Ma Zhiyuan (1250-1321) styled Dongli, was born in Dadu (today's Beijing). One of the Four Master Dramatists of the Yuan dynasty, Ma wrote altogether 15 plays, of which seven have survived. His Sanqu poems give expressions to his regrets of an unrecognized talent and the longings of an undetermined recluse. He was a success wherever he directed his efforts in terms of poetry writing whether in a sublime or beautiful style.
马致远（1250-1321）号东篱，大都（今北京）人。为“元曲四大家”之一，著杂剧十五种，今存七种。其散曲主要抒发文士怀才不遇的悲愤与消极遁世思想。艺术上纵横挥洒，无不如意，豪放清丽，兼而有之。
Retirement to the tune of Four Pieces of Jade
四块玉·恬退
Beside the water green,
绿水边，
Against the mountain green,
青山侧，
With a house of two hundred acres of land so good,
二顷良田一区宅。
Extricate oneself from a life of worldly worries one could.
闲身跳出红尘外；
Purple crabs are fat,
紫蟹肥，
Yellow chrysanthemum blooms in its prime,
黄菊开，
To go home it's time.
归去来。