To a Faithless Husband

1

Plain as snow on the hill,

皑如山上雪，

Clear as moon among the clouds.

皎若云间月。

Is your change of heart, they tell me;

闻君有两意，

And so I've come to bid you good-bye.

故来相决绝。

Today we've drunk a measure of wine,

今日斗酒会，

Tomorrow we must part by the canal.

明旦沟水头。

I shall walk beside the royal canal,

躞蹀御沟止，

Whose waters flow east and are gone,

沟水东西流。

2

And wonder if my grief will ever end.

凄凄复凄凄，

No girl need cry when she's married.

嫁娶不须啼。

If her husband is a single-hearted man,

愿得一心人，

Who will not leave her till her hair is white.

白头不相离。

Pliant the bamboo fishing rod,

竹竿何袅袅， 

Wet, wet, the tail of the fish.

鱼尾何蓰蓰。

A man who valued constancy,

男儿重意气，

Would set no store by money!

何用钱刀为。