
Zeng Rui (birth and death years unknown) was a prose writer of the Yuan Dynasty. My courtesy name is Ruiqing, and I call myself Brown Husband. Born in Daxing (now Daxing District, Beijing). Moved to the south due to liking the talents and scenery of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The Book of Ghosts records that on the day of his death, thousands of people hung themselves on the door, indicating that he had already gained great fame at that time. Due to his unyielding spirit and unwillingness to submit to flattery and flattery, he never served in government for life and wandered the streets, relying on gifts from acquaintances in the Jianghuai area for a living. Skilled in painting, capable of composing cryptic songs. The collection of scattered songs includes “Poetry and Wine Music”, which is currently in circulation but is now lost.
曾瑞(生卒年不详), 元代散曲作家。字瑞卿,自号褐夫。大兴(今北京市大兴区)人。因喜江浙人才风物而移家南方。《录鬼簿》记他“临终之日,诣门吊者以千数”,可知他当时已有盛名。由于志不屈物,不解趋附奉承,所以终身不仕,优游市井,赖江淮一带熟人馈赠为生。善绘画,能作隐语小曲,散曲集有《诗酒馀音》行于当世,今佚。
曾瑞·《山坡羊·叹世(二)》
荣华休傲,
贫穷休笑,
循环世态多颠倒。
恰春朝,
早秋宵,
花开花谢都知道。
今岁孟春花更早。
花,
依旧好。
人,
空谩老。
Lamenting the Times (2)
to the tune of Sheep on the Hillside
Ceng Rui
Proud of yourself not when you have wealth and rank,
Laugh not at those on whom the fate plays a prank.
The wheel of fortune keeps rotating,
A morning in spring
Suddenly turns itself into an autumn night.
It is known to all: flowers bloom and fade.
This year’s spring flowers offer an early sight,
They are as beautiful as made
They were;
But I, I am older made
Than I was fair.