and wife were happy with their lot?
君不見孟光舉案與眉齊，
Why should she turn her back and weep with a love-sick air?
何曾背面傷春啼！
Why weep for spring behind your back and never face it?