Exhortation to Farming
劝农
In ages immemorial to man
Once lived our very earliest clan.
They lived a free and supple life，
Quite abstained from worldly strife.
其一∶
悠悠上古，厥初生民。
傲然自足，抱朴含真。
When wicked wit and art prevailed.
Their dream of sheer abundance failed.
Who could provide a better life?
The saint alone helped in their strife.
智巧既萌，资待靡因。
谁其赡之，实赖哲人。
Who on earth was our saint then?
Houji began lo teach the men.
What way of life did Houji teach?
The farm-work was within their reach.
其二∶
哲人伊何？时维后稷。
赡之伊何？实曰播殖。
The ancient rulers ploughed the fields
And always cared for yearly yields.
Official books in Zhou said first
That kings' concerns were food and thirst
舜既躬耕，禹亦稼穑。
远若周典，八政始食。
The people lived in content and peace
While crops enjoyed the nature's lease.
So verdant were the grass and trees;
So gentle was the vernal breeze.
其三∶
熙熙令德，猗猗原陆。
卉木繁荣，和风清穆。
The men and women ploughing the land
Would never idly watch and stand.
The women fed silkworms at night;
Men worked before the day was bright.
纷纷士女，趋时竞逐。
桑妇宵兴，农夫野宿。
As the farming days are brief,
We'll miss the timely rain with grief.
Ji Que did ploughing with his wife;
Zhangcu and Jienie farmed for life.
其四∶
气节易过，和泽难久。
冀缺携俪，沮溺结耦。
The men of virtue and renown
Would tend the crops and never frown.
How can the men of common breed
Be loath to sow and plough and weed?
相彼贤达，犹勤陇亩。
矧兹众庶，曳裾拱手！
If people work hard all year round,
Their life will certainly abound.
If many idle hours they spend,
What is to hope for at year’s end?
其五∶
民生在勤，勤则不匮。
宴安自逸，岁暮奚冀！
They'll have no grains for daily meals,
With thirst and hunger at their heels.
Should they have looked at other men,
How could they not be shameful then?
儋石不储，饥寒交至。
顾尔俦列，能不怀愧！
Confucius dwelt on moral code
And scorned Fan Xu, who ploughed and sowed
Dong Zhongshu liked the lute and books,
Ignoring farm-work near the brooks.
其六∶
孔耽道德，樊须是鄙。
董乐琴书，田园不履。
If you can shun the world like them,
Farm-work you may as well contemn.
In this case I will envy you
And say that I agree with you.
若能超然，投迹高轨，
敢不敛衽，敬赞德美。