这首诗的前四句是叙述刘向《列仙传》中的一个神话故事：“江妃二女者，不知何所人也，出游于江、汉之湄（水边），逢郑交甫。”交甫见而悦之，下请其佩，二女解佩与交甫。交甫悦受而怀揣之，“趋去数十步，视佩，空怀无佩；顾二女，忽然不见。”这里借用此故事来发端起兴：叙江妃二女游于江汉之滨，自由逍遥地顺风飘舞，郑交甫遇到了她们便一见钟情，请她们解环佩相赠以为信物，二女答应了他的请求。交甫把环佩藏在怀里。那两位神女都年青美貌（婉娈），浑身飘散着香气。
《咏怀·其二》 阮籍
二妃游江滨，逍遥顺风翔。
交甫怀环佩，婉娈有芬芳。
猗靡情欢爱，千载不相忘。
倾城迷下蔡，容好结中肠。
感激生忧思，萱草树兰房。
膏沐为谁施，其雨怨朝阳。
如何金石交，一旦更离伤！
II
Two fairy maidens played along the riverbank,
lightly, leisurely, hanging on the wind….
They gave their beautiful jewellery to Jiao Fu;
how he treasured its fragrance!
Soon Jiao Fu and the maidens fell deeply in love,
and swore they would never forget one another.
These maidens charmed the entire town,
Their beauty enchanted its people.
Alas!
Their love, and their gratitude, turned to anxiety.
Soon they were planting forgetful grass before their chambers.
So whats the use of putting on make-up?
The rain complains of the morning sun.
Gold-stone and companionship
One day will both dissolve.
