Written to Ziyou in Joke
戏子由
My brother’s tall as Confucius is said to be,
But his room in the schoolhouse looks like a boat small.
He bends his head while reading classics and history,
Suddenly he yawns, his head bumps against the wall.
宛邱先生长如丘， 宛邱学舍小如舟。
常时低头诵经史， 忽然欠伸屋打头。
The wind blows screens aside and raindrops into his face,
The onlookers feel sorry but he does not care.
The starving may be jeered at by well-fed men base,
He won’t beg for shelter though rain drenches his hair.
斜风吹帷雨注面， 先生不愧旁人羞。
任从饱死笑方朔， 肯为雨立求秦优!
He cares not for the discomforts before the eye,
If he can let his six spirits soar in the sky.
He’s read ten thousand books without reading the law.
How could he serve a sovereign without a flaw!
眼前勃蹊何足道， 处置六凿须天游。
读书万卷不读律， 致君尧舜知无术。
The inspectors of agriculture come in throng,
Honey-like vegetables are given to the old.
Nothing at the door will remain in his eyes for long,
Though his head oft bends low, his spirit is still bold.
劝农冠盖闹如衣， 送老蘯盐甘似蜜。
门前万事不挂眼， 头虽长低气不屈!
Official of Hangzhou，I’ve done no worthy deed，
My painted hall is so large that flags can be displayed-
My mansion stands high and from noise of rain is freed,
With rooms uninhabited soughing winds invade.
余杭别驾无功劳, 画堂五丈容旅旄。
重楼跨空雨声远，屋多人少风骚骚。
Ym no longer ashamed of what I used to be,
And punish with flogging the accused before me.
I greet those I dislike when we meet on the way,
Though I know they are wrong, yet I say only “Aye”.
平生所惭今不耻, 坐对疲氓重鞭箠。
道逢阳虎呼与言， 心知其非口诺唯。
What is the use of a high literary fame
When ebbs our moral courage and lowers our aim?
The trifling art of writing is of no avail,
You and I, while young, we attained the same renown.
居高志下真何益， 气节消缩今无几。
文章小技安足程! 先生别驾旧齐名。
We become worthless now we’re decrepit and frail.
Let our contemporaries play us up or down!
如今衰老俱无用， 付与时人分重轻!