A Song of Xi Shi, Wang Wei (300 Tang Shi #17)

[lnhammer]

It’s hard to have a gorgeous face in the world.
How could Xi Shi stay obscure for long?
One morning, a woman by a Yue creek—
By evening, she became a consort of Wu.
When lowly, who could tell her apart from the crowd?
When honored, they recognized her rarity.
Meeting people, she relied on makeup.
It wasn’t natural, her wearing silken robes.
Her ruler’s favor was reaped from charming airs—
Her ruler who loved regardless of right or wrong.
Back then, she had companions washing clothes
Who now cannot go riding out with her.
And now turn down the girl next door, for how
Could she hope a lady’s knitted brow would work?

西施咏
艳色天下重，
西施宁久微？
朝为越溪女，
暮作吴宫妃。
贱日岂殊众？
贵来方悟稀。
邀人傅脂粉，
不自著罗衣，
君宠益娇态，
君怜无是非。
当时浣纱伴，
莫得同车归。
持谢邻家子，
效颦安可希？

We last met Xi Shi, one of China’s Four Greatest Beauties Ever, in the collection of ghost poems as well as, before that, in #40. As a reminder, she was a commoner given by the ruler of Warring State Yue as a concubine to the ruler of rival state Wu to distract him from affairs of the realm—a sexpionage ploy that supposedly actually worked. This is not one of her more sympathetic portraits, especially compared to Li Bai’s.

---L.