枉凝眉

Hope Betrayed 

作者：曹雪芹，译者：David Hawkes

一个是阆苑仙葩，

One was a flower from paradise,

一个是美玉无瑕，

One a pure jade without spot or stain.

若说没奇缘，

If each of the other one was not intended,

今生偏又遇着他；

Then why in this life did they meet again?

若说有奇缘，

And yet if fate had meant them for each other,

如何心事终虚化?

why was their earthly meeting all in vain?

一个枉自嗟呀，

In vain were all his anxious fears

一个空劳牵挂。

All, insubstantial, doomed to pass

一个是水中月，

As moonlight mirrored in the water

一个是镜中花。

Or flowers reflected in a glass.

想眼中能有多少泪珠儿。

How many tears from those poor eyes could flow,

怎经得秋流到冬尽，春流到夏！

Which every season rained upon her woe?