丽人行
杜甫
三月三日天气新， 长安水边多丽人。
态浓意远淑且真， 肌理细腻骨肉匀。
绣罗衣裳照暮春， 蹙金孔雀银麒麟。
头上何所有？ 翠微盍叶垂鬓唇。
背后何所见？ 珠压腰衱稳称身。
就中云幕椒房亲， 赐名大国虢与秦。
紫驼之峰出翠釜， 水精之盘行素鳞。
犀箸餍饫久未下， 鸾刀缕切空纷纶。
黄门飞鞚不动尘， 御厨络绎送八珍。
箫鼓哀吟感鬼神， 宾从杂遝实要津。
后来鞍马何逡巡？ 当轩下马入锦茵。
杨花雪落覆白苹， 青鸟飞去衔红巾。
炙手可热势绝伦， 慎莫近前丞相嗔。
a song of fair women
du fu
on the third day of the third-month in the freshening weather
many beauties take the air by the changan waterfront,
receptive, aloof, sweet-mannered, sincere,
with soft fine skin and well-balanced bone.
their embroidered silk robes in the spring sun are gleaming --
with a mass of golden peacocks and silver unicorns.
and hanging far down from their temples
are blue leaves of delicate kingfisher feathers.
and following behind them
is a pearl-laden train, rhythmic with bearers.
some of them are kindred to the royal house --
the titled princesses guo and qin.
red camel-humps are brought them from jade broilers,
and sweet fish is ordered them on crystal trays.
though their food-sticks of unicorn-horn are lifted languidly
and the finely wrought phoenix carving-knife is very little used,
fleet horses from the yellow gate, stirring no dust,
bring precious dishes constantly from the imperial kitchen.
...while a solemn sound of flutes and drums invokes gods and spirits,
guests and courtiers gather, all of high rank;
and finally, riding slow, a dignified horseman
dismounts at the pavilion on an embroidered rug.
in a snow of flying willow-cotton whitening the duckweed,
bluebirds find their way with vermilion handkerchiefs --
but power can be as hot as flame and burn people's fingers.
be wary of the premier, watch for his frown.