汉英诗词 > 《贼退示官吏并序》唐·元结

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五言古诗

Five-character-ancient-verse

元结

Yuan Jie

贼退示官吏并序

TO THE TAX-COLLECTORS AFTER THE BANDITS RETREAT

癸卯岁，西原贼入道州，焚烧杀掠，几尽而 去。明年，贼又攻永州，破邵，不犯此州边 鄙而退，岂力能制敌欤？盖蒙其伤怜而已！ 诸史何为忍苦徵敛！故作诗一篇以示官吏。

In the year Kuimao the bandits from Xiyuan entered Daozhou, set fire, raided, killed, and looted. The whole district was almost ruined. The next year the bandits came again and, attacking the neighbouring prefecture, Yong, passed this one by. It was not because we were strong enough to defend ourselves, but, probably, because they pitied us. And how now can these commissioners bear to impose extra taxes? I have written this poem for the collectors' information.

昔岁逢太平，

I still remember those days of peace --

山林二十年。

Twenty years among mountains and forests,

泉源在庭户，

The pure stream running past my yard,

洞壑当门前。

The caves and valleys at my door.

井税有常期，

Taxes were light and regular then,

日晏犹得眠。

And I could sleep soundly and late in the morning-

忽然遭时变，

Till suddenly came a sorry change.

数岁亲戎旃。

...For years now I have been serving in the army.

今来典斯郡，

When I began here as an official,

山夷又纷然。

The mountain bandits were rising again;

城小贼不屠，

But the town was so small it was spared by the thieves,

人贫伤可怜。

And the people so poor and so pitiable

是以陷邻境，

That all other districts were looted

此州独见全。

And this one this time let alone.

使臣将王命，

...Do you imperial commissioners

岂不如贼焉？

Mean to be less kind than bandits?

令彼徵敛者，

The people you force to pay the poll

迫之如火煎。

Are like creatures frying over a fire.

谁能绝人命？

And how can you sacrifice human lives,

以作时世贤。

Just to be known as able collectors? --

思欲委符节，

...Oh, let me fling down my official seal,

引竿自刺船，

Let me be a lone fisherman in a small boat

将家就鱼麦，

And support my family on fish and wheat

归老江湖边。

And content my old age with rivers and lakes!