Seeing Off Attendant Censor Fan on his Way to a Post as Administrative Assistant in Hanzhong
The Bow that overawes[1] could not be strung,
since then there have been no peaceful years.
In river valleys the blood floods wildly,
wolves and jackals bubble up and bite.
The Son of Heaven came from the north,
galloping long, to rouse us from ruin.
Troops massed beneath Mountains Qi and Liang,
having crossed over back from the desert’s edge.
Though the two capitals, fallen, have not been retaken,
we have control to the four ends of the realm.
The Han’s bleak windswept waters are clear,
a remote route for tax from the Huai and lakes.
Men on missions are as many as scattered stars,
the royal net of rule is still like banner tassels attached.
The Earl of the South is worthy in handling matters,
you will go to where he stands and chats.
You full well understand tracking the Seven Luminaries,
your hand marks out the Grand Army’s dispositions.
Your apprehension[2] is as bright as ice and snow,
your military sharpness speeds like thunder.
In headquarters you were allowed to be a remonstrating[3] official;
such is unprecedented[4] in the court.
His Majesty now takes his meals late,
and depends on you to spread his fine grace.
An omissioner, summoned into court in the evening,
a censor, journeying and resting at dawn.
Right now we are in times of difficulty,
and we truly depend on long-range plans.
Whirling gusts blow on the solitary tree,
the bright sun shines on the sleeve I grasp.
Moved to tears in the gray-green mist,
mountain gates, closed in ten thousand layers.
The one who stays is gloomy in the vastness,
and the traveler is now far in the distance.
I pace about, sad at this parting of the living,
cramped up, old in my generation.
They sang of people left over from the time of Tao and Tang,
the Later Han continued a line of emperors.
Distressed that I don’t look like one to restore the dynasty,
I would just go off from this point on.
单词释义
[1] overawe [ˌəʊvərˈɔː] v. 使极为敬畏; 使胆怯;
[2] apprehension [ˌæprɪˈhenʃn] n. 忧虑; 担心; 疑惧; 恐惧; 逮捕; 拘押;
[3] remonstrate [ˈremənstreɪt] v. 抗议; 抱怨; 埋怨;
[4] unprecedented [ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd] adj. 前所未有的; 空前的; 没有先例的;