English Rendering
In May 223,Prince of Baima,Prince of Rencheng and I went to the capital to attend the seasonal sacrificial rites.When we reached Luoyang, Prince of Rencheng(Cao Zhang)passed away.In July,Prince of Baima and I were ready to go together on our journey to our respective feoffs. However,the royal missionary said that it is proper for us to go sepa-rately.I hated the idea very much because our lifelong separation would come in a few days.Hence,I presented the following poem to Prince of Baima to emit my feelings of indignation.
After seeing the king on the audience day,
To my feoff I'll soon be on my way.
At dawn I leave the capital,Luoyang;
At dusk,I reach the foot of Mount Shouyang.
The rivers Yi and Luo are deep and wide,
But there's no bridge to go from side to side.
When I brave the torrents in my ship,
I hate to go upon my eastward trip.
When I look back at the capital on my horse,
I gaze and gaze in deep grief and remorse.
How deep and vast has been the valley Tai!
How verdant mountain trees attract my eye!
While heavy downpour muddles mountain paths,
The swollen rivers flood in angry wraths.
When the road is damaged by the flood,
I change the route and climb the mount in mud.
Going up the slopes that reach the sky,
My horse is tired that it might even die.
Tired as it is,my horse can still push on,
But I'm absorbed in grief that won't be gone.
For what reason should I sigh and grieve?
My bosom kinsman I'm compelled to leave.
Although we'd like to go back side by side,
We have to take a separate long ride.
Kites and owls are screeching on the yoke;
Jackals and wolves are howling to the folk.
The mean and base are changing black to white;
Glib talk and lies are turning wrong to right.
To go back,there's no way of any kind;
With reins in hand,I stop and look behind.
I stop and look behind but cannot stay;
Yet thoughts of you are lingering on the way.
I feel the chill of autumn winds that groan;
I hear the cold cicadas weep and moan.
When I look upon wildness so unblest,
The pallid sun descends into the west.
A bird returning home among the trees
Flaps its spreading wings in the breeze.
A stray beast seeking its crowd north and south
Forgets to eat the grass within its mouth.
Saddened by the sights revealed to me,
I heave a long,long sigh at what I see.
Why on earth should I heave such a sigh?
Heaven rails against me,why,oh why!
Born and brought up by the same dear mother,
Dead and gone is Cao Zhang,my poor brother!
While his solitary soul hovers o'er his feoff,
His body lies in Luoyang blind and deaf.
The living,with too short a span of time,
Will turn to dust without reason or rhyme.
A man's sojourn on earth so swiftly flies,
Like morning dew that shrinks and dries.
My life is drawing to its close unstained,
Like shades and sounds that cannot be detained.
My life would differ from metal or stone;
This very thought makes me sigh and moan.
Since this sad thought makes me sigh and moan,
I'll keep it as a sorrow of my own.
A man of broad and open mind aims high;
Ten thousand miles would seem to be close by.
If love and friendship do indeed hold sway,
The distance brings us closer with each day.
Why must we sleep together all the time
Before we show our deep concerns sublime?
Deep concerns that cause disease in life
Are merely love between the man and wife.
However,when on different ways we go,
How can I refrain from pain and woe?
What am I thinking of in pain and woe?
I'll never trust what heavens shall bestow!
To search for the immortals is in vain;
To trust the fictional Songzi is insane.
Since mishap comes without rhyme or reason,
Who can live out his allotted season?
Never more shall we meet one another;
When can I hold the hands of my brother?
Prince,do take good care to guard your health
So that we'll have long lives,the greatest wealth.
Alas,I'll wipe my tears and go my way;
Pen in hand,I must leave you today.