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。
A Lament on the Worldly World to the tune of Moving Not
拔不断·叹世
What's the use of becoming a king,
布衣中，
By diplaying heroism in civilians in plain?
问英雄，
Look! the past① ruined grass-covered palacies remain,
王图霸业成何用？
On tombs of the nobles wild groves grow here
禾黍高低六代宫，
and there,
楸梧远近千官塚，
-Nothing but a nightmare!
一场恶梦。
① the original is liu dai, the six dynasties.