归去来兮辞
Homeward Ho!
余家贫，耕植不足以自给。幼稚盈室，瓶无储粟，生生 所资，未见其术。亲故多劝余为长吏，脱然有怀，求之靡 途：会有四方之事，诸侯以惠爱为德，家叔以余贫苦，遂见 闬于小邑于时风波未静，心惮远没。彭泽去家百里，公田 之利，足以为酒，故便求之。及少日，眷然有归欤之情。何 则？质性自然，非矫厉所得，f几冻虽切，违己交病。尝从人 事，皆口獲自役。于是怅然慷慨，深愧平生之志..：犹望一 稔，当敛裳宵逝、寻程氏妹丧于武昌，情在駿奔，自免去 职、忡秋至冬，在官八十除曰。因事顺心，命篇曰《归去来 今》、、乙巳岁十一月也。
My family is poor, scarcely able to make both ends meet by growing crops and planting mulberry trees. The house is full of children but the rice jar is empty. I can hardly provide a living for the family. When my kith and kin advised me to enter the official career, I was enticed by the idea but lacked the proper approach. It happened that in times of unrest the prefecturers were eager to show their generocity. My uncle, sympathetic with my financial difficulties, made recommendations for me to serve in the small county of Pengze. As the wars were not over yet, I was not in a mood to serve in a distant place. I managed to take the position because Pengze County was only a hundred miles away from my home and the reaps from the allotted land were enough for me to brew the wine. However, I began to brood the idea of returning home not long after I took the position. How did the idea come into my mind? With a simple disposition, I was not accustomed to being restricted in serving as an official. Although I was threatened by hunger and cold, I was further afflicted by acting against my wishes. I was involved in the official affairs just to make a bare living. Therefore, I was ill at ease for I regretted that I had violated my ideal. For all this, I still waited for another harvesting from my allotted land before 1 would leave by night. Before long, my younger sister Mrs. Cheng died in Wuchang. I was eager to attend her funeral and thereby left my position. From August to winter, I stayed in my position for over eighty days. As my resignation has fulfilled my wishes, I wrote the following piece entitled Homeward Ho in November of the year Yisi.
归去来兮，田园将芜胡不归？既自以心为形役，奚惆怅 而独悲！悟已往之不谏，知来者之可追。实迷途其未远，觉 今是而昨非。舟摇摇以轻飏，风飘飘而吹衣。问征夫以前 路，恨晨光之熹微。
Homeward ho!
Why not return now that my fields will go into weeds?
Since I took up a position against my will，
There is no need for me to lament by myself.
I have realized that there is no remedy for the past,
But there is still a future lying ahead.
It is true that I was not far astray in my way,
Realizing that I have turned from wrong to right.
My returning boat is sailing swiftly over the water
While the gentle breeze tosses my robe.
I ask a traveller about the way ahead,
Resenting the dimness before dawn.
乃瞻衡宇，载欣载奔。僮仆欢迎，稚子候门。三径就 荒，松菊犹存，携幼入室，有酒盈樽。引壶觞以自酌，眄庭 柯以怡颜。倚南窗以寄傲，审容膝之易安。园日涉以成趣，门虽设而常关。策扶老以流憩，时矫首而遐观。云无心以出 岫，鸟倦飞而知还。景翳翳以将入，抚孤松而盘桓。
When my house comes into sight,
I run towards it in a happy mood.
My servants are giving me a warm welcome;
My children are waiting at the door.
Wild weeds have grown on the courtyard paths,
But the pine trees and chrysanthemums remain.
When I enter the house hand in hand with my young son
I see that the cups are filled with wine.
I pour wine from the jug and drink by myself,
Elated to watch the trees in the courtyard.
I lean against the southern window in pride,
Complacent with the narrow house I dwell.
It is a pleasure for me to pace the yard,
With the gate closely shut all day long.
With a staff in hand, I walk to and fro,
Raising my head to look afar off and on.
The careless clouds float from behind the hills;
The weary birds know that they should return.
When the dim sun is about to set in the west,
I fondle a solitary pine and linger around it.
归去来兮，请息交以绝游。世与我而相违，复驾言兮焉 求!悦亲戚之情话，乐琴书以消忧。农人告余以春及，将有事于 西畴。或命巾车，或掉孤舟，既窈窕以寻壑，亦崎岖而经丘。木 欣欣以向荣，泉涓涓而始流。善万物之得时，感吾生之行休。
Homeward ho!
Allow me to break away from the mundane world.
Since the world and I are in discord,
What is the sense for me to travel about?
I feel the pleasure of talking with my family
And the joy of playing the zither and practising calligraphy
The farmers tell me that spring is coming
And that they will work in the western fields.
Sometimes 1 order a covered cart;
Sometimes I oar a solitary boat.
I can either sail along the twisted creeks Or drive along the rocky hills,
Watching the verdant trees And the flowing streams.
I envy the flourishing of various forms of life
And sigh for the approaching of my death.
已矣乎！寓形宇内复几时，曷不委心任去留，胡为乎遑 遑欲何之？富贵非吾愿，帝乡不可期。怀良辰以孤往，或植 杖而耘耔。登东皋以舒嘯，临清流而赋诗。聊乘化以归尽， 乐夫天命复奚疑！
No more of my grudges!
As there is not much time left for my earthly journey,
Why not follow my bent in living out my life?
Why all the fidgeting to seek after the unknown?
Wealth and distinction are not my aims;
Immortal lands are not my aspirations.
I only expect a fair day for me to wander alone,
Sometimes leaving my staff aside to weed and hoe.
I may ascend the eastern heights to sing a song,
Or sit by a clear stream to write a poem,
I shall follow the natural cause and end my life in time;
With Heaven’s decree in mind，what else am I to doubt?