漁父

Yu fu `The Fisherman'
(David Hawks trs.)

After Qu Yuan was banished, he wandered sometimes along the river's banks, sometimes along the marsh's edge, singing as he went. 屈原既放，游於江潭，行吟澤畔。
His expression was dejected and his features emaciated. 顏色顦顇，形容枯槁。

A fisherman caught sight of him. `Are you not the Lord of the Three Wards?' said the fisherman. `What has brought you to this pass?'
漁父見而問之曰：子非三閭大夫與？何故至於斯？

`Because all the world is muddy and I alone am clear,' said Qu Yuan, 'and because all men are drunk and I alone am sober, I have been sent into exile.' 屈原曰：舉世皆濁我獨清，衆人皆醉我獨醒，是以見放。

`The Wise Man is not chained to material circumstances,' said the fisherman, `but can move as the world moves.
漁父曰：聖人不凝滯於物，而能與世推移。
If all the world is muddy, why not help them to stir up the mud and beat up the waves?
世人皆濁，何不淈其泥而揚其波？
And if all men are drunk, why not sup their dregs and swill their lees?
衆人皆醉，何不餔其糟而歠其釃？
Why get yourself exiled because of your deep thoughts and your fine aspirations?'
何故深思高舉，自令放爲？

Qu Yuan replied, `I have heard it said: ``He who has just washed his hair should brush his hat; and he who has just bathed should shake his clothes.''
屈原曰：吾聞之，新沐者必彈冠，新浴者必振衣。
How can I submit my spotless purity to the dirt of others? 安能以身之察察，受物之汶汶者乎？
I would rather cast myself into the waters of the river and be buried in the bowels of fishes than hide my shining light in the dark and dust of the world.' 寧赴湘流，葬於江魚之腹中，安能以皓皓之白，而蒙世俗之塵埃乎？

The fisherman, with a faint smile, struck his paddle in the water and made off.
漁父莞爾而笑，鼓枻而去。
And as he went he sang: `When the Cang-lang's waters are clear, I can wash my hat-strings in them; When the Cang-lang's waters are muddy, I can wash my feet in them.' 歌曰：滄浪之水清兮，可以濯吾纓；滄浪之水濁兮，可以濯吾足。
With that he was gone, and did not speak again. 遂去，不復與言。