帕布莉卡西施咏
艳色天下重，
西施宁久微？
朝为越溪女，
暮作吴宫妃。
贱日岂殊众[1]？
贵来方悟稀。
邀人傅脂粉，
不自着罗衣。
君宠益娇态，
君怜无是非。
当[2]时浣纱伴，
莫得同车归。
持谢[3]邻家子，
效颦安可希！
本诗取材于历史人物，借古讽今。诗的开首四句写西施有艳丽的姿色，终不能久处低微。诗人借西施“朝贱夕贵”而浣纱同伴中仅她一人命运发生改变的经历，感叹世态炎凉，抒发怀才不遇的不平与感慨。诗的次六句写西施一旦得到君王宠爱，就身价百倍。诗人借世人只见显贵时的西施之美，表达对势利小人的嘲讽。诗人借“朝为越溪女”的西施“暮作吴宫妃”后的骄纵，讥讽那些由于偶然机遇受到恩宠就趾高气扬、不可一世的人。诗歌最后四句写姿色太差的人，想效颦西施是不自量力。诗人借效颦的东施，劝告世人不要为了博取别人赏识而故作姿态，弄巧成拙。语虽浅显，寓意深刻。沈德潜在《唐诗别裁集》中说：“写尽炎凉人眼界，不为题缚，乃臻斯诣。”
注释：
[1]殊众：不同于众，出众。
[2]当：又写作“常”。
[3]持谢：奉告。
Song of the Beauty of the West
A beauty is loved far and wide.
How could she be unknown for long?
At dawn she washed by riverside;
At dusk to the king she’ll belong.
Poor,she was one of lower race;
Ennobled,she’s one of the few.
She has maids to powder her face
And dress her up with silk dress new.
Royal favor adds to her charms;
Royal love turns wrong into right.
Her companions wash with bare arms,
Could they attain such royal height?
To washerwomen I would say:
Don’t follow her unusual way!
