李商隐·《蝉》英译

本以高难饱，徒劳恨费声。

五更疏欲断，一树碧无情。

薄宦梗犹泛，故园芜已平。

烦君最相警，我亦举家清。

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Cicada

Li Shangyin

Existing on your high place, your belly can hardly be full,

All in vain is your resentful shrill.

At dawn the intermittent cry is about to cease,

But the tree remains indifferently green.

A peach-wood idol adrift, (1) to the court a petty servant,

My garden by weeds is overrun.

Much I’m obliged to you for your admonition,

I too, with my family, live in dire want. 

(1)    The allusion is taken from a fabled dialogue between a peach-wood idol and a clay idol, which reflects their respective helpless situation in the coming rainfall and flood.