Though David Hawkes, an eminent sinologist and translator, painted a far more figurative than the first version, I begged to differ in opinion of his translation "Hope Betrayed".  I like to retain as much local flavour; be as close to the original text as possible without violating the rules of the target language and yet able to tug at the hearts of readers.  Haru, what happened to the 2nd half of his translation?  Anyway, here's my contribution.  Thanks Haru for such a delightful piece.

《枉凝眉》（vain longing / hope betrayed ）Brows Vexing In Vain

《枉凝眉》
一个是阆苑仙葩，          One, a flower from fairyland,
一个是美玉无瑕。          One, a pieced of jade with no flaw,
若说没奇缘，                 If it is said that there was no romance,
今生偏又遇着他；          Why it is that I should meet thee in this life;
若说有奇缘，                 If it is said there is such a one,
如何心事终虚化﹖          Why then, the final love did not materialize?
一个枉自嗟呀，              Alas one drowned in sighs,
一个空劳牵挂。              Another toiling in futility.
一个是水中月，              One, an ethereal moon in the water,
一个是镜中花。              One, a virtual flower in the mirror,
想眼中能有多少泪珠儿，How much tears can the eyes hold?
怎经得秋流到冬尽，       That much? Flowing from autumn to winter,
春流到夏！                     And from spring to summer!

The song This piece comes from one of the four Chinese literature classics "The Dream of the Red Mansion Chamber" 1, one of the four Classics in Chinese literature. The followings are two translation translated versions of the song this piece. I want to share it with you. It's really beautiful. :)))

1.  This is the standard translation of the novel.  Although not an entirely accurate translation, the first translator wanted the book's title to be more salacious and appealing to the audience.  A very wise move indeed.  "Chamber" here means the bed chamber.  Sex always sell.  As the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm - 樓台近水先得月

杨宪益 version：VAIN LONGING
One is an immortal flower of fairyland,
The other fair flawless jade,
And were it not predestined,
Why should they meet again in this existence?
Yet, if predestined,
Why does their love come to nothing?
One sighs to no purpose,
The other yearns in vain;
One is the moon reflected in the water,
The other but a flower in the mirror.
How many tears can well from her eyes?
Can they flow on from autumn till winter,
From spring till summer?

David Hawkes version：HOPE BETRAYED
One was a flower from paradise,
One a pure jade without spot or stain.
If each of the other one was not intended,
Then why in this life did they meet again?
And yet if fate had meant them for each other,
why was their earthly meeting all in vain?
In vain were all his anxious fears:
All, insubstantial, doomed to pass,

不好意思，上一篇又发错了几句。:)))

David Hawkes version：HOPE BETRAYED
One was a flower from paradise
One was a pure jade without spot or stain
If each for the other one was not intended
Then why in this life did they meet again?
And yet if fate had meant them for each other,
Why was their earthly meeting all in vain?
In vain were all her sighs and tears.
In vain were all his anxious fears.
All,insubstantial,doomed to pass,
As moonlight mirrored in the water
Or flowers reflected in a glass
How many tears from those poor eyes could flow,
Which every season rained upon her woe?

杨宪益 version：VAIN LONGING
One is an immortal flower of fairyland,
The other fair flawless jade,
And were it not predestined,
Why should they meet again in this existence?
Yet, if predestined,
Why does their love come to nothing?
One sighs to no purpose,
The other yearns in vain;
One is the moon reflected in the water,
The other but a flower in the mirror.
How many tears can well from her eyes?
Can they flow on from autumn till winter,
From spring till summer?

David Hawkes version：HOPE BETRAYED

One was a flower from paradise,

One a pure jade without spot or stain.

If each of the other one was not intended,

Then why in this life did they meet again?

And yet if fate had meant them for each other,

why was their earthly meeting all in vain?

In vain were all his anxious fears.

All, insubstantial, doomed to pass,

As moonlight mirrored in the water

Or flowers reflected in a glass

How many tears from those poor eyes could flow,

Which every season rained upon her woe?