On Unsuccessful Scholars
感士不遇赋
Dong Zhongshu wrote a prose-poem on unsuccessful scholars and Sima Qian wrote on the same subject. I feel depressed after I read these articles at my leisure time and during the breaks of my studies of the classics. Faithfulness and filialty are universal virtues; Simplicity and Peacefulness are gentlemanly traits. Since the ancient practice of simplicity disappeared, the evil practice of hypocrisy has developed. While the common people no longer stick to honesty and modesty, the merchants and officials strive for fame and wealth. As to the upright and ambitious men, some have retired to the remote mountains in their prime of life; as to the clean, and virtuous men, some have worked in vain for all their lives. Therefore, the brothers Bo Yi and Shu Qi, in addition to the four sages in the Shang Dynasty exclaimed, “Where shall we go?” The poet Qu Yuan likewise sighed: “I’ve had enough!” How miserable! A man’s life passes away in the twinkling of an eye, but the hard-striven feats cannot be rewarded. That is why the ancients wielded their pens, grudging endlessly about their fates. The essays alone may be the outlets to convey their feelings. I ponder over the prose-poems written by the ancients and write something of my own.
昔董仲舒作《士不遇赋》，司马子长又为之。余尝以三馀之 曰，讲习之暇，读其文，慨然惆怅。夫履信思顺，生人之善行；抱 朴守静，君子之笃素。自真风告逝，大沩斯兴，间阎懈廉退之节， 市朝驱易进之心。怀正志道之士；或潜玉于当年；洁己清操之人， 或没世以徒勤。故夷皓有“安归”之叹，三闾发“巳矣”之哀。悲 夫！寓形百年，而瞬息巳尽，立行之难，而一域莫赏。此古人所以 染翰慷慨，屡伸而不能巳者也。夫导达意气，其惟文乎？抚卷踌 躇，遂感而賦之。
Everything in the world is nurtured by the essence of nature,
But why should men alone be ranked in the first place?
With miraculous wisdom and intelligence，
Men may become immortal for their inherent virtues.
Some of them may live a quiet life in the countryside
While others may gain positions to serve the people.
Whether they live in seclusion or gain positions,
They are self-fulfilled and contented.
咨大块之受气，何斯人之独灵？禀神智以藏照，秉三五 而垂名。或击壤以自欢，或大济于苍生。靡潜跃之非分，常 傲然以称情。
Since the ancient practice of simplicity passed with times,
Men have been labelled high or low.
The dark rule over the people is like the net for the fish,
Or like terrible snare for the birds.
Only the sages are able to act against the situation
And resign their official positions to work on the farm.
High on the mountains can be seen the shadows of the sages;
Low in the streams can be heard the voices of the sages.
They would heave long sighs for the golden past
And prefer to give up positions and live a wretched life.
A river will fork into clear and dirty waters in the long flow
While men will be divided into good and evil in the long run.
Among all the human actions, nothing is more precious
Than the pleasure of doing some benevolent deeds.
Men should obey the heavenly laws
And learn the masterpieces of the ancient sages.
Men should be loyal to the emperor and pious to their parents
And keep faith to their neighbours.
Men should gain distinction by sincerity
And refrain from striving for fame with hypocrisy.
世流浪而遂徂，物群分以相形。密网裁而鱼骇，宏罗制 而岛惊。彼达人之善觉，乃逃禄而归耕3山嶷嶷而怀影，川 汪汪而藏声。望轩唐而永叹，甘贫贱以辞荣。淳源汩以长 分，美恶作以异途。原百行之攸贵，莫为善之可娱。奉上天 之成命，师圣人之遗书。发忠孝于君亲，生信义于乡闾。推 诚心而获显，不矫然而祈誉。
Alas! How often men slander those with different views
And show jealousy against those who are more capable!
Those who cherish deep insights may be regarded as foolish
While those who speak their minds may be regarded as arrogant
Those with an upright character who are never suspicious
May end with humiliation and be defamed.
Who can understand those with profound virtues
Like the purest jade and the fragrant orchid?
