买花(唐)白居易

Buying Flowers
Bai Juyi
买花
(唐)白居易
The capital's in parting spring,
帝城春欲暮，
Steeds run and neigh and cab bells ring.
喧喧车马度。
Peonies are at their best hours.
共道牡丹时，
And people rush to buy the flowers.
相随买花去。
They do not care about the price,
贵贱无常价，
Just count and buy those which seem nice.
酬直看花数。
For hundred blossoms dazzling red,
灼灼百朵红，
Twenty-five rolls of silk they spread.
找戈五束素。
Sheltered above by curtains wide,
上张幄幕庇，
Protected with fences by the side,
旁织笆篱护。
Roots sealed with mud, with water sprayed,
水洒复泥封，
Removed, their beauty does not fade.
移来色如故。
Accustomed to this way for long,
家家习为俗，
No family e'er thinks it wrong.
人人迷不悟。
What's the old peasant doing there?
有一田舍翁，
Why should he come to Flower Fair?
偶来买花处。
Head bowed, he utters sigh on sigh,
低头独长叹，
And nobody understands why.
此叹无人喻。
A bunch of deep-red peonies.
一丛深色花，
Costs taxes of ten families.
十户中人赋。