【佚名】《古诗为焦仲卿妻作》
汉末建安中，庐江府小吏焦仲卿妻刘氏，为仲卿母所遣，自誓不嫁。其家逼之，乃投水而死。仲卿闻之，亦自缢于庭树。时人伤之，为诗云尔。孔雀东南飞，五里一徘徊。
十三能织素，十四学裁衣，十五弹箜篌，十六诵诗书。十七为君妇，心中常苦悲。君既为府吏，守节情不移。贱妾留空房，相见常日稀。鸡鸣入机织，夜夜不得息。三日断五匹，大人故嫌迟。非为织作迟，君家妇难为！妾不堪驱使，徒留无所施。便可白公姥，及时相遣归。
府吏得闻之，堂上启阿母：儿已薄禄相，幸复得此妇，结发同枕席，黄泉共为友。共事二三年，始尔未为久。女行无偏斜，何意致不厚？
阿母谓府吏：何乃太区区！此妇无礼节，举动自专由。吾意久怀忿，汝岂得自由！东家有贤女，自名秦罗敷，可怜体无比，阿母为汝求。便可速遣之，遣去慎莫留！
府吏长跪告：伏惟启阿母，今若遣此妇，终老不复取！
阿母得闻之，槌床便大怒：小子无所畏，何敢助妇语！吾已失恩义，会不相从许！
府吏默无声，再拜还入户。举言谓新妇，哽咽不能语：我自不驱卿，逼迫有阿母。卿但暂还家，吾今且报府。不久当归还，还必相迎取。以此下心意，慎勿违吾语。
新妇谓府吏：勿复重纷纭。往昔初阳岁，谢家来贵门。奉事循公姥，进止敢自专？昼夜勤作息，伶俜萦苦辛。谓言无罪过，供养卒大恩；仍更被驱遣，何言复来还！妾有绣腰襦，葳蕤自生光；红罗复斗帐，四角垂香囊；箱帘六七十，绿碧青丝绳，物物各自异，种种在其中。人贱物亦鄙，不足迎后人，留待作遗施，于今无会因。时时为安慰，久久莫相忘！
鸡鸣外欲曙，新妇起严妆。著我绣夹裙，事事四五通。足下蹑丝履，头上玳瑁光。腰若流纨素，耳著明月珰。指如削葱根，口如含朱丹。纤纤作细步，精妙世无双。上堂拜阿母，阿母怒不止。
昔作女儿时，生小出野里。本自无教训，兼愧贵家子。受母钱帛多，不堪母驱使。今日还家去，念母劳家里。
却与小姑别，泪落连珠子。
新妇初来时，小姑始扶床；今日被驱遣，小姑如我长。勤心养公姥，好自相扶将。初七及下九，嬉戏莫相忘。
出门登车去，涕落百余行。府吏马在前，新妇车在后。隐隐何甸甸，俱会大道口。
下马入车中，低头共耳语：誓不相隔卿，且暂还家去；吾今且赴府，不久当还归。誓天不相负！
新妇谓府吏：感君区区怀！君既若见录，不久望君来。君当作磐石，妾当作蒲苇，蒲苇纫如丝，磐石无转移。我有亲父兄，性行暴如雷，恐不任我意，逆以煎我怀。
举手长劳劳，二情同依依。
入门上家堂，进退无颜仪。
阿母大拊掌，不图子自归：十三教汝织，十四能裁衣，十五弹箜篌，十六知礼仪，十七遣汝嫁，谓言无誓违。汝今何罪过，不迎而自归？
兰芝惭阿母：儿实无罪过。
阿母大悲摧。
还家十余日，县令遣媒来。云有第三郎，窈窕世无双。年始十八九，便言多令才。
阿母谓阿女：汝可去应之。
阿女含泪答：兰芝初还时，府吏见丁宁，结誓不别离。今日违情义，恐此事非奇。自可断来信，徐徐更谓之。
阿母白媒人：贫贱有此女，始适还家门。不堪吏人妇，岂合令郎君？幸可广问讯，不得便相许。
媒人去数日，寻遣丞请还，说有兰家女，丞籍有宦官。云有第五郎，娇逸未有婚。遣丞为媒人，主簿通语言。直说太守家，有此令郎君，既欲结大义，故遣来贵门。
阿母谢媒人：女子先有誓，老姥岂敢言！
阿兄得闻之，怅然心中烦。举言谓阿妹：作计何不量！先嫁得府吏，后嫁得郎君，否泰如天地，足以荣汝身。不嫁义郎体，其往欲何云？
