The Lute Song
- Poetry of Cao Zhi

置酒高殿上，亲交从我游。

中厨办丰膳，烹羊宰肥牛。

秦筝何慷慨，齐瑟和且柔。

阳阿奏奇舞，京洛出名讴。

乐饮过三爵，缓带倾庶羞。

主称千金寿，宾奉万年酬。

久要不可忘，薄终义所尤。

谦谦君子德，磬折欲何求？

惊风飘白日，光景驰西流。

盛时不再来，百年忽我遒。

生存华屋处，零落归山丘。

先民谁不死，知命复何忧？

The banquet has been readied in the hall 

To entertain my kith and kin and all.

A festive banquet busies the kitchen house,

With cocks killing and boiling sheep and cows.

The zheng music excites a frenzied wildness;

The se music soothes with gentle mildness.

How the dancers dance with pretty poise;

How the singers sing with a tender voice.

In high spirits the guests begin to wine;

In good appetite the guests begin to dine.

I give the guests lots of gold when they part;

They wish me a long life for my good heart.

They say that they take me as an eternal friend 

And otherwise they'll come to no good end.

I say that I'm just doing what I can 

And I'll not ask favour from any man.

With sudden gales,the sun goes past its best;

With time and tide,the sun runs to the west.

The prime of life will by no means return;

The flight of time is my foremost concer.

Today we seek great pleasure in the hall;

Soon we'll be like the leaves that shrink and fall.

Whoever in the world will never die?

Why should I worry?Why should I?