感遇（其一）
張九齡
蘭葉春葳蕤， 桂華秋皎潔。
欣欣此生意， 自爾為佳節。
誰知林棲者， 聞風坐相悅。
草木有本心， 何求美人折。
orchid and orange i
zhang jiuling
tender orchid-leaves in spring
and cinnamon- blossoms bright in autumn
are as self- contained as life is,
which conforms them to the seasons.
yet why will you think that a forest-hermit,
allured by sweet winds and contented with beauty,
would no more ask to-be transplanted
than would any other natural flower?
感遇（其二）
張九齡
江南有丹橘， 經冬猶綠林。
豈伊地氣暖， 自有歲寒心。
可以薦嘉客， 奈何阻重深。
運命惟所遇， 循環不可尋。
徒言樹桃李， 此木豈無陰。
orchid and orange ii
zhang jiuling
here, south of the yangzi, grows a red orangetree.
all winter long its leaves are green,
not because of a warmer soil,
but because its' nature is used to the cold.
though it might serve your honourable guests,
you leave it here, far below mountain and river.
circumstance governs destiny.
cause and effect are an infinite cycle.
you plant your peach-trees and your plums,
you forget the shade from this other tree.