约公元九零五年前后在世。字廷宝,吴人(全唐诗注云:或云关右人)。生卒年均不详,约唐哀帝天佑中前后在世。工诗。大顺二年,(公元八九一年)登进士第。唐末年间,偏安浙江的吴越王钱,做了件大失人心的决定:将名士吴仁璧沉到钱塘江里去!这是吴越王平生所铸的大错之一,而唐末进士吴仁璧,只不过是屡次三番拒绝了吴越王的邀约,不肯入其幕府,为这个并非大唐正统的君王效力。吴仁璧自喻清高,写下《凤仙花》诗以名志,诗云:“香红嫩绿正开时,冷蝶饥蜂两不知。此际最宜何处看,朝阳初上碧梧枝。”凤仙花形如凤凰,诗人自己就像这孤傲而高洁的神鸟,非梧桐枝不栖。诗句里或许还把吴越王讥笑为“冷蝶饥蜂”,抑或,蜂蝶之说,只是诗人的观察入微——凤仙花少有昆虫光顾,以至古人认为:“此草不生虫蠹,蜂蝶亦不近,恐亦不能无毒也。”
《凤仙花》 吴仁璧
香红嫩绿正开时,冷蝶饥蜂两不知。
此际最宜何处看,朝阳初上碧梧枝。
Garden Balsam
Wu Renbi
She is attired in redolent red and tender green during her efflorescence,
While the chilly butterflies and hungry bees are both unaware of her presence.
Where to view her charms for the sake of appreciation?
Chinese parasol illumined by the early morn sunbeams in irradiation.