Peerless beauty is only Xishi,
Among all flowers, only the peony.
The moon's cassia is but vain,
Heaven's orchids are idly praised.
At night bathed in full golden waves,
At dawn tilted with jade dew's remnants.
Its nature should slight the lotus,
Its root is truly jade-like bamboo.
It snatches the sun's glow in a thousand shreds,
Riding the wind with one end of brocade.
Somewhat suited to endure overnight rain,
Especially felt to withstand spring chill.
They say in the Kaiyuan era,
It was first ordered planted in imperial rails.
The Noble Consort, charming, wished to compare,
Maidservants watched, jealous and shy.
Exquisite like mandarin duck loom weaving,
Light gathered like a moon-targeting pellet.
Gradually moved to noble sons' mansions,
Also planted in apricot blossom terraces.
Wealthy men emptied purses to buy,
Poor scholars borrowed rides to view.
Leaves hide phoenixes among parasol trees,
Branches stir paired phoenixes in mirrors.
Like smiling as guests first arrive,
Like sorrowing as wine is about to end.
Poets forget the peony's rival,
Monks feel ashamed before sandalwood.
Its intense fragrance suits the name 'Longevity',
Its beauty makes one think of the Pan family.
White light turns like dewy feathers,
Crimson flames blaze like cockscombs.
Swallows brushing past startle and chatter,
Bees, greedy, toil restless.
If it made its red face laugh,
It would also smooth its emerald brows' frown.
Young and old present connected calyxes,
Delicate pride寄托 in 'union joy'.
Resting shoulders, moved along nine tracks,
Without legs, it reaches a thousand officials.
Sunshine makes fragrant chambers break,
Wind scatters the pistil powder dry.
Well suited to reward on the blue jade table,
Fit to be stored in jade-green ice plates.
Jade discs demand cities in exchange,
Pearls are worth ten hu-measures judged.
Further think of its first sprouting shell,
How could it differ from mud-dwelling dragons?
The Songs of Chu should feel regret,
The Classic of Agriculture only roughly records.
Lu Ban could not carve it,
Yan Shou's brush would be exhausted.
Drunk guests together break branches,
Fair ladies regret offending it.
Only now know, brought to garden plots,
It wholly surpasses being in wooded hills.
Muddy ponds should be watered,
Courtyards again are spacious.
If compared with peach and plum,
Then one feels imitation is hard.