Lament for the Deceased Wife, No. 1

Lament for the Deceased Wife, No. 1

The youngest daughter of the Xie house, most dearly beloved,

Married to a Qianlou — and everything went awry.

Seeing me without clothes, she rummaged her painted chest;

Begging her for wine, she drew her golden hairpin.

Wild greens to fill our meals — she found the long mallow sweet;

Fallen leaves for fuel — she relied on the old locust tree.

Today my salary exceeds a hundred thousand —

For you I arrange the offerings, and arrange them once again.