Crossing the Jo River祖江賦
貞祐七年四月。予自左補闕被劾。尋除桂陽守。將渡祖江。江水本迅激。適値暴風。困而後濟。爲賦以悲之。卒以自寬。
In the fourth month of the seventh year of Jeong-u (貞祐), I was serving as Left Rectifier of Omissions (左補闕) when I was impeached, and was thereupon appointed magistrate of Gyeyang (桂陽). As I was about to cross the Jo River (祖江), the river water was of itself swift and strong, and I happened besides to meet a fierce wind, so that only after much trouble did I get across. I made a rhapsody to grieve over it, and in the end consoled myself.
Interlinear notes 1
并序
The preface (序) is appended together with it.
浩浩江流。燭如涇水。漆色而泓。𢥠難俯視。湍又激而迅兮。豈瞿塘之足譬。控百川之奔會兮。若鼎湯之驚沸。蛟鰐呀呀以流涎。又安測毒龍之潛伏以伺。泝灘欲徑進兮。船如行而尙止。不夕而暝。不風而波。雪浪礧石以崩騰兮。若秦晉戰于彭衙。篙工狎翫靈胥兮。猶畏夫洄洑與盤渦。顧區區一瞥之所如。豈以其澎濞鬱怒兮成此邈遐。予旣被謫。遭此險流。孤舟兀以出沒兮。其將安適兮去悠悠。望平皐兮草暗。遡極浦兮煙愁。鳥鳴軋軋。猿哭啾啾。落日兮掩掩。黃雲兮浮浮。雖五馬之足榮兮。亮非吾之攸期。嗟此遐征。古豈無之。孟三宿而出晝兮。丘去魯兮遲遲。賈誼洛陽之才子兮。謫長沙之濕卑。聖賢尙爾。予復何悲。較昔人之未遇兮。吾又專城兮斗仰。纍纍。鵠山隱翳兮漸遠。望長安兮徒自疲。業已離兮上都兮。欣桂陽之伊邇。于以泊舟。于彼碕涘。誰其來迎。貿貿殘吏。紛綵幕兮葳蕤。爛紅旆兮旖旎。弭節兮山之椒。炬火照林兮鳥驚。以飛聊逍遙以散髮兮。風攪攪兮吹衣。江水駚而疾兮。予旣濟其何疑。行矣尙足樂兮。何必眷眷兮懷歸。出處不自謀兮。樂天知命兮先哲是希。
The broad, broad river water is turbid as the Jing (涇水), and deep with the color of lacquer, so that it is fearful to look down into. The rapids too are strong and swift, and not to be matched against the Qutang Gorge (瞿塘峽). Drawing to itself all the many streams, it comes running and gathers, as though water boiling in a cauldron were startled into a seethe. Dragons and crocodiles open their maws and let their spittle run; and how besides should one reckon the venomous dragons that lie sunken and spy? I would go straight on against the rapids, but the boat, while seeming to move, still stands still. It is not evening, yet it is dark; there is no wind, yet the waves rise. The snow-white waves strike the rocks and leap up as though collapsing, as though Qin (秦) and Jin (晉) were fighting at Pengya (彭衙). The boatman makes light of the water-ghosts, yet still he fears the whirlpools and the coiling rapids. Looking back, it is a petty matter of one brushing past; how then, because its waves were so greatly angered, have I come so far away? I have already been sent into exile, and meeting this perilous water, my lone boat rides sheer up and sinks down again — and where is it that I am bound, off into the distance? I look at the level bank and the color of the grass is dark; I go up against the far shore and the mist is full of care. The birds cry creaking and the monkeys cry chirping. The setting sun is dim and dusky, and the yellow clouds float. Though the five horses (五馬) are honor enough and to spare, they are truly not what I desired. Ah, as for this far road, when was it ever absent in the old days? Mencius slept three nights before he left the land of Zhou (晝), and Kong Qiu (孔丘) was slow, slow in leaving Lu (魯). Jia Yi (賈誼) was a man of talent of Luoyang, yet was exiled to damp and low-lying Changsha (長沙). Since it was so even with the sages and the worthies, what have I further to grieve over? Set against the ancients who did not meet their time, I have besides a whole district in my sole charge, am looked up to, and have those who follow me in a train. Mount Gok (鵠山) hides it and it grows more and more distant, so that to look toward the capital is only to tire myself in vain. Since I have already left the capital, I am glad that Gyeyang draws near. I bring the boat in at that bend of the shore. Who is it that comes to meet me? A bewildered old clerk. Colored curtains hang down in a confusion, and red banners wave dazzlingly. I halt my carriage on the ridge of the hill, and the torches light the woods so that the birds fly up startled. For a while I walk about and let my hair down loose, and the wind blows softly, softly on my clothes. Though the river water was fierce and swift, I have already crossed it, so what should I doubt? Let us go; there is still enough to take pleasure in, so why should I long so hard and think of going back? Not to plan for oneself one's going forward and one's drawing back, but to take joy in Heaven and know its decree — that is what the worthies before me desired.