March has come to the bridge head,

天津三月时，千门桃与李。

Peach boughs and apricot boughs hang over a thousand gates,

朝为断肠花，暮逐东流水。

At morning there are flowers to cut the heart,

前水复后水，古今相续流。

And evening drives them on the eastward-flowing waters.

新人非旧人，年年桥上游。

Petals are on the gone waters and on the going,

鸡鸣海色动，谒帝罗公侯。

And on the back-swirling eddies,

月落西上阳，余辉半城楼。

But to-day's men are not the men of the old days,

衣冠照云日，朝下散皇州。

Though they hang in the same way over the bridgerail.

鞍马如飞龙，黄金络马头。

行人皆辟易，志气横嵩丘。

The sea's colour moves at the dawn

入门上高堂，列鼎错珍馐。

And the princes still stand in rows, about the throne,

香风引赵舞，清管随齐讴。

And the moon falls over the portals of Sei-go-yo,

七十紫鸳鸯，双双戏庭幽。

And clings to the walls and the gate-top.

行乐争昼夜，自言度千秋。

With head-gear glittering against the cloud and sun,

功成身不退，自古多愆尤。

The lords go forth from the court, and into far borders.

黄犬空叹息，绿珠成衅仇。

They ride upon dragon-like horses,

何如鸱夷子，散发棹扁舟。

Upon horses with head-trappings of yellow-metal,

And the streets make way for their passage.

Haughty their passing,

Haughty their steps as they go into great banquets,

To high halls and curious food,

To the perfumed air and girls dancing,

To clear flutes and clear singing;

To the dance of the seventy couples;

To the mad chase through the gardens.

Night and day are given over to pleasure

And they think it will last a thousand autumns,

Unwearying autumns.

For them the yellow dogs howl portents in vain,

And what are they compared to the lady Riokushu,

That was cause of hate!

Who among them is a man like Han-rei

Who departed alone with his mistress,

With her hair unbound, and he his own skiffs-man!