1月9日

好了歌
清 曹雪芹 ( 1715~1763 )

世人都曉神仙好，惟有功名忘不了；
古今將相在何方？荒塚一堆草沒了！
世人都曉神仙好，只有金銀忘不了；
終朝只恨聚無多，及到多時眼閉了！
世人都曉神仙好，只有嬌妻忘不了；
君生日日說恩情，君死又隨人去了！
世人都曉神仙好，只有兒孫忘不了；
癡心父母古來多，孝順子孫誰見了！

──選自《紅樓夢》

January 9th

The Song Of Good Ending
Cao Xueqing (1715 - 1763, Qing Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

The entire world knows the good about a heavenly life, yet they
are unable to put merit and fame behind them. Where are those
generals and ministers from the past now? All buried under wasted
tombs outgrown by weeds today.

The whole world knows the good about a heavenly life, yet they
are unable to put gold and silver behind them. All along they focus
their resentment on insufficient accumulation of wealth; finally,
when there is abundance, their eyes would already be shut.

The whole world knows the good about a heavenly life, yet they
are unable to put their pretty wives behind. While you are alive,
they would speak of love and gratitude everyday, but the moment
you die, they would leave just to be with someone else.

The whole world knows the good about a heavenly life, yet they
are unable to put their sons and grandsons behind. Loyal parents
come in many since long, yet how many have seen filial sons and
grandsons?

── from Hong Lou Meng (Dream of the Red Chamber)