In Reply to Military Counsellor Pang
答庞参军并序
On his way from Jiangling to the capital, Major Pang passed by Xunyang and gave me a poem.
庞为卫军参军，从江陵使上都，过浔阳见赠。
In cabins with crude wooden gates.
The lute and books are my dear mates.
Now I play, now I sing 一
I am as merry as a king.
Among the pleasures I have known，
I am most pleased to live alone.
At dawn I water my own farm;
At dusk I sleep without alarm.
其一
衡门之下，有琴有书。
载弹载咏，爰得我娱。
岂无他好？乐是幽居；
朝为灌园，夕偃蓬庐。
For what the people treasure most，
I will by no means ever boast.
If we don't have the same ideal,
How can we share the woe and weal?
In search for friends in social strife,
I come across you in my life.
We have been friends through thick and thin，
As close as dearest kith and kin.
其二
人之所宝，尚或未珍；
不有同好，云胡以亲！
我求良友，实觏怀人；
懽心孔洽，栋宇惟邻。
We form a friendship that will last,
As men of virtue true and vast.
With my own tasteful country wine,
I entertain you, friend of mine.
We lay bare our minds while we talk;
We write new poetry while we walk.
A day without my seeing you
Will make me all the more miss you!
其三
伊余怀人，欣德孜孜；
我有旨酒，与汝乐之。
乃陈好言，乃著新诗；
一旦不见，如何不思！
Before we have enough of the day，
You will again be on your way.
Upon the bank we’ll say good-bye,
And so we raise the cup and sigh.
In Jiangling lingers my dear guest
While clouds are drifting to the west.
As you’ll be gone far, far away,
How can I hear what you will say!
其四
嘉游未歝，誓将离分；
送尔于路，衔觞无欣。
依依旧楚，邈邈西云，
之子之远，良活曷闻。
Last time we parted in the spring,
When orioles began to sing.
Now that we meet in winter-time,
The snow is falling in due clime.
You leave Jiangling at Duke’s behest
To capital city in the west.
You need leisure time to spend,
But royal errands never end.
其五
昔我云别，仓庚载鸣；
今也遇之，霰雪飘零。
大藩有命，作使上京；
岂忘宴安？王事靡宁。
The winter sun above is pale
And chilly winds begin to wail.
I look upon the buoyant boat,
O’er river waters there afloat.
I wish you my dear bosom friend
Take care before your duties end.
I wish you lucky all around
And wish you always safe and sound.
其六
惨惨寒日，肃肃其风，
翩彼方舟，容与江中。
朂哉征人，在始思终；
敬慈良辰，以保尔躬。