班婕妤

Posted by Jade

班婕妤 c. 48-2 B.C.

怨歌行

新裂齐纨素，鲜洁如霜雪。
裁为合欢扇，团团似明月。
出入君怀袖，动摇微风发。
常恐秋节至，凉风夺炎热。
弃捐箧笥中，恩情中道绝。

Song of Resentment

Newly cut fine white silk,
Clear and pure as frost and snow.
Made into a fan for joyous trysts,
Round as the bright moon.
In and out of my lord’s cherished sleeve,
Waved back and forth to make a light breeze.
Often I fear the arrival of the autumn season,
Cool winds overcoming the summer heat.
Discarded into a box,
Affection cut off before fulfillment.

__________

poem - http://www.kellerstrans.com/blog/?p=30

poem translation - http://www.silkqin.com/02qnpu/16xltq/xl121hgq.htm

life story - http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=u7mLql4TAxoC&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=ban+jieyu&source=bl&ots=GTLKynOdD0&sig=9fz8Mx7pQeH2c1E7-vt1giGZZDY&hl=en&ei=is6_TcbCCIWg8QPJ2NDABQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=ban%20jieyu&f=false