嗟乎！雷同毁异，物恶其上，妙算者谓迷，直道者云 妄。坦至公而无猜，卒蒙耻以受谤。虽怀琼而握兰，徒芳洁 而谁亮！哀哉！ 士之不遇，已不在炎帝帝魁之世。独祗修以自 勤，岂三省之或废！庶进德以及时，时既至而不惠。无爰生 之晤言，念张季之终蔽。愍冯叟于郎署，赖魏守以纳计。里 仪然于必知，亦苦心而旷岁。
What a woe! Men of virtue are not appreciated
Because they are not living in the days of wise kings.
They can only work hard with prudence,
Keeping self-discipline everyday.
They hope to improve themselves to wait for opportunities.
Yet they are never satisfied when opportunities arise.
Bat for the recommendation of Yuan Ang，
Zhang Ji would be left in oblivion all his life.
Feng Tang was a minor official in his old age
And was only promoted when he made an advice.
Although they were promoted at last,
They had made painstaking efforts in the long years.
审夫市之无虎，眩三夫之献说。悼贾傅之秀朗，纡远辔 于促界，悲董相之渊致，屡乘危而幸济。感哲人之无偶，泪 淋浪以洒袂。承前王之清海，曰天道之无亲。澄得一以作鉴，恒辅善而佑仁。夷投老以长饥，回早夭而又贫。伤请车 以备椁，悲茹薇而殒身。虽好学与行义，何死生之苦辛！疑 报德之若兹，惧斯言之虚陈。何旷世之无才，罕无路之不 涩。伊古人之慷慨，病奇名之不立。广结发以从政，不愧赏 于万邑。屈雄志于戚竖，竟尺土之莫及。留诚信于芬后，动 众人之悲泣。商尽规以拯弊，言始顺而患入。奚良辰之易 倾，胡害胜其乃急！
In spite of the fact that tigers will not come to the fair,
People tend to believe if they hear the rumour thrice.
What a pity that the talented Jia Yi was not promoted,
Like a stalwart steed which is unable to gallop afield,
While the learned Dong Zhongshu
Had many narrow escapes from misfortunes.
Whenever I think of the mishaps of these sages,
My tears would flood and wet my sleeves.
According to the teachings of the former kings,
The Tao of the heaven is not biased.
In making judgements, the heaven endowed with
Tao Always bless those with benevolence and virtue.
However，Bo Yi would starve in his old age
And Yan Hui died a premature death in poverty.
How miserable that Yan Hui was too poor to have a coffin
While Bo Yi was fed on wild herbs before he died.
For all their assiduity and righteousness,
Why should they suffer before and after their death?
As I wonder why they should have come to this,
I am afraid that “the heaven is not biased，，is but a lie.
It is not that the world lacks men of gifts,
But that the way of the world is full of twists and turns.
Enlisted in the army at the age of fifteen，
Li Guang was worthy of being rewarded ten thousand households;
However, with his aspirations damaged by the royal in-laws,
Li Guang never got a single household of reward.
His virtues have passed down the generations
And moved people into tears.
Wang Gang endeavoured to correct the current malpractice,
But met with misfortune soon after his admonitions were accepted
How is it that men of gifts had such a short time of fortune,
Were persecuted and met with misfortunes so soon?
Remote is the heaven
And vicissitudinous is the world.
Some can be apprehended and others not;
Who can make clear the ins and outs?
I would rather stick to my aspirations in poverty
Than tire myself out in abandoning my aspirations.
Now that I do not regard a high position as a distinction,
How can 1 feel any disgrace when I am dressed in rags?
If I would come to no good in my official career,
I am ready to give up my position and live like a recluse.
I would live a simple life cherishing my aspirations
Than sell myself to the court at a high price.
苍昊遐缅，人事无已，有感有昧，畴测其理！宁固穷以 济意，不委曲而累己。既轩冕之非荣，岂绲袍之为耻！诚谬 会以取拙，且欣然而归止。拥孤襟以毕岁，谢良价于朝市。