兰芝仰头答：理实如兄言。谢家事夫婿，中道还兄门。处分适兄意，那得自任专！虽与府吏要，渠会永无缘。登即相许和，便可作婚姻。
媒人下床去，诺诺复尔尔。还部白府君：下官奉使命，言谈大有缘。
府君得闻之，心中大欢喜。视历复开书，便利此月内，六合正相应。良吉三十日，今已二十七，卿可去成婚。交语速装束，络绎如浮云。
青雀白鹄舫，四角龙子幡，婀娜随风转。金车玉作轮，踯躅青骢马，流苏金镂鞍。赍钱三百万，皆用青丝穿。杂彩三百匹，交广市鲑珍。从人四五百，郁郁登郡门。
阿母谓阿女：适得府君书，明日来迎汝。何不作衣裳？莫令事不举！
阿女默无声，手巾掩口啼，泪落便如泻。移我琉璃榻，出置前窗下。左手持刀尺，右手执绫罗。朝成绣夹裙，晚成单罗衫。晻晻日欲暝，愁思出门啼。府吏闻此变，因求假暂归。未至二三里，摧藏马悲哀。新妇识马声，蹑履相逢迎。怅然遥相望，知是故人来。
举手拍马鞍，嗟叹使心伤：自君别我后，人事不可量。果不如先愿，又非君所详。我有亲父母，逼迫兼弟兄。以我应他人，君还何所望！
府吏谓新妇：贺卿得高迁！磐石方且厚，可以卒千年；蒲苇一时纫，便作旦夕间。卿当日胜贵，吾独向黄泉！
新妇谓府吏：何意出此言！同是被逼迫，君尔妾亦然。黄泉下相见，勿违今日言！
执手分道去，各各还家门。
生人作死别，恨恨那可论？念与世间辞，千万不复全！
府吏还家去，上堂拜阿母：今日大风寒，寒风摧树木，严霜结庭兰。儿今日冥冥，令母在后单。故作不良计，勿复怨鬼神！命如南山石，四体康且直！
阿母得闻之，零泪应声落：汝是大家子，仕宦于台阁。慎勿为妇死，贵贱情何薄！东家有贤女，窈窕艳城郭，阿母为汝求，便复在旦夕。
府吏再拜还，长叹空房中，作计乃尔立。转头向户里，渐见愁煎迫。
其日牛马嘶，新妇入青庐。奄奄黄昏后，寂寂人定初。我命绝今日，魂去尸长留！揽裙脱丝履，举身赴清池。
府吏闻此事，心知长别离。徘徊庭树下，自挂东南枝。
两家求合葬，合葬华山傍。东西植松柏，左右种梧桐。枝枝相覆盖，叶叶相交通。中有双飞鸟，自名为鸳鸯。仰头相向鸣，夜夜达五更。行人驻足听，寡妇起彷徨。多谢后世人，戒之慎勿忘！
During the Jianan period at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty, there lived a woman surnamed Liu, who was a wife of Jiao Zhongqing, a young officeholder in the Lujiang. She was expelled out by her mother-in-law. She vowed not to remarry. But her natal family push her to marry again, so she drown herself in water. After hearing the news of her death, Zhongqing also hanged himself on a tree in his house courtyard. People at that time mourned them and wrote such a poem. The peacock flew to the southeast and hovered around after one and a half miles.
