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。
Untitled (2) to the tune of Sailing at Night
夜行船（乔木查）·无题（二）
Just think of those palaces of Chin and Han Dynasties in sleep,
想秦宫汉阙，
Now they are but grasslands for herding oxen and sheep.
都做了衰草牛羊野。
Good stories for fishermen and woodcutters to retrace,
不恁么鱼樵没话说。
Desolate tombs and broken stone tablets dot the place,
纵荒坟横断碑，
Alas, no one now can tell the noble from the base.
不辨龙蛇。