Chapter 1
9甄士隐好了歌解文
    陋室空堂，当年芴满床；衰草枯杨，曾为歌舞场。蛛丝儿结满雕梁，绿纱今又糊在蓬窗上。说什么脂正浓，粉正香，如何两鬓又成霜？昨日黄土陇头送白骨，今宵红灯帐底卧鸳鸯。金满箱，银满箱，展眼乞丐人皆谤。正叹他人命不长，那知自己归来丧！训有方，保不定日后作强粱。择膏粱，谁承望流落在烟花巷！因嫌纱帽小，致使锁枷扛；昨怜破袄寒，今嫌紫蟒长：乱烘烘你方唱罢我登场，反认他乡是故乡。甚荒唐，到头来都是为他人作嫁衣裳！
Translation: xql309
The Interpretation of A Folk Song of Nice Endings by Zhen Shi Yin
   
    Here are vacant halls and humble rooms, in which official tablets once lay full on beds; there, withered weeds and decayed trunks cover the ground, where performances of dancing and singing were staged before. Cobwebs hang up carved beams, and timber windows are pasted with green gauze. Eulogizing fresh rouge and fragrant powder, why is the hair growing hoary at the temples? Yesterday, white bones were just buried in yellow soil, tonight in the red lantern light lying together are the affectionate couple on the curtained bed. One with boxes full of gold and silver, once turned a beggar, would be slandered anyhow. Hardly does one sigh life too short for others, when he becomes aware of his turn to fall! Well-educated, one still could be the unlawful. Carefully selecting the new bridegroom, none anticipates the bride would turn a street whore! One’s discontent with lower official ranks may send him to jail with cangue on the neck. Shivering in the ragged robe yesterday, today he may consider the purple official robe too long. On the messed up stage, one finishes a song and the next comes on, regarding the earthly world as one’s holy land. Sort of absurd, nice efforts end up in tailoring someone else’s clothes!     (208word)