I can weave silk when I was thirteen years old, and then I learned to embroider at my fourteen-year-old, I was able to play the harp when I was fifteen years old, and then I can read poetry and novels at my sixteen-year-old.
As I got married at the age of seventeen, I often felt painful sorrow in my heart.
Since you have become a officeholder, abided by the rules of the government and remained attentive.
I stayed alone in the vacant house, and the days we met were really very few.
When the cock croaked, I always weaved silk on the machine and cannot rest till the night.
I worked three days and got five rolls of silk, and my mother-in-law still thought that I was tardy.
I think it could not because I am slow, but I am difficult to be the daughter-in-law!
Since I cannot handle the problem, it would be useless to keep me for nothing.
It is okay to tell my mother-in-law and send me back as soon as possible.
When hearing her speech Zhongqing went the hall to report his mother:
I am not being a high-ranking officer and enjoying a generous salary, fortunately I can still marry this wise and clever wife.
We lived in love after marriage, and after death we must depend on each other as a partner in the underground.
We have only been together for less than three years, and our life has just begun, I consider it is not a long time.
There was nothing wrong with the behavior in this woman, how could you be dissatisfied with her?
His mother said to him: You are so ignorant!
This woman was such impolite, and her actions were all on her own terms.
I have been disliked her a long time ago, how can I fulfill your claim!
Over east there is a virtuous neighbor girl named Qin Luofu, she is nice and highly cute, and I will propose marriage for you.
Hurry and give her up now, do not keep her here!
Zhongqing knelt and spoke: I respond thou respectfully, now if I divorce, I will never marry for the rest of my life!
Hearing the words his mother knocked with her fist on the seat and sweared:
Have you nothing to fear? How dare you speak for your wife!
I have no kindness to her anymore, of course I cannot promise your request.
Zhongqing did not dare to say anything. After bowing to his mother he returned to the room.
He said to his wife, but cried so much that could not even speak:
I did not want to drive you away, but my mother made me do that.
But you have to go back for the time being, and I need to go work for a while.
I will be back soon to take you away when I come home.
For this reason I showed you my reliability, please do not violate our agreement.
She said to Zhongqing: Do not waste your time.
I remember that at the end of the winter, I bid farewell to my family and came to the house of thou.
I obeyed the wills of my mother-in-law in any case, how dare I make my own decisions?
I worked hard daily and rested only at night, I wonder I was tortured alone.
I thought I was not at fault, as her grace I want to take care of my mother-in-law for life; I did not ponder to be driven away after all, as this occurs I could not say I will come back again!
I have an embroidered belt that glows itself bright in the dark; a double layer blanket with sachets hanging on the four corners; around seventy boxes for clothes and makeup tied in black silk rope decorated with greenstones, in those boxes every item is different and has all the kinds.
Since I am lowly and ignoble so my possessions are not worth money, they are not worthy to greet your next wife in the future, I ponder it is better to give it away to some one else, as I will never see you again, may the comfort you feel all the time, and I only hope you will not forget me.
The cock croaked, and a new day dawned outside, she got up and dressed neatly.
She put on the embroidered skirt, and every piece of apparel was tried for several times.
She wore silk shoes under her feet, and the jewellery made from tortoiseshell shone on her head.
On her waist white silk flew as like water waves, under her earlobes the jewel shimmered as like the moonlight.
Her fingers were slender as spring onion roots, and her lips were rosy as cinnabar.
She stepped lightly and delicately, as an elegant and unique lady on the earth.
She walked to the hall and met her mother-in-law whose anger had not yet gone out.
As a girl in my natal family, I born and grew up in the countryside.
I did not have any good education, I was even more embarrassed to marry the excellent boy.
From my mother-in-law I received a lot of money and gifts, but I could not afford to keep it anymore.
I am going to my family today, and I will be worried about my mother-in-law.
