（古詩英譯）道州民 – 白居易

道州民 – 白居易

《美臣遇明主也》

 

道州民，多侏儒，

長者不過三尺餘。

市作矮奴年進送，

號為道州任土貢。

任土貢，寧若斯？

不聞使人生別離，

老翁哭孫母哭兒！

一自陽城來守郡，

不進矮奴頻詔問。

城雲臣按六典書：

任土貢有不貢無。

道州水土所生者，

隻有矮民無矮奴。

吾君感悟璽書下，

歲貢矮奴宜悉罷。

道州民，老者幼者何欣欣！

父兄子弟始相保，

從此得作良人身。

道州民，民到於今受其賜，

欲說使君先下淚。

仍恐兒孫忘使君，

生男多以陽為字。

 

A Verse by Bai Juyi

The locals in Daozhou, many are small,
Grown-ups barely three feet tall.
Hence, Daozhou’s annual tribute, dwarfs are sent,
Those locals are gifts to present
To the Liege Lord, alas, how can it be?
My lord, the torn families dost thou see?
Old men wail for grandsons lost,
Mothers beg to save their sons, at any cost.
Since prefect Yang Cheng came to rule,
He stopped such a thing so cruel.
He suaded the liege, “thy laws decree:
Give if you have, if not, let it be...
The soil and water in Daozhou sadly yield
Those small locals, yet here is not a slave-field.”
Henceforth, the wise liege abolished
Such a yearly tribute. Hurrah, ‘tis finished.
Daozhou locals, young and old,
Extreme joys their breasts unfold.
Sires, sons, and siblings will never part,
Living as people of grateful heart.
O Daozhou locals, for Yang, and to this day,
Their tears of gratitude, their feelings convey.
Lest their posterity might forget,
All boys hight "Yang," as their e’er debt.

 

Tr. Ziyuzile

(to be revised)

23/06/2024