Chen Cao'an Of his life little is known. Chen was recorded in Reords of Ghosts as a "Prime Minister" and listed among the nobility. Many of his Qu-poems are of a cynical nature.
陈草庵 生平事迹不详。《录鬼簿》称他为中丞，列于前辈名公之中。曲多愤世嫉俗之作。
A Lament on the World to the tune of Sheep on the Hillside
山坡羊·叹世
The cock begins crowing in the morning,
晨鸡初叫，
The ravens vie with each other calling in the evening,
昏鸦争噪。
All worldly people want to find their fortune star,
哪个不去红尘闹，
The road is long,
路迢迢，
The river stretches far,
水迢迢，
On the way to Chang'an① success and fame throng.
功名尽在长安道。
The youth today will be tomorrow old,
今日少年明日老，
Mountains
山，
Are as good as they were foretold,
依旧好；
Yet men
人，
All pine away in cold.
憔悴了。
① the then capital