The Peony Pavilion is one of the great works of Chinese romantic drama, comparable to, and contemporary with, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. As a work of literature, it has achieved a degree of recognition in the Western world through the translation of Cyril Birch (1980). Birch's translation of the entire play, all 55 scenes, remains a classic in English translation literature in terms of accuracy, sophistication, authoritativeness, and faithfulness to the nuance of the original poetry. Regrettably, the lines are often too long to fit into the limited space of projected surtitles, in most performance venues. This translation of the newly abridged "Young Lovers' Edition", or version, is better suited to present day theatre technology. Consequently, the lines are shorter, the language simpler, more concise, and accessible, allowing the audience to concentrate more on the stage. Here, the Chinese text is presented alongside the translation allowing readers who know Chinese to judge for themselves, the appropriateness of the rendition.