When she turned back and bid farewell to her sister-in-law, her tears fell as like beads.
When I came, my sister-in-law just learned to walk with a chair; today I am leaving, my sister-in-law grows as tall as I am.
Remember to take care of your mother, and I hope you will work hard to support her.
Afterwards at the seventh day of the July, and also at the nineteenth day of every month, please do not forget me when you are having fun.
She finished talking, went out, boarded the car and left, tears kept falling.
Zhongqing rode in front, and the car behind, they met together at the road junction.
Zhongqing got off his horse and went into the car, he whispered in her ear:
I vow not to stop the relationship with you, please go back for the time being; I will go work for a while, I would be back soon.
I promise that I will never betray.
She said to Zhongqing: Thanks for your affection and loyalty!
Since you remember me like this, I hope you can pick me up soon.
You are as a rock, and I am as a reed, the reed is as soft as silk and not easy to break, the rock is not easy to be transferred.
I have an elder brother who has violent temper, I am afraid that he will not let my wish come true, that is what makes me worry.
Then they raised their hands to say goodbye, gazing each other for a long time.
She walked into the house. Before coming to the inner hall, she felt shame and wandered around in the way.
Her mother, seeing the return of her daughther, was shocked, clapped her palms and said:
I taught you how to weave at the age of thirteen, then you can embroider at the age of fourteen, you were able to play the harp at the age of fifteen, and you already know the etiquette at the age of sixteen, at the age of seventeen you became the bride, I think you will not have any fault.
What is wrong with you now, as you come back by yourself?
She said ashamed: I really have no fault.
Her mother was very sad after hearing this.
It had only been dozens of days since she came back home, and the county magistrate sent a matchmaker to the house.
The matchmaker said that the third boy of the family would get marry, he was slim and remarkable.
Although he was only about nineteen years old, but eloquent and capable.
Her mother said to her: You can go and answer.
She replied with tears in her eyes: Before I came back, Zhongqing repeatedly urged me to take an oath that we never separate.
If I am against my words today, I ponder it is unsuitable.
I think the rejection will be better, let the case be so.
Her mother told the matchmaker: We, a poor family, have this girl, she was divorced and returned to her natal family soon after she got married.
She cannot be the wife of the officeholder, how can she be worthy to be with that glorious boy?
I hope you could ask other girls again, I cannot agree to you.
After the matchmaker of the county magistrate had left for a few days, the governor sent another about proposing marriage to the girl Lanzhi who was born in a noble family.
It was said that in their family was born the fifth son, who was handsome and charming, and he was not yet married.
And the county prime minister was the matchmaker, that was what the assistant conveyed roughly.
The prime minister said directly that since there was such a good boy, and they wanted the girl, so a matchmaker was sent to the house.
Her mother declined: My daughter had an oath before, how dare I promise this?
When her elder brother heard that the proposal was rejected, he was upset.
He said to his little sister: How can you not think about it when you make this decision!
The last time you got married with an officeholder, this time you will get a noble son, the difference between good and bad is like heaven and earth, fortunately for you enough to make you glorious and wealthy for life.
If you do not marry such a benevolent son, what do you plan to do in the future?
She raised her head and replied: The truth is indeed the same as what my elder brother said.
I left you to be with my husband and returned to your house on the halfway.
It is according to your idea for how to deal with this, how dare I take the initiative?
Though I made a deal with Zhongqing, but there will never be a chance to meet him.
Just agree at once, and this marriage could be allowed.
The matchmaker got up from the seat and said yes repeatedly.
He returned to the county government and reported to the governor: I accept the mission you gave me, finally the matter was very successful.
The governor was very happy when he heard these words.
He checked the calendar immediately and read the fate book, and then found out the date within this month, the day was to be all suitable.
The date was set on the 30th day, and it was only two days left to prepare a wedding.
Everyone in the palace talked to each other and hurried up for organizing the banquet, they came and went like clouds in the sky.
