Gathered Spirits Terrace 2, Zhang Hu (Tang Shi #285)

[lnhammer]

The Lady of Guo was granted great imperial favor.
At dawn she rides her horse into the palace gate.
Because she hates cosmetics for sullying her face,
She just lightly brushes her brows before her audience.

集灵台之二
虢国夫人承主恩，
平明骑马入宫门。
却嫌脂粉污颜色，
淡扫蛾眉朝至尊。

Lady of Guo was a title given to one of Yang Yuhuan’s older sisters (her other two sisters were also titled). Apparently avoiding makeup was considered an affectation to mock? Cultural differences somewhat blunt the satire, then, compared to the first part. Lost in translation: the audience is specifically with “his majesty.”

—L.

Comments

[sovay]

Apparently avoiding makeup was considered an affectation to mock? Cultural differences somewhat blunt the satire, then, compared to the first part.

Can you sharpen it without replacing too much? The part about the identity of the audience seems relevant: a great honor which she answers with the equivalent of showing up in jeans and a T-shirt.

[lnhammer]

I have pondered “merely” brushing her brows. There may be more that can be done.