The poem “Five Beautiful Poems: Red Brushes” is a seven character quatrain written by Lin Daiyu in the Qing Dynasty novelist Cao Xueqin’s novel “Dream of the Red Chamber”. The first line of this poem describes Li Jing’s heroic spirit, and the second line describes Hong Fu’s foresight and insight. The last two lines describe Yang Su, despite his high position and power, as a “corpse lingering in the air”; while Li Jing, despite wearing plain clothes, has not yet made a name for himself, but his aura is extraordinary. This poem praises the spiritual confidant and unconventional spirit of Hongfu through singing about her deeds. The use of bold words throughout the poem quotes Hongfu’s heroic deeds, forming a contrast with Lin Daiyu’s gradual exhaustion of her own life in reality. This contrast between ideals and reality reinforces the tragic meaning of the work.
《五美吟·红拂》出自清代小说家曹雪芹所著小说《红楼梦》，是一首七言绝句，在小说中由林黛玉所作。此诗首句写李靖的英雄气概，次句写红拂的远见卓识。后两句写杨素虽然位高权重，却已是”尸居余气”；而李靖一介布衣，尚未发迹，但气宇不凡。此诗借歌咏红拂事迹，赞美了精神上的知己之情和不拘流俗的气概。此诗用词豪爽，通篇引用红拂的豪爽事迹，与现实中林黛玉慢慢耗尽自己的生命形成对比，这种理想与现实之间的反差，强化了作品的悲剧意味。
《红楼梦》·《五美吟·红拂》
长揖雄谈态自殊，美人巨眼识穷途。
尸居余气杨公幕，岂得羁縻女丈夫？
Red Duster（David Hawkes 译）
She marked the firm, courteous protest, the well-phrased confident plan,
And, under the unsuccessful clerk, saw the essential Man.
The great Yang Su in her eyes was finished from that hour:
He could not hold a girl like her for all his pomp and power.
Hung Fu（B. S. Bonsall 译）
A long sword, martial speech, a distinguished appearance.
The beautiful woman with large eyes knows that she is unable to advance,
Dwelling idly for the rest of her life in duke Yang’s tent.
Can he restrain the valiant woman?
Red Whisk（杨宪益、戴乃迭 译）
From his long bows, proud talk and air of distinction
The discerning beauty his true worth foretold;
The grand duke Yang Su was a living corpse,
How could he keep a girl so staunch and bold?
