示內
莫道家貧卒歲難，
北風會過幾番寒。
明年桃柳堂前樹，
還汝春光滿眼看。
這首詩逐字翻譯成英文，就是——
Don''t say home poor pass year hard，
North wind has blown many times cold;
year peach willow hall front trees，
Pay-back you spring light full eyes e.
更意譯地翻譯，可以像這樣：
TO MY WIFE
Fret not，—though poor we yet pass the year，
Let the north wind blow ne''er so chill and drear；
year when pead willow are in bloom，
You''ll yet e spring and sun light in our home.
這裏還有另外一個更久遠也更長的範例。它是中國的華茲華斯——唐代詩人杜甫的一首詩這首詩為唐代詩人杜甫的《贈衛八處士》。我先給出我的英文翻譯。內容是：
MEETING WITH AN OLD FRIEND
In life，friends ldom are brought near；
Like stars，eae shines in its sphere.
Tonight，—oh！what a happy night！
We sit beh the same lamp light.
Our youth and strength last but a day.
You and I—ah！our hairs are grey.
Friends！Half are ier land，
With tears we grasp each other''s hand.
Twenty more years，—short，after all，
I once again asd your hall.
Whe，you had not a wife；
Now you have children，—such is life！
Beaming，they greet their father''s chum；
They ask me from where I have e.
Before our say，we each have said，
The table isa lready laid.
Fresh salads from the garden near，
Rice mixed with millet，—frugal cheer.
When shall we meet？''tis hard to know，
And so let the wine freelyf low.
This wine，I know，will do no harm.
My old friend''s wele is so warm.
Tomorrow I go，—to be whirled,
Again into the wide，wide world.
以上我翻譯的版本，我承認，幾乎是打油詩，它僅僅給出了中文原詩的大意。但是，這首詩的原文卻並非打油詩，而是真正的詩歌，接近於白話的簡潔，卻帶著一種優雅、高貴及哀婉，而這種高貴是我無法再現的，而且也許是不可能用英語這樣簡單的語言來再現的。
人生不相見，動如參與商。
今夕複何夕，共此燈燭光。
少壯能幾時，鬢發各已蒼。
訪舊半為鬼，驚呼熱中腸。
焉知二十載，重上君子堂。
昔別君未婚，兒女忽成行。
怡然敬父執，問我來何方。
問答未及已，兒女羅酒漿。
夜雨剪春韭，新炊間黃粱。
主稱會麵難，一舉累十觴。
十觴亦不醉，感君故意長。
明日隔山嶽，世事兩茫茫。