The boat was painted with blue birds and white swans, at the four corners were flags embroidered with dragon, gently floating in the wind.
The car coloured gold had wheels inlaid with jades, and the horse with blue and white fur ambulated forward, its saddle was carved out gold ornaments on with colourful tassels hanging around.
The coins obtained were about three million, all wore in cyan silk thread.
The presents were around three hundred pieces of silk and satin in various colours, and the southern delicacies from mountains and seas were purchased.
There were about five hundred visitors, and they came to the gate in a lively manner.
Her mother said to her daughter: Now I received a letter from the governor, they will greet you tomorrow.
Why are not you sewing a new suit? Do not let the marriage come to nothing!
She was silent, covering her mouth with a handkerchief and crying, tears pouring down.
Then she went taking out the glazed couch and sitting under the front window.
She was holding the scissors and ruler on her left hand, the silk and satin on her right hand.
The skirt was embroidered in the morning, and the shirt was finished in the evening.
The gloomy sky was about to get dark, she was full of grief and went out to cry bitterly.
Zhongqing heard of this change, so he asked for leaving to come back temporarily.
When there was still hundreds of meters away from her house, the horse bawled badly.
She was familiar with the noise and ran to investigate with a brisk pace.
Staring sadly from the way far, she knew that the intimate person was coming.
She raised her hand and stroked the saddle, sighed:
Since you left me, the affairs were really unexpected.
Sure enough, it was not coming the way I wished, but there were many things you do not understand.
My biological family, and my elder brother constrained me.
I was betrothed with someone else, how can I expect to your coming!
Zhongqing said to her: Congratulations on promotion!
The rock is square and solid, it can be stored for thousands of years; and the reed can only be kept in a short while.
You will enjoy the gorgeous everyday, I will enter into the nether world alone!
She said to Zhongqing: Why did you say such sentences!
The same was being forced, you and me too.
Let us meet each other under the soil, I hope you not to violate the word of today!
They held their hands tightly, bid farewell and returned home.
The alive souls were making a deathly farewell, how can the resentment in the heart be explained?
When the readiness was to extricate from the body, and then the living could not be longer!
Zhongqing returned home, walked to the hall to meet her mother and said:
Today the wind was very cold and broke the trees, and the orchids in the yard were covered with thick frost.
I am leaving you now, what makes you feel lonely in the future.
I deliberately made such a bad plan, please stop detesting ghosts and loathing gods!
May your life be as long as mountains, and your body be healthy and strong forever!
His mother heard these words and said with dripping tears:
You are the son of our family and an officeholder in the city.
Do not seek death because of a woman, you are not similar to her, how could that be ruthless!
Over east there is a virtuous neighbor girl, her beauty is famous in and outside the city, I will make a proposal for your marriage, you would get an answer sooner or later.
Zhongqing bowed to her mother and went back, he sighed in the vacant room, after pondering he stood up.
He turned his head to the inner room and gradually felt the grand grief together with more and more tormented.
When the cows and horses barked on the day of marriage, she walked into a tent made of blue cloth where the wedding was held.
After the overcast dusk, at nine o clock in night people began to rest.
My life is over today, and the soul is leaving, let this corpse stay in the world for a long time!
So she rolled up the skirt, took off the silk shoes and jumped into the clear pond.
Zhongqing heard about her suicide and realized that they had parted forever.
After wandering under the tree in the courtyard for a while, he hanged himself on one of the branches which was towards the southeast.
Their family requested for a joint burial, so they buried the two together next to the Huashan.
Beside the tomb the pinewood and the cypress were planted on the both east and west, and the plane trees on the both left and right side.
The branches of these trees covered each other, and the leaves were wrapped one another.
There was a pair of bird flying around the tree and wailing, we named them mandarin duck.
They raised their heads and yelped all the night.
The pedestrians near stopped to listen, and the widow felt very restless.
Please admonish those people in the future to take this incident as a lesson and do never forget it!
