鐔津文集 17.12

17.12

One day the master came to the mountain's edge, / Coming to say farewell, about to depart where? / Former magistrates, pure as dust, all arrived as well (at the time, Zhou Ganzhi came along), / With fresh carriages and light girdle-pendants gleaming resplendently. / Entering the gate, he looked upon me with fine countenance; / Beneath the forest, holding sleeves, we followed one another. / Laughing and chanting with unrestrained, heroic spirit, / Raising our heads, we did not notice the white sun tilting west. / Dusting off the couch, he was detained to lodge in the rock chambers; / A paper quilt and rush mat were truly laughable. / Paying no heed to abundance or frugality, we sought only what suited us; / Assenting without objection, none refused the other. / At this time the spring was mild in the middle of the second month; / Through the long night, clear and wakeful, a slight chill was faint. / Loftily conversing, our noble interests coincided, / Like pitchers pouring springs, contending in profusion. / In an instant we drew our seats close and bid each speak his intent, / Straightforwardly pouring out what lay in our chests with plain words. / People's minds differ just like their faces; / Throughout life, each has his own pursuit. / Biaomin suddenly hurried to the head of the mat and said: / 'I have an intent that others do not know! / How could the shallow vulgarity of late customs be worth speaking of? / Holding food in my mouth and not swallowing, I heave long sighs. / In youth I followed a master to study the classics, / Not picking at branches and leaves, but plumbing the roots and foundations. / The Way of emperors and kings could decisively be known; / In the Pan Geng of Yin and the Proclamations of Zhou I had no more doubts. / In undertakings past and present, practical use is valued; / Literary meaning and composition must follow standards. / How could it resemble children carving emptily? / Painted cakes cannot cure morning hunger! / At fifteen, diligently I labored at letters, / Grinding away at brush and inkstone until my spirit was exhausted. / Long scrolls and great rolls were boundlessly countless; / Resolute and indignant, I only wished to support governance. / The year before last, appointed as an official, I came to Western Zhe; / Bureaucratic duties were menial and vulgar, unworthy of a glance. / Pouring out my heart, I wished to offer the statecraft of kings and hegemons; / But using a fine steed to catch mice is hardly fitting. / The great prefecture of Qiantang is full of prominent officials; / Comparing ranks, mine was the very lowest. / Meng Ke alone bore a vast, flood-like qi; / Who could fold his sleeves and bow his brow forever? / What a real man values is advancing by the Way; / Over ten thousand li into the blue clouds, one must gallop by oneself. / Alas, looking back at myself, what had I become? / Content to take ancestral privilege as my personal resource! / Thus, pleading illness, I withdrew far away, / Abruptly diverging from official cap and ribbon. / If Master Dong of Jiaoxi is worthy of admiration, / Lowering the curtain and toiling hard, I exhausted the documents and poems. / Living in leisure and solitude, I felt many stirred emotions; / What moved me was that contemporary governance was giving rise to flaws. / A lowly minister harboring integrity secretly offered himself, / Writing a memorial of ten thousand words to submit to the cinnabar steps. / The celestial gates are deep and precipitous in the northwest; / Craning my neck for a single glance, clouds drifted endlessly. / In the end, no gracious response was sent down; / In vain I laid bare my heart and liver, weeping useless tears. / Alas! My life's fortunes are ill-timed; / Failing to meet my era, I am content to be abandoned and forgotten. / When dragons and snakes hibernate, the inchworm bends; / When the myriad things are out of season, one must be content in oneself. / My family's fields and gardens lie in the southern country; / There are also streams and mountains named Wuyi. / The springs are sweet and the soil is dark, fit for sowing and reaping; / Returning, I will labor with the old farmers at mattock and hoe.' / When Ganzhi and I heard these words, / Our spirits were stirred, and we rested our chins in amazement. / Deep plans and far-reaching thoughts are unfathomable; / The boundless ocean has no bottom, and heaven has no edge. / Before the Gate of Heaven are countless guests, / Rubbing shoulders and treading on feet, contending to present their words. / Warmly clad and fully fed, indulging their pride and luster, / How many outstanding men can be like this? / 'I pray you step forward, and I shall speak with you: / Why must you be lightly discouraged and trouble your diligence? / Fine grain is harvested in winter, while the hibiscus blooms in the morning; / The flourishing of the myriad things has its swiftness and slowness. / Have you not heard that Yi Yin approached Tang five times / Before the Way of Yao and Shun could finally be applied? / Worthies and heroes make light of themselves and take the realm seriously; / How could they allow themselves to hustle only for private gain? / Moreover, now the barbarians insult the Central Kingdom, / Trampling the two borderlands and turning over the topsoil. / The generals' punitive expeditions struggle without victory; / A million troops have grown weary, their banners worn out. / Lean years and plentiful years alternate once again; / Wind, rain, frost, and snow are still unseasonable. / The Son of Heaven is diligent in governance, lacking leisure even to eat; / He too awaits capable talents to aid and supplement him. / In the court above there are noble persons; / In intelligence, how could they yield to Gao Yao and Kui? / Upholding the public Way, they honor the great master craftsmen; / In measuring the catalpa and cedar, would they allow any discrepancy? / I admire your open and generous nature; / Do not use your teaching to mutually disparage others. / Facing the wind and bright moon, we part over a thousand li; / How could I shrink from pouring out my heart in these wishing verses? / Vulgar people love to slander and seldom delight in goodness; / Your fine reputation and pure integrity, take care never to impair them! / If the court asks for policies like those of Pingjin, / In the examination for the Worthy and Good, who could be first if not you?'