IX
At dawn I was wakened by the knock of a guest;
I got up and opened the door, half-dressed.
When I tried to find out what he meant
I saw a farmer with a good intent
He brought wine from afar and said the word
That he had thought I was a bit absurd.
“To live in rags in a hut is of no use;
It's not the right place for a true recluse.
Since all the world is drifting with the tide,
I hope you will at last stand on their side.”
“Thank you very much for what you say,
But it’s against my will to go their way.
Although I could reform my life by force,
I might thus go astray in my life course.
Let’s forget about it and have a drink,
But I will never change my mind, I think.”
其九
清晨闻叩门，倒裳往自开。
问子为谁与？田父有好怀。
壶浆远见候，疑我与时乖。
褴缕茅簷下，未足为高栖。
一世皆尚同，愿君汩其泥。
深感父老言，禀气寡所谐。
纡辔诚可学，违己讵非迷。
且共欢此饮，吾驾不可回。
X
Pursuit for office in a thousand li
Brought me east until I reached the sea.
Long was my route and full of twists and turns,
With storms that blocked my way and roused concerns
By what on earth was I propelled ahead?
I had to wander round to earn my bread.
I strove to fill the stomach with my fee;
A little was more than enough for me.
Afraid that this is not a worthy quest,
I stop my search and come home for a rest.
其十
在昔曾远游，直至东海隅。
道路迥且长，风波阻中途。
此行谁使然？似为饥所驱。
倾身营一饱，少许便有馀。
恐此非名计，息驾归闲居。
XI
Yan Hui was known as Man of Noble Deeds
And Rong Qiqi was famous for his creeds.
The former lived a wretched life and brief;
The latter was starved and died in grief.
Though both of them have earned posthumous name,
Their lives on earth were dismal all the same.
Since no one knows a thing when he is dead,
It’s best to feel good with the life he led.
No matter how he takes care of his health,
When he dies, gone is all his wealth.
To bury naked is the same as birth;
The man should know this truth of genuine worth.
十一
颜生称为仁，荣公言有道。
屡空不获年，长饥至于老，
虽留身後名，一生亦枯槁，
死去何所知，称心固为好，
客养千金躯，临化消其宝，
裸葬何必恶，人当解意表。
XII
Zhang Zhi, who served the royal court for years,
Held justice and thus hindered his careers.
He stayed at home for the rest of his life，
And never got involved in worldly strife.
Yang Lun retired and lived beside the lake,
Abandoning office for integrity’s sake.
Retired, I，ll stick to it at any rate;
It makes no sense for me to hesitate.
Let it be! Alas, let it be!
The world has done enough mischief on me!
In no case caring for the rubbish talk,
In the country let me gladly walk.
十二
长公曾一仕，壮节忽失时；
杜门不复出，终身与世辞。
仲理归大泽，高风始在兹。
一往便当已，何为复狐疑！
去去当奚道，世俗久相欺。
摆落悠悠谈，请从余所之。