阊门[1]即事[2]
[明]唐寅
世间乐土是吴中[3]，
中有阊门更擅雄。
翠袖[4]三千楼上下，
黄金百万水西东。
五更市买[5]何曾绝？
四远方言总不同。
若使画师描作画，
画师应道画难工[6]。
注释：
[1]阊门：苏州城门名。
[2]即事：以当前事物为题材的诗，多用作诗词题目。
[3]吴中：今天江苏吴县一带，也泛指吴地。
[4]翠袖：本义是指青绿色衣袖，这里代指女子。
[5]市买：买卖，交易。
[6]工：描绘清楚。
The Western Gate of Suzhou
Tang Yin[1]
The capital of Wu is earthly paradise;
As Western Gate nowhere’s so prosperous and nice.
Three thousand green-sleeved beauties upstair and downstair;
A million gold coins spent east or west, here and there.
From dawn to dusk the market uproar runs e’er high;
People speak different dialects from far and nigh.
If a painter is told to draw in black and white,
Of this magnificent picture he can’t make light.
注释：
[1]Tang Yin, son of a rich merchant of Suzhou (capital of the ancient kingdom of Wu), won the first honor in district exam at the age of 16 and in provincial exam at 29, but failed in the court exam and came back to live on painting.
This poem depicts the prosperous scene of Wuzhong, with Changmen as the center, showing its unique charm. The poet praises Wuzhong as a paradise on earth, and Changmen is the best among them, famous for its magnificence and large population. “Three thousand green sleeves” vividly describes the bustle between the pavilions and the gorgeous clothes of women, and “a million gold” symbolizes the abundance of wealth. The market is still busy at five o’clock, and the local dialects are rich and diverse, adding to the diversity of life. If painters were asked to paint this scene, they might lament that it is difficult to capture its vividness and complexity. The whole poem is fluent in language and vivid in image, showing the poet’s love and admiration for life in Wuzhong.
